Resolution of Seven-Decade-Long Mystery: Scholars Crack the Enigmatic "Unidentified Kushan Script"

Location of the bilingual epigraph found in Tajikistan. Dr. Bobomullo Bobomulloev, an archaeologist, recorded the discovery in 2022 and forwarded images to linguistic experts at the University of Cologne, facilitating a seminal advance in decoding the unidentified Kushan script. Credit: Bobomullo Bobomulloev

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A group of burgeoning academics from the University of Cologne has successfully unraveled the mysterious ‘unidentified Kushan script,’ which has confounded experts for more than seven decades. After several years of intensive research, the team—comprising Svenja Bonmann, Jakob Halfmann, and Natalie Korobzow—studied photos of cave etchings and a wide array of pottery markings, collected from various Central Asian countries, to assemble the puzzle pieces.

On March 1, 2023, the team first revealed their preliminary breakthrough in deciphering the unidentified Kushan script during an online symposium organized by the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan.

At present, roughly 60% of the script’s characters have been decoded, and efforts are ongoing to interpret the remaining symbols. A comprehensive report of the findings has now been published in the scholarly journal, Transactions of the Philological Society.

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Pivotal Discovery Leads to Advancement

The ‘unidentified Kushan script’ is a system of writing utilized in select regions of Central Asia from approximately 200 BCE to 700 CE. It is affiliated with both the early nomadic communities of the Eurasian Steppe, such as the Yuèzhī, and the governing Kushan dynasty. The Kushans were instrumental in the diffusion of Buddhism to East Asia and are also known for their monumental architectural and artistic contributions.

To date, a limited number of mostly brief inscriptions are documented, originating predominantly from the modern-day territories of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. Additionally, a more extensive trilingual inscription was unearthed by French researchers in the 1960s at Dašt-i Nāwur in Afghanistan, located on a boulder at an elevation of 4,320 meters on Mount Qarabayu, roughly 100 km southwest of Kabul.

While knowledge of this writing system dates back to the 1950s, successful decipherment had eluded scholars until recently. A critical breakthrough came in 2022 when a short bilingual inscription was found etched onto a cliff in the Almosi Gorge in northwestern Tajikistan, around 30 km from the capital, Dushanbe. This inscription also featured a section in the already-deciphered Bactrian language.

This newfound evidence spurred renewed efforts among various researchers to solve the script, operating independently. Ultimately, linguists from the University of Cologne, in partnership with Tajik archaeologist Dr. Bobomullo Bobomulloev, achieved partial success in decoding the script.

A Milestone Two Centuries After Deciphering Egyptian Hieroglyphs

In their methodology, the team drew inspiration from prior successful decipherments like those of the Egyptian hieroglyphs via the Rosetta Stone, the ancient Persian cuneiform, and the Greek Linear B. Leveraging the known content of the bilingual and trilingual inscriptions, Bonmann, Halfmann, and Korobzow incrementally deduced characteristics of the writing and language.

A critical element in their success was the appearance of the royal name Vema Takhtu and the title ‘King of Kings’ in both Bactrian parallel texts, enabling them to identify similar elements in the unidentified Kushan script. Step-by-step, these experts deciphered additional character sequences and ascertained the phonetic values of individual symbols.

Unlocking Insights into Kushan Culture

Per the research group, the decoded Kushan script records an entirely unfamiliar Middle Iranian language, which is neither Bactrian nor Khotanese Saka, once spoken in western China. The language likely represents a transitional stage between these known languages.

It could be the language of either the sedentary populace of northern Bactria or the nomadic Yuèzhī communities originally from northwestern China. It seems to have served as one of the official languages of the Kushan Empire, alongside Bactrian, Gandhari/Middle Indo-Aryan, and Sanskrit. As a preliminary term, the scholars suggest naming this newly discovered Iranian language ‘Eteo-Tocharian.’

The team has future expeditions planned to Central Asia in collaboration with Tajik archaeological experts, as more inscription finds are anticipated and potential excavation sites have already been identified. Lead author Svenja Bonmann stated, “Deciphering this script has the potential to augment our comprehension of the linguistic and cultural heritage of Central Asia and the Kushan Empire, much like how decoding Egyptian hieroglyphs or Mayan glyphs has enriched our understanding of ancient Egyptian and Mayan civilizations.”

Reference: “A Partial Decipherment of the Unknown Kushan Script” by Svenja Bonmann, Jakob Halfmann, Natalie Korobzow, and Bobomullo Bobomulloev, published on July 12, 2023, in the Transactions of the Philological Society.
DOI: 10.1111/1467-968X.12269

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Decipherment of Unidentified Kushan Script

What is the main subject of the text?

The main subject of the text is the successful partial decipherment of the enigmatic “unidentified Kushan script” by a team of researchers from the University of Cologne. This script has puzzled scholars for over seventy years and was discovered in various parts of Central Asia.

Who are the key researchers involved in this breakthrough?

The key researchers involved in this decipherment are Svenja Bonmann, Jakob Halfmann, and Natalie Korobzow from the University of Cologne. They collaborated with Tajik archaeologist Dr. Bobomullo Bobomulloev.

Where was the pivotal inscription found that led to this breakthrough?

The pivotal bilingual inscription was found in the Almosi Gorge in northwestern Tajikistan, approximately 30 km from the capital, Dushanbe. This inscription also contained a section in the already-known Bactrian language.

What methodology was used for the decipherment?

The research team applied a methodology inspired by previous successful decipherments, such as those of Egyptian hieroglyphs using the Rosetta Stone, ancient Persian cuneiform, and Greek Linear B. They used known content from bilingual and trilingual inscriptions to draw incremental conclusions about the writing and language.

What percentage of the script has been deciphered so far?

As of now, approximately 60% of the script’s characters have been deciphered. The team is continuing its work to decode the remaining characters.

What is the historical significance of the Kushan script?

The Kushan script was in use in parts of Central Asia between about 200 BCE and 700 CE. It is associated with the early nomadic communities of the Eurasian steppe, such as the Yuèzhī, and the ruling Kushan dynasty, who played a significant role in the spread of Buddhism to East Asia.

What language does the Kushan script represent?

According to the research group, the Kushan script records an entirely unknown Middle Iranian language. It is neither Bactrian nor Khotanese Saka and possibly represents a transitional stage between these known languages.

Are there plans for future research expeditions?

Yes, the team plans to conduct future research trips to Central Asia in close cooperation with Tajik archaeologists. More finds of further inscriptions are expected, and promising potential sites have already been located.

Where was the research published?

The comprehensive report of the decipherment was published in the scholarly journal, Transactions of the Philological Society.

What is the broader impact of this decipherment?

The decipherment can help enhance the understanding of the linguistic and cultural history of Central Asia and the Kushan Empire. It is similar in impact to the deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphs or Mayan glyphs in terms of understanding ancient civilizations.

Resolution of Seven-Decade-Long Mystery: Scholars Crack the Enigmatic “Unidentified Kushan Script”