# Has Isthmian (Epi-Olmec) writing been deciphered? · Cascajal block and Isthmian writing > Three answers have been proposed. The decipherment is unproven or wrong; the corpus is too small to confirm it. leads, with evidence 2 for: supported by… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/questions/QST0CYBBYCE2Y3M/has-isthmian-epi-olmec-writing-been-deciphered Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:01+00:00 --- **0** # Has Isthmian (Epi-Olmec) writing been deciphered? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the decipherment is unproven or wrong; the corpus is too small to confirm it** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The decipherment is unproven or wrong; the corpus is too small to confirm it. leads, with evidence 2 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters Isthmian is the nearest later script to the Cascajal block in space and possibly in descent. If it is read, it gives a language (Zoquean) and sign values to test on the Olmec text; if not, the region has no readable script before the Classic⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CYBBMKY1WQF/a-decipherment-of-epi-olmec-hieroglyphic-writing)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CYBBN3J413Z/has-isthmian-writing-been-deciphered). ## Answers 3 [**The decipherment is unproven or wrong; the corpus is too small to confirm it.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/answers/ANS0CYBC66E4NT0/the-decipherment-is-unproven-or-wrong-the-corpus-is-too) Supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**Justeson and Kaufman's 1993 decipherment is broadly correct; Isthmian writes an early Zoquean language.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/answers/ANS0CYBC5PT65YK/justeson-and-kaufmans-1993-decipherment-is-broadly-correct) Tested, but the results don't decide it Evidence: 1 for Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/answers/ANS0CYBC6XW6R48/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1993[Justeson & Kaufman puts forward: justeson and Kaufman's 1993 decipherment is broadly correct; Isthmian writes an early Zoquean language.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CYBBMKY1WQF/a-decipherment-of-epi-olmec-hieroglyphic-writing) 1. 1997[Justeson & Kaufman: a column noticed in 1995, after the decipherment, read readily with the 1993 values.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CYBBMVR5839/a-newly-discovered-column-in-the-hieroglyphic-text-on-la)For: Justeson and Kaufman's 1993 decipherment is broadly correct; Isthmian writes an early Zoquean language. 1. 2003[Houston & Coe puts forward: the decipherment is unproven or wrong; the corpus is too small to confirm it.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CYBBN3J413Z/has-isthmian-writing-been-deciphered) 1. 2003[Houston & Coe: applied to the 101-glyph Teotihuacan-style mask, the values gave no reading.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CYBBN3J413Z/has-isthmian-writing-been-deciphered)For: The decipherment is unproven or wrong; the corpus is too small to confirm it. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/cascajal-block/questions/QST0CYBBYCE2Y3M/has-isthmian-epi-olmec-writing-been-deciphered%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/cascajal-block/questions/QST0CYBBYCE2Y3M/has-isthmian-epi-olmec-writing-been-deciphered%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/cascajal-block/questions/QST0CYBBYCE2Y3M/has-isthmian-epi-olmec-writing-been-deciphered%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/cascajal-block/questions/QST0CYBBYCE2Y3M/has-isthmian-epi-olmec-writing-been-deciphered%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/cascajal-block/questions/QST0CYBBYCE2Y3M/has-isthmian-epi-olmec-writing-been-deciphered%23add-source) Where it fits Cascajal block and Isthmian writing **Has Isthmian (Epi-Olmec) writing been deciphered?** Key question · you're here [Is the Cascajal script ancestral to Isthmian writing?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/questions/QST0CYBBYM82QGT/is-the-cascajal-script-ancestral-to-isthmian-writing)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]