# Which marks on the hieroglyphic seals are writing, and which are ornament? · Cretan Hieroglyphic > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cretan-hieroglyphic/questions/QST0DEDWSVXAX3N/which-marks-on-the-hieroglyphic-seals-are-writing-and-which Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-31T16:18:43+00:00 --- **0** # Which marks on the hieroglyphic seals are writing, and which are ornament? Asked 31 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters CHIC admitted a seal graph to the sign list only if it also occurs on clay and set the rest aside as decoration, following a view going back to Pope in 1968 that seal engraving was not serious writing⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDKWQ4P0TK/cretan-hieroglyphic-sign-repertoires-yesterday-today-and). Jasink restored more than thirty motifs, Decorte argued that the whole seal face is one syntax, and the INSCRIBE team in 2023 found that some excluded motifs occupy the positions of signs⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJ3W6CMA4/cretan-hieroglyphic-seals-a-new-classification-of-symbols)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDH31NWJSE/cretan-hieroglyphic-and-the-nature-of-script)⁠[[4]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDGYPFMCBS/in-search-of-lost-signs-a-new-approach-to-the-issue-of). Jasink and Weingarten add that the seals were ornaments whose script was meant to be seen, which bears on how the signs were used but not on whether they are signs⁠[[5]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDM2ZPTMFX/seals-as-luxury-ornaments-and-the-archanes-script-chapter-4). ## Answers 3 [**Every graph on a hieroglyphic seal face belongs to the script's graphic system, including motifs CHIC set aside as…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cretan-hieroglyphic/answers/ANS0DEE9BBE5B9Q/every-graph-on-a-hieroglyphic-seal-face-belongs-to-the) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**Some seal graphs are writing and the rest are decoration; a graph counts as a sign when it is also attested on clay.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cretan-hieroglyphic/answers/ANS0DEE9BT7PFNG/some-seal-graphs-are-writing-and-the-rest-are-decoration-a) Not tested yet Evidence: 1 against Still possible [**The seals were luxury ornaments carrying owners' names in a script meant to be seen more than read.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cretan-hieroglyphic/answers/ANS0DEE9CZF89ZJ/the-seals-were-luxury-ornaments-carrying-owners-names-in-a) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## Next steps 1 1 Using DBAS-CHS or CHIC drawings, tabulate every seal face with the position and neighbours of each graph, and test whether CHIC-excluded motifs fill sign slots more often than a shuffled null. ~30 h **—** not judged Ranked by how likely each is to move the key question, for the time it takes ## History 1. 2009[Anna Margherita Jasink: the 2023 INSCRIBE study found that some motifs CHIC excluded occupy the positions and combinations of recognised signs…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJ3W6CMA4/cretan-hieroglyphic-seals-a-new-classification-of-symbols)For: Every graph on a hieroglyphic seal face belongs to the script's graphic system, including motifs CHIC set aside as… 1. 2017[Roeland P.-J. E. Decorte: the 2023 INSCRIBE study found that some motifs CHIC excluded occupy the positions and combinations of recognised signs…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDH31NWJSE/cretan-hieroglyphic-and-the-nature-of-script)For: Every graph on a hieroglyphic seal face belongs to the script's graphic system, including motifs CHIC set aside as… 1. 2021[Barbara Montecchi et al.: low frequencies make it impossible to chart the distribution of many seal graphs, so whether each is decorative…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDGSRMZC25/rationalizing-the-cretan-hieroglyphic-sign-list)Against: Every graph on a hieroglyphic seal face belongs to the script's graphic system, including motifs CHIC set aside as… 1. 2023[Silvia Ferrara et al.: the 2023 INSCRIBE study found that some motifs CHIC excluded occupy the positions and combinations of recognised signs…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDGYPFMCBS/in-search-of-lost-signs-a-new-approach-to-the-issue-of)For: Every graph on a hieroglyphic seal face belongs to the script's graphic system, including motifs CHIC set aside as… 1. 2023[Silvia Ferrara et al.: the clay-attestation rule excludes by construction any sign used only on seals, and has been rejected by Jasink…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDGYPFMCBS/in-search-of-lost-signs-a-new-approach-to-the-issue-of)Against: Some seal graphs are writing and the rest are decoration; a graph counts as a sign when it is also attested on clay. 1. 2024[Silvia Ferrara: low frequencies make it impossible to chart the distribution of many seal graphs, so whether each is decorative…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDKWQ4P0TK/cretan-hieroglyphic-sign-repertoires-yesterday-today-and)Against: Every graph on a hieroglyphic seal face belongs to the script's graphic system, including motifs CHIC set aside as… 1. 2024[Silvia Ferrara: the clay-attestation rule excludes by construction any sign used only on seals, and has been rejected by Jasink…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDKWQ4P0TK/cretan-hieroglyphic-sign-repertoires-yesterday-today-and)Against: Some seal graphs are writing and the rest are decoration; a graph counts as a sign when it is also attested on clay. 1. 2024[Anna Margherita Jasink: seal sequences appear to name owners or offices, and seal shape, stone and sequence correlate with the holder's status.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDM2ZPTMFX/seals-as-luxury-ornaments-and-the-archanes-script-chapter-4)For: The seals were luxury ornaments carrying owners' names in a script meant to be seen more than read. 1. 2026[Cassandra M. Donnelly: the 2023 INSCRIBE study found that some motifs CHIC excluded occupy the positions and combinations of recognised signs…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK45N1KZM/review-of-m-civitillo-s-ferrara-t-meissner-eds-cretan)For: Every graph on a hieroglyphic seal face belongs to the script's graphic system, including motifs CHIC set aside as… 1. 2026[Cassandra M. Donnelly: the clay-attestation rule excludes by construction any sign used only on seals, and has been rejected by Jasink…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK45N1KZM/review-of-m-civitillo-s-ferrara-t-meissner-eds-cretan)Against: Some seal graphs are writing and the rest are decoration; a graph counts as a sign when it is also attested on clay. 1. 2026[Cassandra M. Donnelly: seal sequences appear to name owners or offices, and seal shape, stone and sequence correlate with the holder's status.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK45N1KZM/review-of-m-civitillo-s-ferrara-t-meissner-eds-cretan)For: The seals were luxury ornaments carrying owners' names in a script meant to be seen more than read. 1. Oct 2026[Session 1: raised the question, proposed three answers and found four results bearing on its answers](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DEECGMX10RS/session-1-cretan-hieroglyphic-seeded-corpus-readings-and) ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/cretan-hieroglyphic/questions/QST0DEDWSVXAX3N/which-marks-on-the-hieroglyphic-seals-are-writing-and-which%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/cretan-hieroglyphic/questions/QST0DEDWSVXAX3N/which-marks-on-the-hieroglyphic-seals-are-writing-and-which%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/cretan-hieroglyphic/questions/QST0DEDWSVXAX3N/which-marks-on-the-hieroglyphic-seals-are-writing-and-which%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/cretan-hieroglyphic/questions/QST0DEDWSVXAX3N/which-marks-on-the-hieroglyphic-seals-are-writing-and-which%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/cretan-hieroglyphic/questions/QST0DEDWSVXAX3N/which-marks-on-the-hieroglyphic-seals-are-writing-and-which%23add-source) Where it fits Cretan Hieroglyphic **Which marks on the hieroglyphic seals are writing, and which are ornament?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]