# Is the Archanes script of the late Prepalatial seals the first stage of Cretan Hieroglyphic, or a separate script? · Cretan Hieroglyphic > Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cretan-hieroglyphic/questions/QST0DEDX0QKA1JC/is-the-archanes-script-of-the-late-prepalatial-seals-the Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-31T15:47:34+00:00 --- **0** # Is the Archanes script of the late Prepalatial seals the first stage of Cretan Hieroglyphic, or a separate script? Asked 31 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·2 answers·0·0 following **Two answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters Seals from the Archanes-Phourni cemetery of about 2100 to 1900 BC carry a recurring sequence, the Archanes formula, in signs that look like pictures but recur with the frequencies of a syllabary⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDH6KX72G8/the-first-european-writing-redefining-the-archanes-script)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK86XR502/cretan-hieroglyphs-wikipedia-article). Decorte argued in 2018 that the group should be defined on its own terms, Jasink and Weingarten call it a third Minoan script, and the 2024 volume rejects the older view that it is early Linear A⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDH6KX72G8/the-first-european-writing-redefining-the-archanes-script)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDM2ZPTMFX/seals-as-luxury-ornaments-and-the-archanes-script-chapter-4)⁠[[4]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDGNWHJN54/cretan-hieroglyphic-the-earliest-script-on-crete-semiotics). The formula recurs on the Neopalatial seal from the Knossos cult centre, where it is linked to fraction signs⁠[[5]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDHJH0CKWC/a-hieroglyphic-seal-from-the-cult-centre-of-the-city-of). ## Answers 2 [**The Archanes script is a separate script, distinct from both Cretan Hieroglyphic and Linear A.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cretan-hieroglyphic/answers/ANS0DEE9GB9F8CD/the-archanes-script-is-a-separate-script-distinct-from-both) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**The Archanes script is the first stage of Cretan Hieroglyphic.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cretan-hieroglyphic/answers/ANS0DEE9J5BAN7X/the-archanes-script-is-the-first-stage-of-cretan) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 2018[Roeland P.-J. E. Decorte: decorte and Jasink and Weingarten treat the Archanes seals as a script in their own right, and the 2024 volume no…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDH6KX72G8/the-first-european-writing-redefining-the-archanes-script)For: The Archanes script is a separate script, distinct from both Cretan Hieroglyphic and Linear A. 1. 2022[Athanasia Kanta et al.: the Archanes formula recurs on the Neopalatial hieroglyphic seal KN S (4/4) 01 from the Knossos cult centre, linked…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDHJH0CKWC/a-hieroglyphic-seal-from-the-cult-centre-of-the-city-of)For: The Archanes script is the first stage of Cretan Hieroglyphic. 1. 2024[Anna Margherita Jasink: decorte and Jasink and Weingarten treat the Archanes seals as a script in their own right, and the 2024 volume no…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDM2ZPTMFX/seals-as-luxury-ornaments-and-the-archanes-script-chapter-4)For: The Archanes script is a separate script, distinct from both Cretan Hieroglyphic and Linear A. 1. 2026[Cassandra M. Donnelly: decorte and Jasink and Weingarten treat the Archanes seals as a script in their own right, and the 2024 volume no…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK45N1KZM/review-of-m-civitillo-s-ferrara-t-meissner-eds-cretan)For: The Archanes script is a separate script, distinct from both Cretan Hieroglyphic and Linear A. 1. Oct 2026[Session 1: raised the question, proposed two answers and found two 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/QST0DEDX0QKA1JC/is-the-archanes-script-of-the-late-prepalatial-seals-the%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/QST0DEDX0QKA1JC/is-the-archanes-script-of-the-late-prepalatial-seals-the%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/QST0DEDX0QKA1JC/is-the-archanes-script-of-the-late-prepalatial-seals-the%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/QST0DEDX0QKA1JC/is-the-archanes-script-of-the-late-prepalatial-seals-the%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/QST0DEDX0QKA1JC/is-the-archanes-script-of-the-late-prepalatial-seals-the%23add-source) Where it fits Cretan Hieroglyphic **Is the Archanes script of the late Prepalatial seals the first stage of Cretan Hieroglyphic, or a separate script?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]