# What were the inscribed clay balls for? · Cypro-Minoan > Two answers have been proposed. The balls were administrative tokens or lots naming people or units, used in allocation or sortition. leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cypro-minoan/questions/QST0CWRBQNM41EF/what-were-the-inscribed-clay-balls-for Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:10+00:00 --- **0** # What were the inscribed clay balls for? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What language or languages does Cypro-Minoan write?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cypro-minoan/questions/QST0CWRBPY653KZ/what-language-or-languages-does-cypro-minoan-write)·2 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the balls were administrative tokens or lots naming people or units, used in allocation or sortition** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Two answers have been proposed. The balls were administrative tokens or lots naming people or units, used in allocation or sortition. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. One is still possible. ## Why it matters About 90 balls, each with three to five signs, are the largest single class of object, and their repetitions are the best internal evidence for words or names⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CWRBECR13SX/contexts-and-repetitions-of-cypro-minoan-inscriptions). ## Answers 2 [**The balls were administrative tokens or lots naming people or units, used in allocation or sortition.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cypro-minoan/answers/ANS0CWRBXRY5T6S/the-balls-were-administrative-tokens-or-lots-naming-people) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cypro-minoan/answers/ANS0CWRBY8J4YNG/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2017[Ferrara & Valério puts forward: the balls were administrative tokens or lots naming people or units, used in allocation or sortition.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CWRBECR13SX/contexts-and-repetitions-of-cypro-minoan-inscriptions) 1. 2017[Ferrara & Valério: sign sequences repeat across balls found together.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CWRBECR13SX/contexts-and-repetitions-of-cypro-minoan-inscriptions)For: The balls were administrative tokens or lots naming people or units, used in allocation or sortition. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/cypro-minoan/questions/QST0CWRBQNM41EF/what-were-the-inscribed-clay-balls-for%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/cypro-minoan/questions/QST0CWRBQNM41EF/what-were-the-inscribed-clay-balls-for%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/cypro-minoan/questions/QST0CWRBQNM41EF/what-were-the-inscribed-clay-balls-for%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/cypro-minoan/questions/QST0CWRBQNM41EF/what-were-the-inscribed-clay-balls-for%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/cypro-minoan/questions/QST0CWRBQNM41EF/what-were-the-inscribed-clay-balls-for%23add-source) Where it fits Cypro-Minoan [**What language or languages does Cypro-Minoan write?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cypro-minoan/questions/QST0CWRBPY653KZ/what-language-or-languages-does-cypro-minoan-write)Key question · most likely the language is unrelated to any known language, and the evidence cannot yet identify it [Are any Cypro-Minoan sign values established?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cypro-minoan/questions/QST0CWRBQ603RX0/are-any-cypro-minoan-sign-values-established)Most likely · a small set of values, inherited from Linear A and passed on to the Cypriot syllabary, is secure **What were the inscribed clay balls for?** You're here · the balls were administrative tokens or lots naming people or units, used in allocation or sortition [ Ask a question under this one ]