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Monday 12 December 2011

6000 year old prehistoric inscription with Greek letters


 An amazing discovery was brought to light by archaeologists in excavations of prehistoric Pella's Archondikon, a few days before closing the excavation period (summer 2011). Discovered in the lower layers of the settlement, a stone column, approximately 30x20 cm with engraved letters of the Greek alphabet. 




First estimations indicated a date around 4000 BC, long before the invention of cuneiform writing of the Sumerians (about 3500 BC). Samples of the Column of Archondikon (now known as the provisional findings) have been sent to the Laboratory of Mineralogy and Petrography, University of Thessaloniki in order to determine the exact composition of the rock, which will help identify the region of origin, which must be very nearby, a rock, which is still used today. The column, as preserved, will be examined with X-rays to determine if there are other letters that after so many millennia, it is difficult to read due to deterioration of the surface. 


The most striking fact arising from a careful examination of the column is a clear record of letters of the ancient Greek alphabet, as the archaic Z had approximately the shape of I, but with the larger top and bottom line (see photo). You can clearly see the A series and other letters. Despite the deterioration of the column, certain letters are seen clearly, in contrast to previous findings for example the much vaunted plate of Dispilio. 



The excavations in the "mound" of Archondikon began in 1991 and continues today. The Archondikon is a prime residential position overlooking the fertile valley of Giannitsa. The importance of the position shown by the fact that detected continuously inhabited since the Neolithic Age (6th millennium BC) until the late Byzantine period (14th century).

The in charge archaeologists of the excavation  avoid declare anything as we learned from reliable source, they are obviously embarrassed and "numb", which is natural if we consider the huge twists to be carried by this shocking discovery. It first breaks the established theory on the introduction of the Greek alphabet from the Phoenicians the 6th century BC .... If, indeed, occur, and other such columns, as it is probable, then the developments in the science of epigraphy (and linguistics) will be cataclysmic.
Be remembered that so far the first sample of cuneiform writing was considered in Mesopotamia!


From TRITO MATI magazine December 2011

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