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Lost in a Forest of Signs

Describing and Understanding Graphic Variation in Ancient Writing Systems

Variation graphique dans les systèmes d'écriture ancien à travers le monde

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Published on Thursday, May 07, 2026

Abstract

This conference seeks to explore whether resolving this issue necessarily depends on linguistic analysis—and therefore on decipherment itself—or whether, in some cases, a deeper understanding of graphic variation can in fact inform or facilitate the process of decipherment.

Announcement

Presentation

One of the central challenges in any decipherment lies in determining when apparently similar glyphs should be understood as graphic variants (allographs) of the same sign (e.g., a/�), sharing identical phonographic and/or semographic values, and when they should instead be regarded as distinct signs with different values (e.g., minuscule <L> vs. majuscule <i> : l/I).

This conference seeks to explore whether resolving this issue necessarily depends on linguistic analysis—and therefore on decipherment itself—or whether, in some cases, a deeper understanding of graphic variation can in fact inform or facilitate the process of decipherment.

A distinction can be drawn between deciphered writing systems, where this question has (mostly) been settled, and undeciphered systems, where it remains open. One of the main aims of this meeting is to bring together scholars working on undeciphered writing systems with those studying deciphered ones, fostering dialogue and shared insights—particularly through a more precise and nuanced description of the diverse phenomena encompassed by what we term graphic variation.

Program

Monday 15 June

Deciphered scripts Alphabets & Abdjads

  • 10h-10h35 : 1st presentation – Peter Stein (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena / Universität Erfurt) Graphic Variation in Ancient South Arabian
  • 10h35-11h10 : 2nd presentation – Jaime Martinez Porro (Freie Universität Berlin) The Avestan script
  • 11h30-12h05 : 3rd presentation – Svenja Bonmann (University of Cologne) The Kushan script
  • 12h05-12h40 : 4th presentation – Ignasi Adiego (Universitat de Barcelona) Graphemes and Allographs in the Decipherment of Carian
  • 14h-14h35 : 5th presentation – Ben Haring (University of Leiden) Proto-Sinaitic : an adapted hieroglyphic font ?
  • 14h35-15h10 : 6th presentation – Claude Rilly (CNRS) Hieroglyphic or cursive script ? Graphic register variations in Meroitic

Syllabic Scripts

  • 15h30-16h05 : 7th presentation – François Desset (Université de Liège) Graphic variation in Linear Elamite script

Logophonographic Script

  • 16h05-16h40 : 8th presentation – Andreas Thele (Université de Liège) Graphic Variations of Characters in the Japanese Writing Systems
  • 16h40-17h15 : 9th presentation – Laurent Colonna d’Istria / Mason Wilkes (Université de Liège) Graphic Variation in Cuneiform : Past and Present Approaches

Tuesday 16 June

  • 9h30-10h05 : 10th presentation – Ester Salgarella (Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Aarhus, Denmark ; online presentation)(De)Signs – Evaluating Graphic Variation in the ‘Minoan’ Linear A Scripth
  • 10h05-10h40 : 11th presentation – Alessandro Greco (Università La Sapienza – Roma) Paleography and graphotechnics applied to Linear B : some research perspectives
  • 11h-11h35 : 12th presentation – Yànru Xú (VIEWS project, Faculty of Classics, University of Cambridge)Graphic Variations and Classifier Variations in the Guodian Bamboo Manuscripts
  • 11h35-12h10 : 13th presentation – Rostislav Oreshko (CNRS Orient & Méditerranée) Regional Scribal Traditions and Graphic variation in Hieroglyphic Luwian Writing
  • 12h10-12h45 : 14th presentation – Emil JoubertStéphane Polis (Université de Liège) Graphic Variation in a Figurative Script – Analyzing Iconicity and its Encoding in Ancient Egyptian Writing
  • 14h-14h35 : 15th presentation – Christian Prager (Universität Bonn) Horror Repetitionis and the Joy of Writing : Allography, Graphic Variation, and the Logic of Decipherment in the Classic Maya Script
  • 14h35-15h10 : 16th presentation – Duncan J. Poupard (The Chinese University of Hong Kong) Naxi Script as a Generative Writing System : Challenges and New Pathways
  • 15h30-16h05 : 17th presentation – Gordon Whitthaker (Georg August Universität Göttingen) Glyphic Variation in Aztec and post-Aztec sources

Undeciphered Scripts

  • 16h05-16h40 : 18th presentation – Kathryn Kelley (Uppsala University) Existential questions in the construction of a proto-Elamite signlist
  • 16h40-17h15 : 19th presentation – Andreas Fuls (Technische Universität Berlin) Signs in Proto-Byblos Inscriptions

Wednesday 17 June

  • 9h30-10h05 : 20th presentation – Bryan Wells (Independent Researcher) / Andreas Fuls (Technische Universität Berlin) Signs and Graphic Variation of Indus Inscriptions
  • 10h05-10h40 : 21th presentation – Piotr Zadworny (Universiteit Leiden) Disentangling Glyphic Variation in Archaic Mesopotamian Economic Accounts
  • 10h55-11h30 : 22th presentation – Albert Davletshin (Instituto de Antropología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico) Graphic Variation in the Kohau Rongorongo Script of Easter Island and Decipherment Methods
  • 11h30-12h05 : 23th presentation – Merten a Campo (University of Cambridge) The evaluation of graphic variability in the hieroglyphic writing of Crete

Ouverture

  • 12h05-12h40 : 24th presentation – Cécile Pierrot (Université de Lorraine, CNRS, INRIA) / Camille Desenclos (Université de Picardie Jules Verne) Lost in decryption : variety and variability of ciphertext characters in early modern texts

Conclusion

12h40-13h : Jean-Marie Klinkenberg (Université de Liège)

Informations

https://www.mondesanciens.uliege.be/cms/c_12886194/fr/lost-in-a-forest-of-signs

Preliminary program

(the entrance is free and does not need any registration)

Places

  • salles Gothot (15 & 17 June), salle Lumière (16 June) - Université de Liège, place du XX Août
    Liège, Belgium (4000, Liège)

Event attendance modalities

Hybrid event (on site and online)


Date(s)

  • Monday, June 15, 2026
  • Tuesday, June 16, 2026
  • Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Keywords

  • écriture, writing, variation graphique, graphic variation, epigraphy épigraphie, philologie, philology, egyptian, égyptien, maya, cunéiforme, cuneiform, aztèque, aztec, japonnais, japanese, chinois, chinese, epigraphy, épigraphie, louvite, luwian

Contact(s)

  • Émil Joubert
    courriel : ejoubert [at] uliege [dot] be

Information source

  • Émil Joubert
    courriel : ejoubert [at] uliege [dot] be

License

CC0-1.0 This announcement is licensed under the terms of Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal.

To cite this announcement

« Lost in a Forest of Signs », Conference, symposium, Calenda, Published on Thursday, May 07, 2026, https://doi.org/10.58079/166sl

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