Table of Contents

The transcribed texts are based on the texts presented in GORILA (below). With the permission of Jean-Pierre Olivier and Louis Godart, I have prepared a transnumeration of the texts (converting GORILA's drawn signs to their corresponding sign-numbers) and from this transcription I then prepared a phonetic normalization of the texts, using the conventional phonetic values assigned to Linear A signs that correspond to the known Linear B signs. This process was completed on 22 March 1994. Olivier graciously checked this document against GORILA vols. I-V and a ms. of VI. It was then put in tabular form in January-February 1997. Since then, there have been continual updates.

The phonetic transcriptions use Linear B values for Linear A signs assumed to be the same. Also see below, "Phonetic values of the signs."

Words of 3 or more syllables appearing exactly the same in both Linear A and Linear B Godart 1984
A-TI-KA (ZA Wc 2.a1-2; KN V 831.4)
DA-I-PI-TA (ZA 8.5, 10a.4-5; KN B 799.1)
I-JA-TE (PH Zb 4; PY Eq 146.9)
I-TA-JA (HT 28a.6; KN Ap 769.2, Xe 537.2)
KI-DA-RO (HT 47a.4, 117a.9, 122a.2-3?; KN E 842.3)
PA-I-TO (HT 97a.3, 120.6; KN 59 occurrences)
SE-TO-I-JA (PR Za 1b; KN 22 occurrences)
SU-KI-RI-TA (PH Wa 32; KN 9 occurrences), SU-KI-RI-TE-I-JA (HT Zb 158b)
possibly A-RA-KO (KO? Zf 2; KN 5 occurrences)

Additional
PA-RA-NE (HT 115a.4, b.1; KN Vc 7616)

Words of 3 or more syllables in Linear A that are very similar to words in Linear B A-KA-RU (HT 2.1, 86a.1); cf. a-ka-re-u (KN B 416)
A-RA-NA-RE (HT 1.4); cf. a-ra-na-ro (KN As 1516.11)
A-RE-SA-NA (THE Zb 2); cf. a-re-sa-ni-e (PY An 724.2)
A-SA-RA₂ (HT 89.1); cf. a-sa-ro (KN As 40.4)
A-SU-JA (HT 11a.3-4); cf. a-si-wi-ja (PY Fr 1206)
A-TA-RE (ZA 8.1); cf. a-ta-ro (PY An 35.5)
A-TI-RU (ZA 4a.3); cf. a-ti-ro (KN Dv 1272B)
DI-DE-RU (HT 86a.3, 95a.4, b.4); cf. di-de-ro (KN Dv 1504B)
DA-MI-NU (HT 117a.8); cf. da-mi-ni-ja (PY Aa 96, Ad 697) and da-mi-ni-jo (common on KN D-tablets and elsewhere)
DU-PU3-RE (KO Za 1b); cf. du-pu2-ra-zo (KN Da 1173)
KA-SA-RU (HT 10b.3); cf. ka-sa-ro (KN C 912B)
KI-RI-TA2 (HT 114a.1, 121.1); cf. ki-ri-ta (KN G 820.1, Ld 785.1)
KU-KU-DA-RA (HT 117a.7); cf. ku-ka-da-ro (KN Uf 836.b)
KU-PA3-NU (HT 1, etc.); cf. ku-pa3-no (KN Df 1219B)
KU-PA3-NA-TU (HT 47a.1-2, 119.3); cf. ku-pa-nu-we-to (KN As 1517.8)
KU-RU-KU (HT 87.4); cf. ku-ru-ka (KN Vc 5510)
MA-SI-DU (HT 43.1-2); cf. ma-si-dwo (KN Fh 360B) MI+JA+RU (several); cf. mi-ja-ro (KN Ln 1568.1)
PA-JA-RE (several); cf. pa-ja-ro (KN As 1519.6)
QA-QA-RU (several); cf. qa-qa-ro (KN As 604.3)
QA-RA2-WA (HT 86a.3); cf. qa-ra2-wo (KN Ce 50.1a)
SA-MA-RO (HT 88.5-6); cf. sa-ma-ra (PY Jn 829.15, etc., ]sa-ma-ru[, KN V 655.1, and sa-ma-ri-jo, KN Da 1147, Np 857)
SI-KI-RA (HT 8a.4); cf. si-ki-ro (KN U 8210.1)
SI-MI-TA (HT 96a.2-3); cf. si-mi-te-u (KN Am 827.1)
TA-NA-TI (HT 7a.4, 10b.4, 98a.2); cf. ]ta-na-ti (KN Uf <311>.2)
TE-JA-RE (HT 117a.5); cf. te-ja-ro (KN V 479 v.3, X 5525.1, 8661B)
WA-DU-NA (HT 6b.1-2, 85b.4-5); cf. wa-du-na (KN V 503.3)
WI-RA-RE-MI-TE (ZA 9.6); cf. we-ru-ma-ta (PY Ub 1318.4)

By convention, an "inscription" is defined as two or more signs in conjunction, a word. A single sign may be an abbreviation of a word (e.g., Linear B o for o-pe-ro, "owed", "deficit"), or, commonly in Linear A, a transaction sign, like sign *42 A ("to" NAME?) and sign *04 TE ("from"? NAME).

Thus, pot marks and other individual and solitary marks "must be clearly distinguished from writing in the true sense of the word, and their forms generallly have only a fortuitous resemblance to alphabetic or linear writing signs." (DOCs² p. 29; cf. further remarks that disassociate such signs from lexical meaning, pp. 40 and 63).

Thus, this website does not list pot marks, mason's marks, signs on sealstones, and other single & solitary signs that resemble Hieroglyphic, Linear A, or Linear B signs.

b. Bibliography from 1980 (with seminal works prior)

Abbreviations
• DOCs and DOCs² = M. Ventris and J. Chadwick, Documents in Mycenaean Greek (ed. 1), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1956; second edition by J. Chadwick, Cambridge University Press 1973.
• CMS = Corpus der minoischen und mykenischen Siegel (Berlin: Gebr. Mann Verlag 1964-2000; and Mainz: Philipp von Zabern 2002-present).
• GORILA: see above, section 3.

• 1. to make available the results of GORILA to the wider public (with permission of Louis Godart and Jean-Pierre Olivier). This website is not a substitute for GORILA, which presents the Linear A documents in photographs and drawings; signs are assigned numbers in vol. 5. This website "normalizes" the inscriptions (presents them as if they were "laundry lists") and phonetically transcribes the signs according to their accepted Linear B values.

• 2. to work publicly with colleagues on the Minoan administrative process: how commodities were assessed, collected, and distributed.

• 3. to obtain an understanding of the administrative process, of the administrative vocabulary (e.g., the terms for "total" and for "deficit"), and of Minoan social structure.

I am NOT interested in producing a decipherment of Linear A -- please see "Decipherments" (section 8, below).

7a. Chronology

• at least two Pictographic scripts (Cretan Hieroglyphic, including the "Archanes" script [Schoep 2002, 23] and the text on the Arkalokhori Ax; and the text on the Phaistos Disc)
• Linear A
• Linear B that wrote Mycenaean Greek

The first sign looks Hieroglyphic, like bull head Hieroglyphi sign *012 ; the other two signs are definitely Linear A: TA-JE. If the inscription is indeed a mix of scripts, it may well be very early.

The other earliest documents date to MM IIA (KN 40 from Knossos, South House, carrying a badly legible fraction) or MM II (ARKH Zf 9; PH 6-19, 22, 24-28, 30 [Haghia Photini], Wb 33-36, Wc 37-41, 43, 44, 46, 52, 55, Wg 45, and Wy 42; and SAM Wa 1).

Hieroglyphic was therefore probably invented first, in MM IA and appears first on seals from Archanes and Ayia Triada; Linear A follows immediately in MM IB, or soon after, in MM II, and appears first on documents primarily from Phaistos. From then until MM III, Hieroglyphic and Linear A were being written contemporaneously, with Hieroglyphic documents at Malia Quartier Mu (MM II) and Malia Palace (MM III, and Knossos Palace?) and with Linear A documents at Phaistos (MM II), Malia Palace (MM III), and Knossos Palace (MM IIIB). From this evidence, it is possible that Hieroglyphic originated in central Crete first (or possibly at Malia), in MM IA and Linear A originated at Phaistos slightly later in MM II.

Although the two scripts share several signs, which may have similar phonetic values, it is not clear why two such different scripts should have developed more or less contemporaneously unless they represent two different administrative practices and/or two different languages or dialects (Schoep 2002, 22-23).

Other linear scripts may have similarly developed from Linear A farther east: see the inscription from Lachish (Finkelberg 1996).

Character of the Script and Documents

7b. The Script

7c. The Documents

• inventories -- of storerooms (food, raw materials, finished products), stables, workshops, lands belonging to the administration, their goods & flocks. "Inventories form the basis of target records" (Schoep 2002, 90-91).
• assessments -- the central administration telling outlying regions what they should produce; a kind of taxation
• collections, contributions -- inward movement of goods and contributions to the administration (in response to assessments, taxes, levies), deliveries, sacrifices, etc.; commodities recorded as in-coming from the outlying regions, either actually arrived (KU-RO, total) or in arrears (deficits, KI-RO).
• allocations, disbursements, distributions -- recording the outward movement of agricultural commodities, goods, animals and raw materials for various purposes (finishing, pay, rations, trade, etc.); commodities given back out to people or places as rations or payments for services rendered. Mixed commodities and combined documents (Schoep's type IB & V) with VIR and "the Aegean triad" (FIC, GRA, OLIV) probably record allocations (e.g., HT 100). See PE 1, KH 7, HT 27, HT 39.

7d. Balance Ledger Tablets

commodity	name	contribution	U-MI-NA-SI	total
VINa	VIR+KA SA-RA2 WI-DI-NA JA-QIf	6 3	4 3 E 6	22 E
OLE+DI	SA-RA2 A-RU-DA-RA I-TA-JA WI-DI-NA	1 3 10	5     3	22
GRA	A-SI-JA-KA A-RU-DA-RA SA-RA2	5 5	20	30
NI	SA-RA2 PU-RA2	2	2 6	10
OLE+?	JA-QIf	3 J L2		3 J L2
*304	A-RU-DA-RA	2		2

The ratios seem to be as follows:

name	a: KI-RI-TA2 (owed)	b: SA (paid?)	assessment
SA-RA2	a: GRA 10		10
	a: VINa 1	b: SA (paid?) VINa 9	10
	a: OLE 7    NI 1    BOSm 3		11 oil, figs, cattle

Again, the ratios appear to be similar in proportion to those in HT 28:

1, the identifying term for the "pictogram" cannot be proved in advance of deciphering the script.

2, it can be demonstrated that, for several Hieroglyphic & Linear A signs, the acrophonic principle probably did not operate. Hieroglyphic *012 , a bull-head, becomes Linear AB 23 with the phonetic value MU, Hieroglyphic *018 , a dog head, becomes AB 60 RA, and Hieroglyphic *060 , a cat face, becomes AB 80 MA. My guess is that the phonetic value of these signs reflect the sound the animal makes, "moo," "arf," and "miaow" (in English). And there are other examples where the sound of the object seemingly relates to its phonetic value (e.g., Hieroglyphic *057 , a key sistrum, becomes AB 67 KI [the clinking sound of a metal rattle]).

This is not to say that the acrophonic principle is never appropriate to Linear A. Valério 2007 demonstrates that the word for master/lord is DU-PU₂-RE and that the first sign DU is based in form on the Egyptian sr , "official/dignitary/courtier."

10a. Transaction Signs

In Linear B, transaction signs can mean different things in different contexts (e.g., DA in PY En 609 or in Aa, Ab sets).

In Linear A,Transaction Signs "provided information about the kind (or purpose) of transaction and that the format of a tablet indicated the use to which a commodity was put by the administration (its administrative status), its provenance or its destination. Thus, the lists of mixed commodities are clearly drawn up to a different administrative purpose than the single commodity tablets: the former record a single origin or destination for many commodities whereas the latter record several origins or destinations for single commodities" (Schoep 2002, 141).

The low frequency of most transaction signs implies they are context-bound, which would be appropriate for contributions; those occurring with KI-RO (e.g., HT 123) probably are also dealing with "incoming commodities or assessments of incoming commodities" (Schoep 2002, 142) that have not been fulfilled or delivered..

KA, apparently a container (see HT 93) (Schoep 2002, 137, identified it as something to do with people or a group of people; cf. HT 11b.2). The following discussion explores the possibility that VIR+KA are porters (see the individual notes to HT 28 and HT 88, and the note to HT 93 that identifies KA as containers).

10b. Transaction Words

10c. Place Names

• DA-U-*49 =? Linear B da-wo, perhaps Ayia Triada (Palaima 1994); it only appears on HT 120.3-4, as the first of 3 names in the second list, PA-I-TO being the last name. Perhaps DA-U-*49 is a minor locality between Phaistos and Ayia Triadaa (see SA-RA₂ below).
• DI-KI-TE (several occurrences) - from the numerous mentions of DI-KI-TE in the PK documents, this more likely to be Mt Dikte in east Crete, than to be Mt Ioukhtas near Knossos (Owens 1993b)
• I-DA (several occurrences) - Mt Ida?, although the original name of the mountain was Ϝίδα/βίδα. I-DA occurs in the Libation Formula on IO Za 2 and Za 11, KO Za 1, PK Za 9 and Za 18, and SY Za 1 -- and there it seems to substitute for A-SA-SA-RA, "dedication"; I-DA may therefore mean simply "this thing" (Davis 2011/2014 p. 374-375)..
• I-TI-NI-SA (ZA 15a.3) - Itanos (north of Palaikastro)
• KU-NI-SU = likely a place name (not "grain"; Hooker 1975; Duhoux 1989, 79; Schoep 2002, 148-50); "Knossos" is very doubtful. The word appears only 3 times, and probably within the region of south Crete: as a heading without numbers (therefore a place?) on HT 10.1; as a subheading on HT 86.2 & HT 95.a.3-4 (assessments?).
• KU-TA[ (HT 115b) cf. Linear B ku-ta-to
• KU-*79-NI (HT 13, HT 85a), perhaps Linear B ku-do-ni-ja (Bennet 1990, 193-211); KA-U-*79-NI cannot be a spelling variant (Schoep 2002, 156)
• PA-I-TO (HT 97, HT 120) - Phaistos
• SE-TO-I-JA (PR Za 1.b) - Archanes? (Owens 1994b), Ioukhtas?
• SA-RA₂ (only in the HT tablets) - the word appears only twice after a transaction term (after A-DU on HT 99a.2) and after I- on HT 93a.4 (according to the Continuity Principle) in the line before; it never appears after the transaction term TE (from). Compare HT 32.1, where the commodities are small enough to imply disbursements ("to" another place).

  Otherwise, SA-RA₂ appears as the heading to a list of commodities, presumably contributions "to" SA-RA₂.

  Some 12 tablets (HT 18, 28a+b, 30, 90, 94, 99, 100, 101, 114, 121, 125, 130) associate SA-RA₂ with a set of 4 commodities (*303, FIC, VINa, GRA, OLE), usually in that order when they occur together. But SA-RA₂ is occasionally listed against other commodities: BOSm (HT 114a.3-4), VIR+KA HT 28a.4). HT 30, 32, 33, 34 seem to form a separate set of SA-RA₂ documents, listing QA+[?]+PU, QA2+[?]+RE, MI+JA+RU, MI+JA+KA, E+KA, *305, *341+PI, PA₃+QE.

  That SA-RA₂ may be Ayia Triada itself is implied by HT 97.b where a carelessly written SA-RA₂ occupies the entire side (see commentary to HT 97b). HT Wc 3017 may refer to HT 94 (see the commentary there); if so, its retention at HT may reinforce the identification of HT as SA-RA₂..

  SU-KI-RI-TA (PH Wa 32) - Sybrita (or Sygrita), in the Amari valley, modern Thronos

  TU-RI-SA (KO Za 1b-c) - Tylissos

10d. Other Words

Ligature

• QI+SI (*512) or OVIS+SI, cf. Linear B SUS SI (for si-a₂-ro, fattened or to be fattened)

Ligature

• CAPm+KU (*513)

Ligature

• SA+MU+KU (*521) or SA+BOS+KU
• SA-VINa (*522), sesame wine?

Ligature

• E+[ ] (*525)
• E+KA (*526), in fractions (Schoep 2002, 133)

Ligatures

• TELA+KU (*535), counted in units, associated with *188
• TELA+TE, Tel Haror only (cf. Linear B TELA+TE = tepa cloth, a Minoan word; Oren 1996, 105)
• TELA+SE, Thera only
• TELA+*312 (*536), also TELA+KU?, counted in units, associated with *188 (Bennett 1975: 61, & Melena 1975: 108-10 both give TELA+ZO?; Younger 2005 identifies A312 as KU [cf. Hieroglyphic website]

Ligature

• JU+*317+QE (*542)

Melena 2014, 83, 89 suggests wo₂ for Linear B *79.

Ligature

• MA-RU (*80+*26 ), wool
• ]MA-RU (*558)
• MA+RU (*559 )
• MA+RU+ME (*561)
• MA+RU+RU (*562)

Ligature

• KU+[ ] (*564)

Ligatured (presumably commenting on aspects of the grain, e.g., raw, milled; destination as food or fodder; Schoep 2002, 104)

• GRA+BOSm (*576)
• GRA+DA (*573)
• GRA+KU (*579
• GRA+PA (*574), in very small quantities; so, "processed"? Compare PE 1 which allocates GRA+PA in half units to personnel (Schoep 2002, 106, 108)
• GRA+PA₃ (*577)
• GRA+QE (*578)
• GRA+QIf (*575)

When modified by fractions, it may have functioned as a land measure, as it does in Linear B (Schoep 2002, 154): *580 (+B), *581 (+E), *582 (+F), *583 (+H), *584 (+KL₂), *585 (+L₂), *586 (+L₃L₃).

Ligatured

• *587 (+TU; cf. *621 OLE+TU, the only other occurrence of a sign ligatured +TU)
  OLIV by itself is more frequent (HT 14.1-2, 3-5; HT 21.4; HT 44a.3; HT 50a.4; HT 58.3; HT 91.3; HT 101.6; HT 116a.3-4; HT 123+124 [5 times]; HT 131b.2; HT W 231A; ARKH 3a.2; SY Za 2a; ZA 6a.3-4, a.4; ZA a.11, b.2a; ZA 18a.2) than OLIV+TU [only at HT: 50a.4; 101.6; 116a.4]. Since OLIV+TU always appears just after OLIV, it seems to imply a contrast, and since it is rare it probably implies an uncommon contrast. In Linear B, OLIV appears 13 times at Knossos, twice at Mycenae, 8 times at Pylos. OLIV+A (agrios, wild olives) appears only at Knossos (8 times); OLIV+TI (tithasos, domesticated) appears four times at Knossos and once at Mycenae. KN E 669.1 contrasts OLIV+A 43 with OLIV+TI 45, and 669.2 mentions only OLIV, presumably the default normal OLIV. Similarly KN F 844.b lists OLIV+A 10 T 2 and repeats this information on the bottom side (label?) but only as OLIV 10 T 2. Finally, KN F 852.2 contrasts OLIV+A 70 with OLIV+TI 20.

  If, in Linear A, unligatured OLIV was the domesticated OLIV, then it would be reasonable to assume that OLIV+TU was the wild olive.

  It is less certain that OLE+TU (HT 23a.2; HT 28a.2-3; TY 3a.7) represents the oil from wild olives, since ligatured OLE is common and there is no pattern in the appearance of OLE+TU.

  However, it should be noted that ligatured +TU occurs only with OLE and OLIV.

VIN comes in 3 variations (Schoep 2002, 100)

VINa or plain wine, flavored (as below, in ligatures)

VINb wine of lesser quality (in Linear B): ARKH 2.1-2, 3a.2, 5.3; KH 5.2 (VINb+WI); ZA 10b.1-2

VINc vinegar (in Linear B, for perfume making): KH 18.3, 4; KH 61.2; KH 85.2; perhaps PH 7b.3

Modified

• ME VINa (*507, honey flavored?), ZA 15a.3
• VINa • GRA (*597), HT 27b.6
• VINa • SI (*590), HT 27b.2

Ligatured

• VINa+KA (*596), ZA 6b.2
• VINa+RA (*594), ZA 6b.2; ZA 15b.3
• VINa+RA (*595, variant of the preceding), KE Zb 5
• VINa+SA (*589), HT 131b.2; cf. SA VINa (*522, sesame flavored?), HT 114b.1; ZA 15a.1
• VINa+SU (*593), ZA 5a.1
• VINa+TE (*588), KN Zb 34
• VINa+WA (*591), HT 27b.5
• VINa+WA (*592, variant of the preceding), HT 27b.1, 5

• VINb+WI (*598), KH 5.2

*164, only at KH: textile?

• *164a, KH Wc 2042-4
• *164b, KH Wc 2040
• *164c, KH Wc 2041
• *164d, KH Wc 2036-9, 2045, 2111

*171, logogram on ZA 6a with agricultural commodities (perhaps also on THE Zb 5); in Linear B, it occurs with livestock (fodder? TH nodules)

*180, PH? 31; MA 4, 6b,d, Wc 7: hide (Schoep 2002, 131, 133). On MA 4a, *180+SA contrasts with plain *180; on MA 6, the quantities are large (6a: 941, 6b 620).

Ligatured

• HIDE+[?] (*599)
• HIDE+SA+B (*600)
• HIDE+SA+L (*601)
• HIDE+B (*602)
• HIDE+L (*603)

*188, meaning unknown, common.

Ligatured

• *188+KU (*604)

*191/GAL, KH Wc 2028 = helmet (= Linear B *191; Palaima 1988: 325) on KH Wc 2028

*301, common, meaning unknown.

Ligatured Schoep 2002, 113)

• *301+MI (*605)
• *301+*311 (*606)
• *301+*351 (*607)

*302, common, olive oil, mostly in whole units (Palmer 1995; Schoep 2002: 93 [also noting that Hallager prefers *302 to be identified as cyperus, which otherwise is not identifiable in Linear A); cf. TY 3 which lists olives and oil together (cf. SY Za 2).

Types of OLE in Linear B

• a-re-pa, aleiphar, unguent
• PA pa-ko-we, sage-scented
• PO po-ni-ki-jo, dyed red
• WE we-ja-re-pe, good for anointing
• SI ?
• O origanon, oregano-scented

Ligatures of OLE in Linear A

• OLE+A (*609) = A-RE-PA? (Schoep 2002, 117 n. 97)
• OLE+DI (*608), always appearing with OLE+MI (*622)
• OLE+E (*613)
• OLE+KI (*617), perhaps OLE KI-RO (owing)
• OLE+KI (*618, variant of the preceding)
• OLE+KI+U (*619)
• OLE+KI+ME (*620)
• OLE+MI (*622), always appearing with OLE+DI (*608), in whole units and small fractions
• OLE+NE (*612), in small fractions
• OLE+QE+DI (*623)
• OLE+QIf (*611)
• OLE+RA (*616)
• OLE+RI (*614), in small amounts
• OLE+TA (*615), in small fractions
• OLE+TU (*621), cf. OLIV+TU (*587, the only other occurrence of a sign ligatured +TU
• OLE+U (*610), almost always listed first and in whole units

*303, common, a grain (Palmer 1995). It acts like Linear B *121 (wheat; Schoep 2002, 112). This commodity appears on miscellaneous tablets, usually in whole numbers (esp. 3 and 6; Schoep 2002, 101). Since GRA (barley) rarely occcurs with *303 (cf. HT 99a), they may have been handled differently (cf. HT 110a with *303, b with GRA).

Ligatured, with fractions

• *303+D (*624)
• *303+D+*304+PA (*625)
• *303+E (*626)
• *303+K (*627)

*304, common, agricultural product, accompanying GRA on HT 92, 116 OLE and olives, GRA, VIN in large whole numbers on ZA 6 (Melena 1983, 116: sexual marker for OLIV & *303), but always found in a fixed position between OLE & OLIV. Schoep 2002, 124, suggests a spice like Linear B kuparo or coriander.

Ligatured

• *304+PA (*629), not found with plain *304
• *304+PA+*303+D (*630)
• *304+PA+*316+D (*631)
• *304+[ ] (*628)
• *304+[ ]+*303 (*632)
• *304+[ ]+*303+[ ] (*633)

*305, common at HT, something to do with personnel: HT 63, with two individual entries; HT 100, with groups of VIR. It also appears in signgroups, apparently as a syllabogram

*306, common at KH, meaning unknown. Schoep 2002, 125, suggests BOSf (it looks somewhat similar to Linear B *109b; it occurs with BOSm on KH 87; cf KH 6).

Ligatured

• *306+MI (*634)
• *306+VIR+*307 (*635)
• *306+*303+E (*636)

*307, HT 27a.2, 32.1, 89.1, 127b.4, meaning unknown.

Ligatured

• *307+*301[ (*637)
• *307+*387 (*638)

*308, ARKH 7.3; HT 23a.1, 32.1, 35.2, 123a,b; KH 12.1, 85.1; in a word: 23-308, HG 26b.4, agricultural commodity or measured in the same way, in proportion to OLIV, always in fractional quantities, except on HT 123 (25H representing contributions?); "repeated combination of the same commodities on [miscellaneous tablets] and their consistently small quantities" suggest disbursements, not contributions (Schoep 2002, 126).

*309, only TY 2 in three variations *309a , *309b , *309c

*312 KU, ARKH 3a; HT 49a.6; KH 8.4 (cf. Younger 2005; also discussed in the Hieroglyphic website; for *536 (TELA+*312) Bennett 1975: 61, & Melena 1975: 108-10 both give TELA+ZO?). Younger 2005 demonstrates that Hiero sign *084 , which resembles an animal (sheep?) head, corresponds to 3 subunits of *051 , which looks like a small dagger. Linear A *312 also looks like a small dagger and appears as an adjunct to Linear A *54 TELA (HT 38.3: TELA+*312; cf. TELA+KU on HT 38.3 (same line); and KU-TA[ on HT 115b.4 with *312+TA on HT 10b.2).

*313 ligatured with VIR in three variations *313a ( HT 89.3, 100.2), *313b ( HT 94a.2; KH 7a), *313c ( HT 127b.5)

*316, agricultural commodity on KH 91.2; PH 1a.1,2, meaning unknown.

Ligatured

• *316+TO+VINa (*639)
• *316+KI (*640)

*317, ARKH 3a.3,5; HT 96a.3, meaning unknown.

Ligatured

• *317+KU+*334 (*641)

*318, HT 45a.3, b,3, meaning unknown.

Ligatured

• *318+[ ] (*642)

*319, HT 132.1, Zd 1555, 156(bis), 157

*322, KH Wc 2026, 2027, 2098; cf. Linear B *158 (unidentified) on KH Wc 2026, 2027

*323, HT 96a.3,4

*326, HT 35.1, 91.1, 128a.1

*327 = B *140 AES?, HT 97a.1, 119.1 (Palaima 1988: 326), on HT 97a.1-2, HT 119.1 where it is allotted to people. It may have had a phonetic value, since it occurs in *327-JU on HT 119.4

*330, meaning unknown, only in ligature.

Ligatured

• *330+DA (*643)
• *330+SA (*644)

*332, HT 97b, 107.3, agricultural product

*333, HT Wc 3009, HT Wc 3010, MO Zf 1. Olivier 1987c, 143-44, compares the sign to Linear B *18 , for which Melena 2014, 83, suggests the value sto. HT Wc 3009: *333-DI-SU-KA *118 (4 impressions)
HT Wc 3010: *333-DI-NA-SU-KA [no logogram] (4 impressions)
MO Zf 1 (weight 1460 gr [1/20th talent]): *333-SA-MU

*334, KH 6.6, 7a.1, meaning unknown, only at KH where it occurs first on documents and is followed by whole numbers; thus, individuals (people, livestock; Schoep 2002, 126)

*336, KH 14.2, 82.4 = dog (based on the shape; Schoep 2002, 126-7)

*337, only in ligature, chariot frame (cf. Linear B *242), on KH Wc 2056, 2057.

Ligatured

• *337+*188 (*645)

*338, KH Wc 2067, 2068 = boots?

*339, PH 12a, 15a

*341, only in ligature, meaning unknown.

Ligatured

• *341+*188 (*646)

*343, HT 93a.7, meaning unknown

*344, HT 96a.4, meaning unknown

*346, HT 122b.1, meaning unknown

*347, KH 6.3, meaning unknown

*348, only in ligature, meaning unknown.

Ligature

• *303+*348 (*647)

*351, only in ligature, meaning unknown

Ligature

• *351+*351 (*607)

*352 = woman MUL?, only on KH 100 and in VIR-*352-JA, KH Wc 2100 here does not seem to be a common logogram for woman (MUL), but cf. VIR+KA (below) and *352 (KH 99; KH Wc 2100).

*353, PH 9a

*354, PH 10

*355, PH 10

*356, PH 13b

*357, PH 15b

*358, PH 16a.2

*359, PH 17a.1

*360, PH 17b

*362, ZA 10b.1: WA-*362 or TELA-*362

*365, HT Wa 1849

*366, HT Wa 1850

*367, HT Wa 1851

*368, HT Wa 1852

*369, HT Wa 1853

*370, HT Wa 1854

*371, KH Wa 1018

*400-418 = vessels

• *400, handleless cup
• *401 two-handled cup

  Ligatures

  • *401+[ ] (*649)
  • *401+A (vowel) (*650)
  • *401+RU (*651)
  • *401+RO (*652)
  • *401+*304 (*653)

• *402, straight-sided, handleless cup
• *403, chalice
• *404, cup with one handle

  Ligature

  • *402+A (vowel) (*654)

• *405, two-handled bucket

  Ligature

  • *405+Ω (*655)

• *406, lidded bucket

  Ligature

  • *406+KE (*656)

• *407, lekane or basin

  Ligature

  • *414+A (vowel) (*657)

• *408, tripod with two horizontal loop handles
• *409, handleless tripod
• *410, tripod with two vertical loop handles
• *411, tripod with two horizontal strap handles
• *412, ewer

  Ligature

  • *412+E (fraction) (*658)

• *413, ovoid jug (funnel?)

  Ligature

  • *413+SU (*660)

• *414 squat jug

  Ligatures

  • *414+[ ] (*661)
  • *414+F (*662)

• *415, pithoid jar
• *416, pithos
• *417, wicker basket (like those the girls use in the Xeste 3 fresco for collecting crocus stamens)

  Ligature

  • *416+L₂ (*663)

• *418, bull head rhyton

  Ligature

  • *418++L₂ (*664)

Several vessel logograms have fractions written inside (see MA 10); these may refer to the capacities of the vessels or to agricultural products, and their measurements, since they occur in mixed commodity tablets (cf. Linear B *123 AROM which looks like a container but actually refers to the contents, or to MU-container and sa-pi-de boxes on PY Vn 19, MY 105; Schoep 2002, 127-8). On KN K 700 and in the Gg tablets, the numbers refer to the contents, not the numbers of the vessels (Schoep 2002, 128). The KH roundels record quite a few vessels, according to the number of seal impressions: *408 tripod, 9; *409 tripod, 27; *411 tripod, 64; and *417 wicker baseket, 2.

12. The Libation Formula

In this section and in the one that follow, I summarize Brent Davis's dissertation on "Syntax": the word-order of the 'libation formula' (pp. 368-380).

The Libation Formula appears in part on various inscribed objects, many dedicated at sanctuaries. The words, however, often follow a fairly strict sequence, something like the following:

sequence 1	sequence 2	sequence 3	sequence 4	sequence 5	sequence 6
TL Za 1
A-TA- I-*301 -WA-JA	O-SU-QA-RE	JA-SA-SA-RA-ME	U-NA-KA-NA-SI	I-PI-NA-MA	SI-RU-TE
IO Za 6
TA-NA- I-*301 -U-TI-NU	I-NA-TA-I-ZU-DI-SI-KA	JA-SA-SA-RA-ME

Apparently sequences 1,2,3 can stand on their own, while sequences 4,5,6 form a second clause, which, however, never stands on its own.

A varient of Sequence 1 also appears on ZA Zb 3, a pithos found, not in a sanctuary but in a rural farm house (Ano Zakros):
.2: A-TA-I-*301-DE-KA

This suggests that -I-*301 is the root with prefixes and suffixes. The fact this word thus appears on a pithos in a house also suggests that this important word is a common one. Davis suggests a verb, like "give."

In which case, perhaps Minoan was a verb-initial language.

Since sequence 2 is always different, that should be the name of the person "giving."

Thus, Minoan is a verb-initial / subject-second. That would then put the object of the verb third: VSO.

If so, JA-SA-SA-RA-ME, sequence 3, should be the object, the inscribed object itself, the "gift/dedication."

Sequences 4,5,6, comprise a second clause that never varies but never stands alone; they are thus generic, like a generic dependent clause that restates the main clause; Davis suggests something like "requesting favor divine" (in many VSO languages, adjectives follow their noun).

Thus, the Libation Formula would translate, in most cases, something like the following:

sequence 1	sequence 2	sequence 3	sequence 4	sequence 5	sequence6
TL Za 1
A-TA- I-*301 -WA-JA	O-SU-QA-RE	JA-SA-SA-RA-ME	U-NA-KA-NA-SI	I-PI-NA-MA	SI-RU-TE
gives	O-SU-QA-RE (name of dedicant)	this dedication	requesting	a favor	divine

The pithos, ZA Zb 3, cited above, has the following inscription:

WINE 32 (units)

DI-DI-KA-SE

A-SA-MU-NE

A-SE

A-TA-I-*301-DE-KA

A-RE-PI-RE-NA

TI-TI-KU

Here, it is the OBJECT (the wine pithos) that is placed in initial position as emphasis. This implies an inversion of the typical order: OVS.

We know the verb (A-TA-I-*301-DE-KA), following which should now be the subject A-RE-PI-RE-NA TI-TI-KU.

This implies that the phrase DI-DI-KA-SE A-SA-MU-NE A-SE comprises another sort of object before the verb, perhaps an indirect object:

DirObj	IndObj	Verb	Subject
wine-pithos	(to) DI-DI-KA-SE A-SA-MU-NE A-SE	(verb) A-TA-I-*301-DE-KA (gives/gave)	(the subject, the giver) A-RE-PI-RE-NA TI-TI-KU

13. Grammar

13a. Nouns, Verbs

Most words in the accounting documents are NAMES (of people, of places); these are indicated as such in the lexicon.

Other Nouns and other parts-of-speech can occur in the concise headings to accounting documents, but their conventional layout and narrow focus do not encourage elaboration or irrelevant chatter.

As Davis 2011/2014 has deduced, the predominant Linear A word-order is Verb Subject Object, with variations, as seen in the Libation Formula.

TL Za 1 presents a straight-forward statement of the first part of the Formula:

A-TA-I-*301-WA-JA O-SU-QA-RE JA-SA-SA-RA-ME

A-TA-I-*301-WA-JA should be the Verb "gives // dedicates"

O-SU-QA-RE should be the Subject, the NAME of the giver

and JA-SA-SA-RA-ME should be the Object, the word for "gift / dedication"

In a more complicated variation on the Formula, ZA Zb 3, we can infer some of the same types of words:

WINE 32 (units) DI-DI-KA-SE A-SA-MU-NE A-SE A-TA-I-*301-DE-KA A-RE-PI-RE-NA TI-TI-KU

In this statement, we see the Verb A-TA-I-*301-DE-KA farther along.

The word order here must therefore start, not with Verb, but with the Object, "fronted for emphasis" (p. 378). After this 3-word sequence for the Object we find the Verb A-TA-I-*301-DE-KA (past tense?) foillowed by the expected Subject A-RE-PI-RE-NA TI-TI-KU.

The 3-word sequence between the Object and the Verb should be the recipient, the Indirect Object DI-DI-KA-SE A-SA-MU-NE A-SE.

In these two cases TL Za 1 and KZ Zb 3, we have good evidence for identifying the subject of a verb, the verb, and its object and indirect object.

Davis continues by identifying the second clause in a typial Formula as a Verbal (participle) and Genitive (following its noun):

U-NA-KA-NA-SI I-PI-NA-MA SI-RU-TE

"requesting favor divine" (vel sim.)

In other, non-accounting documents (especially the dedications of personal objects, those characterized as support types Za-Zg), we should be able to identify similar parts of speech.

13b. Adjectives

From the Place Name SU-KI-RI-TA (Sybrita in the Amari Valley), there derives a clear adjective: SU-KI-RI-TE-I-JA (HT Zb 158b), appearing on a pot that would thus be labeled "Sybritan" (cf. the similar Linear B adjective in full wa-na-ka-te-ro or abbreviated WA on tablets and inscribed stirrup jars).

From this adjective, we can identify others:

]PU2-RE-JA (PK Za 16) from ]PU2-RA2 (ZA a.6)

KU-PA3-RI-JA (HT 24a.1) from KU-PA-RI (PE 1.1-2)

PA-SA-RI-JA (HT 24a.4) perhaps related to PA-SE-JA (HT 93a.8); compare I-PA-SA-JA (KH 10.3).

13c. Prefixes

I- vowel = J-vowel

A few words appear both in root form and with I- or J- prefixes (I+consonant, J+vowel). Duhoux 1997 identified these prefixes as meaning "to/at".

• I-DA-MA-TE (AR Zf 1, Zf 2), "to" DA-MA-TE (KY Za 2), DA-MA-TE being the likely name of a deity, but NOT Demeter, whose name is Indo-European in origin, not a borrowing from Minoan (Burkert 1985, 38; Duhoux 1994–95, 289); cf. section 7b which gives a few Minoan/Linear A words that did cross over to Linear B and eventually to alphabetic Greek.
• I-PA-SA-JA (KH 10.3), "to" *PA-SA-JA; cf. PA-SE-JA (HT Wc 3001, 3002)
• I-ZU-RI-NI-TA (PH 6.2) related to ZU-RI-NI-MA (KN Zb 52) and perhaps A-RI-NI-TA (HT 25a.3; ZA 8.2-3)

• JA-SA-SA-RA is a common word in the Libation Formula. The first syllable may incorporate the prefix I- and the root word A-SA-SA-RA; in this case, the resulting JA-SA-SA-RA may more probably mean "with this dedication/gift".

A-SA + root word

The word J/A-SA-SA-RA is built from a root SA-RA plus a prefix A-SA. A-SA also prefixes

A-SA-RO-*009 (CMS XI no. 331)

A-SA-DA-KA (MA Wc <5>a.1-2), written over two lines: a.1: A-SA-, a.2: DA-KA

A-SA-MU-NE (ZA Zb 3.1)

A-SA-SU-MA-I-SE (GO Wc 1)

13d. Suffix -TE/TI

Valério 2007 demonstrated that the suffix -TE means "from/of." There is a variant, -TI.

The prefix occurs in two forms, with or without the prefix J/A-.

with the prefix J/A- and the suffix -TE or -TI

A-DI-KI-TE-TE-DU-PU2-RE (PK Za 11), (PK Za 11), (PK Za 8.a, Za 15) = "master, lord" (DU-PU2-RE) "of/from Dikte."

A-TU-RI-SI-TI (KN Zb 5), "from" TU-RI-SA (KO Za 1)

without the prefix J/A- (on two interrelated documents, Hooker 1975)

DA-KU-SE-NE-TI (HT 104.1-2), "from" DA-KU-SE-NE (HT 103.4)

I-DU-TI (HT 104.2-3), "from" a hypothetical *I-DU (Ida?)

PA-DA-SU-TI (HT 104.3-4), "from" a hypothetical *PA-DA-SU

RI-RU-MA-TI (PH(?) 31), sheep and pigs "from" RI-RU-MA (HT 118.4, recording pigs, SUS I+[?]). Of this pair, Schoep 2002, 172, remarks: "It would be interesting to know whether the suffix TI indicates a direction."

14a. Numerals

Linear A texts often employ numerals since most texts are lists of commodities brought into, or distributed out of, the administrative system.

Units (the number 'one') are invariably written as vertical strokes, up to nine of these.

Tens are usually written as horizontal strokes (again up to nine of these) but at Knossos, Malia, and Phaistos, tens are written as simple dots.

Hundreds are conveyed by circles.

Thousands are conveyed by circles with rays, usually four, each from the cardinal points, e.g., HT 31, but MA 9 seems to use circles with random spikes around the circumference: .

HT 31 employs all these conventional numeral signs:

14b. Fractions

See Hallager 1996: 29; Pope 1960.

Linear A's fractional notation has received much attention. One aspect that remains puzzling is that there is no separate sequence for volumes/capacities and wet or dry weight. We thus have no way of knowing what the fractions refer to -- the Minoans must have inferred the references depending on the commodities being measured.

Bennett 1999 notes the "aliquot" system of Linear A fractions (i.e., 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, etc.); that Egyptian Hieroglyphic 1/2 and 1/4 are the same in Hieratic, but the rest of the fractions differ in the two scripts; that Egyptian fractions are also aliquot with six signs for 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64 plus a monogram of 1/2+1/4 for 3/4 (the values of Linear A's fractions seem to be almost identical); and that Egyptian Hieroglyphic 1/2 is very like Linear A 'J', and 1/4 is roughly like Linear A 'E'.

Bennett proposed 1/2 = *707/J -- correct
1/3 = *706/H -- wrong; should be 1/6
1/4 = *704/E -- correct
1/6 = *717/DD -- wrong: the double mina
1/8 = *705/F -- correct

3/8 = *721/EF -- correct
5/8 = *735/JF -- correct
2/3 = *703/D -- wrong; the single mina, perhaps 1/5
3/4 =*732/JE -- correct
5/6 = *736/JH --wrong; should be 2/3

Fractions in combination, in probable order of descending value

JJ (PH 9b)
J	A (HT 120.3)
J	E (lots; EJ [HT 123a.3-4; ZA 8.4])
J	E	B (HT 27a.8)
J		B (HT 129.1; KH 5.4, 6.8, 17.3)
J			F (HT 51b.2)
J					K (HT 32.1)
J				H (HT 93a.3)
J	E					L2 (KH 7a.5, 56.1)
J						L2 (HT 123b.4)
	EE (PH 12b.2, 13a, 13c)
	E	B (KH 9.2)
	E		F (HT 8b.4, 16.3, 40a.4, 123b.5, Zd 156)
	E					L2 (HT 33.3)
	E					L4 (KH 26.2)
	E					L6 (KH 76.2)
	E					YYY (PH 26)
	A	BB (KH 86.2)
		BB (KE Wc 2b)
			F		K (PH 1b.2)
			F			L (ZA 7b.8)
				H	K (HT 34.3)
					K	L2 (HT 86a.2, 120.2; KH 11.2.3-4, 4.6, 16.1, 75.2)
						L2L4 (HT 33.2)
						L3L3 (HT 15.2)

Fractions with values (if demonstrable or surmisable)

A (A701). In the discussion to HT 123+124, it is clear that A[ = 7/12. ABB, however, also occurs (KH 86); logically, A should be greater than B, but if it is smaller (as ABB seems to demand if B=1/3), then perhaps A is something like 1/6 (see note to HT 34.7; but see fraction H).

B (A702)= 1/3 (or 1/5). B occurs singly, in pairs BB (ZA 8, 6; KE Wc 2b), as a pair after A (KH 86.2), and once after E (1/4). That it occurs in pairs may imply that three B's would equal a unit, and that B = 1/3. The conical cup fragment PK Zb? with RE B supports this identification. Since EB occurs (KH 9.2) and JEB (HT 27), it would seem logical that B is less than 1/4 (J = 1/2; E = 1/4; see below); but on KH 9.2, EB occurs after K (1/16?), and it is therefore tempting to read this set of fractions retrograde (BEK); if so, then a descending sequence could be maintained (1/3, 1/4, 1/16). An analysis of KH 7, however, strongly suggests that B = 1/5, which would go well with B's appearance after E.

If, however, X (A711) is the half-mina and W is the mina, then W would be 1/60 talent -- that might explain the formal relationship between B (if B were 1/3) and W: W would be a conjoined BB with an implied value of 1/10 x 1/6.

D (A703) = ?1/5 (suggested by Dr Dieter Rumple; also see Double Mina, below). HT 115a.4 writes D four times, which suggests that five D's might equal a unit. It might, however, be a weight, equivalent to the mina (see below).

DD is a weight, the Double Mina ( D = single mina? [see above]. The demonstration is presented in my article "Cretan Hieroglyphhic Wool Units (LANA, double mina,") Younger 2005. See below.

E (A704) = 1/4 (Pope 1960) occurs 52 times, the 2nd most common fraction (Hallager 1995); see HT 9.a

F (A705) = 1/8 (Pope 1960). On HT 8b.3-6 (list 2), the numbers total 9 + 3J + E + 2F, or 10 3/4 + 2F -- if F = 1/8, the numbers total 11. On HT 93a-b.1, the total is ]165H; the numbers total 159 4J E F[ H, or 161 3/4 F[ H, leaving a difference of 3 F, if F is 1/8, to be filled by an entry on line a.9 or b.1.

H (A706) = ?1/6 (see notes to HT 123+124; also see HT 6, 94, 100); by shape related to E 1/4, D 1/5, F 1/8

J (A 707) = 1/2 (Pope 1960), occurs 93 times, the most common fraction (Hallager 1995); see PE 1, ZA 4a.4, HT 9.b, HT 104

JE (A732; A707+A704; Brice 1961: 7-8, table 2) = 3/4, occurs 25 times, 3rd most common fraction (Hallager 1995)

K (A708) = 1/16 (Pope 1960; see the discussion to HT 155+156+157)

L (A709), L₂ (A709-2) (but see below), L₃ (A709-3), L₄ (A709-4), L₆ (A709-6) = values are unknown

L₂ (A709₂), The discussion to KH 7 suggests that L₂ = 3/20. This could mean that L is twice this, 6/20 or 3/10; and that the other L-fractions are subfractions of L: L₃ would be 1/3 L, or 6/60 or 1/10; L₄ 6/80 or 3/40; L₆ 1/20 -- L₅ is not extant, but it would represent 6/100 or 3/50. The L subfractions occur in combination with other fractions: EL₂ (KH 9.5, KH 13.3), KL₂ (KH 11.2, KH 16.1), EL₄ (KH 26.2, KH 75.2), and BL₆ (KH 7a.6) and EL₆ (KH 76.1).

W (A710) = value unknown (only at Khania: KH 12, 21.1, 60.2, 61.4, 77); the family "resemblance" between this sign and X (A711) might relate the two values (like W is 1/2X or 2X). If X is the half-mina, then W could be a full mina (1/60 talent), which might explain its appearance as two conjoined Bs (1/3 + 1/3 = 1/6 x an implied 1/10) (see below).

X (A711), occurs on HT 91.1 and KH 9.6 -- these occurrences do not suggest a value. The discussion to HT 123a (also HT 91.1; KH 9.6) suggests the unlikely value of 13/12. Formally, the sign looks related to 709 W; it may represent a doubling of that ("4/3" or "1 1/3"), or a double 701 A "1/6"?.

Or it may be the Linear A equivalent of Linear B *116 N, the half mina -- if so, then W could be the full mina (see above).

Y (A712) = value unknown, but it appears as a set of 3 (PH 26), so perhaps 1/4 (cf. PH 9a). Formally, the sign might be related to the 1/2 series.

Ω (A713), occurs only once at MA (MA 10b.1), as an adjunct to A405^VAS. The sign is identical to Hiero *304 Λ , which can be demonstrated to be 1/2.

Summmary
For four of the fractions (J, E, F, K), we can demonstrate certain values, and can suggest, with much less certainty, values for an additional five fractions. The chart below also gives Hiero fractions that are similar in shape.

The horizontal lines below the fractions point out "family" resemblances in shape.

15. Metrology

Minoan dry unit equals the Mycenaean (96 liters) (Palaima 1994)

Liquid units: The pithos ZA Zb 3 records "VIN 32," probably the volume, 32 units; if these are Mycenaean units (1 unit = ca. 28.8 liters), the volume of the pithos would have been 921.6 liters. Since the pithos stands about 170 cm high, its maximum capacity (as calculated from its profile by the computer program "Vase" by Gregory Christiana, copyright 1994) would have been slightly over 1000 liters. It is possible, therefore, that the Minoan unit of liquid measure was also the Mycenaean unit. See my article, "Calculating Vessel Volumes" published in Metron.

Weights

Petruso 1992: 17-20 posits a single Minoan (and Mycenaean?) talent as "a sexigesimal multiple of its mina." Major evidence for the talent includes the porphyry triangular stone weight from Knossos (just under 29 kg; Evans 1906) and the HT bronze ingots (Parise 1967: 119: 27-32 kg). Evidence for the mina and its fractions comes from many smaller weights.

Linear A	Linear B	Denomination	Mass (gr, approximate)	Fraction of Talent	Fraction of preceding
A118	B118	talent	29,000	1/1	-
A717, DD	B117, M	double mina	967	1/30	1/30
A703, D	-	mina	483	1/60	1/2
A711, X	B116, N	1/2 mina	242	1/120	1/2
-	B115, P	1/24 mina	20.2	1/1440	1/12
-	B*21, Q	1/144 mina?	(3.36)	1/8640	1/6

Layout

16. Word Separation

Word separation is indicated in two major ways: by associating sign groups with numbers or logograms, thereby implying a separation (e.g., HT 1.2: ZU-SU 70; HT 18.1: PA-SE GRA+QE), and by placing a dot between two sign groups, thereby explicitly separating the sign groups (e.g., HT 1.1-2: QE-RA₂-U • KI-RO) or between a sign group and some other sign like a transaction sign (e.g., HT 6a.1-2: DA-TA-RA • TE • FIC) or a logogram (e.g., HT 2.1: A-KA-RU • OLE+U).

In texts that employ a string of signgroups, dots separate them. This practice is most notable on non-bureaucratic texts (like the hair pins, e.g., CR(?) Zf 1) and especially in dedicatory texts like those on the "Libation Tables" (e.g., IO Za 2).

17. "Hyphenization"

Most Linear A documents avoid splitting a word across two lines. Where a split in an expression does cut across two lines, there seems to be a semantic reason:

a sign group and a number

the components of a number (e.g., hundreds from units, units from fractions)

sign group and logogram

two sign groups

The above are obvious examples, and I think of this as a Minoan practice similar to our practice of dividing words across lines of text by placing a hyphen between syllables. Where a split occurs within a sign group, the reason may involve separating prefixes from base words (the root of a sign group) or base words from their suffixes. These will require a demonstration that affixes are involved. But some examples will be apparent (e.g., U-MI- | -NA-SI, HT 28b.1-2 & HT 117a.1-2; U-NA-KA- | -NA-]SI, IO Za 21).

In a PDF, I list all examples of separation within signgroups, between signgroups and logograms or numbers, and within numbers; I characterize the separation (e.g., sign group & logogram, term & fraction, hundreds & tens); and more controversially I suggest separations between base word and affixes.

18. The Continuity Principle

Many documents seem to have economized when listing commodities: the last cited NAME, situation, or commodity prevails until another situation is stated. I call this the "continuity principle." It is most apparent where a NAME is followed by a list of different commodities and amounts, each commodity related to that NAME until a different NAME is cited with its own list of commodities.

Two clear examples are HT 18 & 19:

HT 18

side.line	statement	logogram	number	fraction
.1	PA-SE	GRA+QE	20
.1		OLE+KI	2
.2		*304	3
.2	SA-RA2	GRA	10
.2-3		FIC	10
.4-5	vacant

HT 19

side.line	statement	logogram	number	fraction
.1-2	RA-*164a-TI	• TE • VINa	30
.2-3	SA-RO		5	J
.3-4	DU-ME-DI		43	J

HT 18 assumes that the first 3 commodities are associated with PA-SE and the second 2 commodities are associated with SA-RA₂. In other words, the situation ("commodities associated with NAME") is assumed to be stable until a second name occurs which calls for a different distribution.

HT 19, however, assumes that VINa is associated with (or continues among) all three NAMES. Presumably the situation would change if a fourth name were listed with a different commodity.

HT 20 presents a more subtle pattern of continuity:

HT 20

side.line	statement	logogram	number	fraction
.1	PA-RO-SU
.1-2	KU-MA-JU			E
.2-3	QE-KU-RE	DI		J
.4		CAPm		F
.2	SA-RE-JU			F
.2-3		WA		E
.4-5		*188+KU		J

Here, KU-MA-JU (.1-2) could be KU-MA JU, with JU being a logogram. QE-KU-RE is associated with a different logogram DI, then CAPm, which is apparently the commodity also associated with (and continued to) SA-RE-JU, which is then associated with a different second and third commodity.

The documents that employ the Continuity Principle might therefore reflect short initial documents that record contributions which are then organized in an outline fashion. For instance, I can imagine 5 separate documents being collated to produce HT 20:

1	QE-KU-RE	DI	J		=	QE-KU-RE	DI	J
2	QE-KU-RE	CAPm	F		=		CAPm	F
3	SA-RE-JU	CAPm	F		=	SA-RE-JU		F
4	SA-RE-JU	WA	E		=		WA	E
5	SA-RE-JU	*188+KU	J		=		*188+KU	J

The implication of such a system is that the 5 separate short texts (really more like chits) were brought together, not because they represent the same contributions or contributions from the same place/person, but because they represent contributions organized according to a larger principle: 1) made at the same time, or 2) made from the same region/person, or 3) organized/collected by the same Collector.

Comments, corrections, questions: John Younger: jyounger@ku.edu

For the Linear A texts from Haghia Triada (Ayia Triada)

For other Linear A texts

Common Linear A Ideograms; GORILA's sign charts and palaeographic sign charts

For Linear A religious texts grouped separately

A Linear A Lexicon

Phonetic Grids for Linear A & B.

Hypothetical Phonetic Grids for Cretan Hieroglyphic.

Bibliography from 1980 on (with select works prior)

especially Schoep 2002, a must-read for anyone doing work in Linear A