Computational Techniques for Inferring the Syntax of Un-deciphered Scripts

Understanding the syntax of an undeciphered writing is a significant challenge. This can provide important clues to the nature of writing and guide potential decipherments. Here we evaluate a set of computational tools that can help us address this problem. We show that significant aspects of the writing can be inferred through this approach without making any assumption about the underlying content. We demonstrate the validity of these techniques using the example of the undeciphered Indus script widely used in the Indus Valley or Harappan Civilization that flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from 2600 to 1900 BC.