/Tech1h ago

Engineer Boris Cherny uses Claude Code to analyze and attempt to decipher the ancient script Linear A

Story Overview

Boris Cherny shared an example of Claude Code tackling Linear A, the still-undeciphered script from Minoan Crete. The demo shows the tool generating Python scripts that query and cross-reference digitized inscription databases to test linguistic hypotheses at scale, with an explicit request for academic review of any resulting claims.

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#312

Original post

Boris Cherny@bcherny#369inTech

Cool way to use Claude Code: deciphering Linear A, a 3500 year old written language from Crete

https://aiclambake.com/clamtakes/linear-a/

Hope this holds up in peer review! 🤞

1:12 PM · Jun 19, 2026 · 75.7K Views

Developer Impact

Claude Scripts Query Ancient Databases

The workflow turns the model into a research assistant that organizes corpus data and runs systematic comparisons, letting a single engineer explore sign values and lexical patterns that would otherwise require manual effort across multiple sources.

Open Question

Semitic Hypothesis Awaits Expert Check

Proposed readings and a draft grammar have been circulated, yet the work remains unconfirmed by linguists at the institutions named in the write-up, leaving open whether any of the suggested translations will hold.

Sentiment

Many users praise Claude AI's attempt to decipher the ancient Linear A script as a fascinating creative use case, expressing excitement over its potential to advance archaeology if peer review succeeds.

Pos

100.0%

Neg

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15 comments with sentiment.

Cluster Engagement

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#369

Posts from X

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VIEWS1.7KLIKES9

Dan Shipper 📧@danshipper

@bcherny This is incredible

Boris Cherny@bcherny

Cool way to use Claude Code: deciphering Linear A, a 3500 year old written language from Crete

https://aiclambake.com/clamtakes/linear-a/

Hope this holds up in peer review! 🤞

1h1.7K90

BOOKMARKS1

Loreto Parisi@loretoparisi

@bcherny This project reminds me @natfriedman 🌋Vesuvius Challenge

https://scrollprize.org/

1h24611

REPLIES1

Aidan Clark@_aidan_clark_

@khoomeik @bcherny Hmmm extremely suspicious that everyone interested in deciphering Linear A with AI is from the mid hudson valley.

Rohan Pandey@khoomeik

@bcherny cc @_aidan_clark_

24m18370

Rohan Pandey@khoomeik

@bcherny cc @_aidan_clark_

Boris Cherny@bcherny

Cool way to use Claude Code: deciphering Linear A, a 3500 year old written language from Crete

https://aiclambake.com/clamtakes/linear-a/

Hope this holds up in peer review! 🤞

27m43640

Tony Simons@tonysimons_

@bcherny A cooler way to use Claude Code:

With Fable 5.

1h2674

Aidan Clark@_aidan_clark_

@khoomeik @bcherny This seems neat -- I wish I knew more about semitic languages to opine at all -- but we'll see! Is there a link to the underlying paper?

23m632

Yeab - engg / core was in MIAMI🌴@yeabu369

@bcherny i am partially semetic, does that mean I am bi-linear hehe

55m349

daniel.gz@danielrobotz

@bcherny wen Fable5 return?

1h343

Akram Ahmed@CodeAkram

@bcherny would this type of use trigger the classifiers in fable? curious and interested, mainly also because i'm studying CS229 ML and so i'm wondering if i can use claude code as my TA! kindly advise pls

1h3141

saburo@saboorow

@bcherny thats pretty cool. love stuff like this.

1h892

no0x@lez99999

@bcherny That’s a fascinating use of Claude Code! Ancient scripts like Linear A are the perfect challenge for AI. Fingers crossed it contributes something real to the field. 🏛️

1h1771

Local.@local_trillions

@bcherny literally had this on my list (crazy).

40m358

Solomon Neas@solomonneas

@bcherny

1h921

Adi Arora@AdiArora310

Interesting, I know that Linear B fell in 1952 once Ventris guessed the underlying language was Greek. Linear A's wall is different: ~1,400 mostly-short inscriptions in a language with no known relatives. An LLM can pattern-match all day, but I bet it can't manufacture a Rosetta Stone out of a corpus that small.

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