In 1822 Jean-Francois Champollion deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs and opened the door to a new discipline - egyptology. If Champollion's achievement still captures the imagination today, it is perhaps because he is the most emblematic of all those who might be called the decipherers. However, he is not the only person who has managed to decipher a forgotten script; many have tried to pierce the mysteries of writing systems handed down by ancient cultures,...