Recent research is re-evaluating the generally accepted timeline for the Greek alphabet's emergence. Traditionally, the alphabet's origins have been placed in the 8th century BC, but new investigations suggest a potentially earlier development. Willemijn Waal, supported by a Vici grant from Leiden University, is leading this research, proposing a more gradual evolution of the alphabet.
One key piece of evidence comes from carbon dating of ancient inscriptions, which points towards a possible origin in the 9th or even 10th century BC. This would place the alphabet's development significantly earlier than previously believed. It's important to note that the oldest surviving inscriptions may not necessarily represent the very beginning of written Greek. Other forms of writing, potentially on perishable materials, could have existed before these inscriptions. The absence of older examples might be due to the use of materials like wood or papyrus, which are less likely to survive over millennia.
Furthermore, early Greek inscriptions show similarities to writing systems from the Levant, dating back to the 11th century BC. This suggests a possible connection or influence from these earlier scripts. Waal's research aims to deepen our understanding of early Greek history by examining the alphabet's origins. Even if the hypothesis of an earlier origin is not fully confirmed, the project promises to yield valuable insights into the early stages of the Greek alphabet. This could potentially reshape our understanding of classical literature, including the works of Homer. The research project is focused on gathering comprehensive knowledge about the early alphabet.