decade as more advanced technology has allowed scientists to more accurately pinpoint the volcanic destruction of Thera, the critical event which brought about the rapid decline of the Minoan people. The “New Palace” period however, is generally thought to be from 1700 b.c.-1380 b.c. The disc is believed to have been created around 1650 b.c.

The Linear A writing depicted on the disc has yet to be deciphered, although its successor, Linear B was deciphered and found to be a form of early Greek. It is called “Linear” script because even though it appears to have developed from hieroglyphic pictures, the pictograms have become representative symbols bearing little resemblance to the objects they represent. The script consists of 75 ideograms, which although originally represented objects, now represent syllables. Linear A was used solely by the Minoan people, and many scholars believe that when it is deciphered, it will provide clues needed to solidify the theory of the origin of the Minoan people. The Linear A Linear script of the Phaestos disc was replaced around 1380 by Linear B, and many clay tablets of it have been found.