A Classification Proposal of Linear A Tablets from Haghia Triada in Classes and Series

This paper represents my first attempt to group Linear A tablets into homogeneous groups, by following the example of the standard classification used for Linear B tablets. Linear A tablets from Hagia Triada are classified into different classes indicated by a capital letter, on the basis of their subject matter (shown by the ideograms), then they are in turn grouped into series indicated by a small letter, on the basis of the variation occurring in the arrangement of the text. For example, the A-class is characterized by ideograms for persons and agricultural commodities, while in the Aa series includes lists of people followed by lists of cereals, figs, wine and occasionally oil. The major aims of this type of classification is to facilitate the comparison between Linear A and B tablets and, at the same time, easily detect the peculiarities of the Linear A tablets with regard to their content and layout. Finally, the possibility to form homogeneous sets of documents, according to subject matter, text arrangement, find spot and scribe, is also investigated.