About the Museum
Our History
The Chalver Museum of Ancient Writing was founded in 1987 by Dr. Harold Chalver, a retired professor of linguistics from Harvard University. Frustrated by the mainstream academic community's dismissal of undeciphered scripts as "unsolvable puzzles," Dr. Chalver established the museum as a dedicated space for serious research into humanity's lost written languages.
Operating from a small converted historical building on Brattle Street in Cambridge, the museum has maintained its mission for over three decades, surviving on modest grants, donations, and the dedication of its small staff.
Our Mission
The Chalver Museum serves as a repository and research center for the study of undeciphered writing systems from around the world. We believe that every script, no matter how fragmentary or mysterious, represents a window into the thoughts, beliefs, and daily lives of ancient peoples. Our work preserves these invaluable cultural artifacts and supports ongoing efforts to unlock their meanings.
Research Philosophy
We approach undeciphered scripts not as isolated puzzles, but as parts of larger cultural and linguistic systems. By examining patterns across multiple writing systems, exploring connections between geographically distant scripts, and applying modern computational analysis alongside traditional philological methods, we work to shed new light on these ancient mysteries.
Current Leadership
Dr. Catherine "Cat" Morrison has served as Research Director since 2016. Dr. Morrison holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from MIT with a specialization in undeciphered scripts and proto-language reconstruction. Her research focuses on pattern recognition across ancient writing systems and the development of theoretical frameworks for understanding pre-literate and early literate societies.
The museum is governed by a small Board of Directors consisting of retired academics and supporters of linguistic research. Day-to-day operations are managed by Dr. Morrison with assistance from a part-time museum coordinator.
Challenges and Future
Like many small independent museums, the Chalver Museum faces ongoing financial challenges. Our annual operating budget is modest, and we rely heavily on donations and occasional grants to maintain our collection and continue our research. Despite these constraints, we remain committed to our mission and hopeful that new discoveries and methods will continue to advance our understanding of ancient writing systems.
For more information about supporting our work, please visit our donation page.