README.PRW Some, if not all, of the subdirectories in the archaic directory provide a series of METAFONT fonts and LaTeX packages for typesetting example texts with ancient alphabets and scripts. These are scripts that were in use from about 1600 BC until the first century or so AD. Not all of the possible scripts are provided --- they number in the dozens --- but hopefully a representative sample of the more important are here. In this context `more important' means that they have been along the main line of development culminating in the Roman alphabet and Capital letters. The series I have developed consists of the following scripts: Script Century Subdirectory ------ ------- ------------- Proto-Semitic 16 BC protosem Phoenician 10 BC phoenician Greek 6 BC greek6cbc Greek 4 BC greek4bc Etruscan 8 BC etruscan Futharc (Anglo-Saxon) 6 AD runic Other scripts in the series are representative of earlier writings. These include: Script Century Subdirectory ------ ------- ------------- Hieroglyphics 30 BC hieroglf Linear B 15 BC linearb Ugaritic Cuneiform 13 BC ugarite Cypriot 9 BC cypriot Old Persian 5 BC oldprsn The small OandS font, in subdirectory oands, contains a few odd characters for use in translitering some of the above scripts. I may, or may not, as the case will be, perhaps add to the collection. The file asamples.ps is a Postscript file which displays samples of each of the script fonts that I have developed. This distribution is released under the terms of the LaTeX Project Public License (LPPL). Please note that anyone is welcome to make their own contributions to the archaic directory. It is not mine, although the CTAN maintainers were kind enough to create it at my request. Peter W. peter.r.wilson@boeing.com 16 September 2000