The Voynich manuscript: Will this medieval mystery ever be solved?

By Jane Bracher, for CNN

Updated 1524 GMT (2324 HKT) June 15, 2018

This medieval manuscript has provoked speculation since it turned up in a bookshop a century ago. Written in an unreadable script, it includes illustrations of plants, women and astrological symbols.<br />
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This medieval manuscript has provoked speculation since it turned up in a bookshop a century ago. Written in an unreadable script, it includes illustrations of plants, women and astrological symbols.
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Known as the Voynich manuscript, it's named after Wilfrid Voynich, the collector and bookseller who acquired it in 1912.
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Known as the Voynich manuscript, it's named after Wilfrid Voynich, the collector and bookseller who acquired it in 1912.
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The contents of the manuscript are widely believed to be related to medicine. Illustrations include these women, apparently bathing in pools of green liquid.
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The contents of the manuscript are widely believed to be related to medicine. Illustrations include these women, apparently bathing in pools of green liquid.
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Many have poured over the manuscript's pages, and there have been countless theories as to its meaning, origins, and the author's identity. Some claim it was written by an autistic monk, others that it was originally written in Hebrew. Others say it's simply an elaborate hoax.
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Many have poured over the manuscript's pages, and there have been countless theories as to its meaning, origins, and the author's identity. Some claim it was written by an autistic monk, others that it was originally written in Hebrew. Others say it's simply an elaborate hoax.
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A family in Alberta, Canada, believes the manuscript is written in Old Turkic. Father and son Ahmet (R) and Ozan Ardic have been working on decoding the manuscript for three years. They say they have derived an alphabet of 24 base characters and 64 combined characters from it.
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A family in Alberta, Canada, believes the manuscript is written in Old Turkic. Father and son Ahmet (R) and Ozan Ardic have been working on decoding the manuscript for three years. They say they have derived an alphabet of 24 base characters and 64 combined characters from it.
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The Ardic family believe they have sufficient vocabulary to read at least 30% of the manuscript, and have decoded at least 300 words.
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The Ardic family believe they have sufficient vocabulary to read at least 30% of the manuscript, and have decoded at least 300 words.
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Carbon-dating has revealed the parchment dates back to the early 15th century, somewhere between 1404 to 1438. Analysis of the ink used also confirmed it was consistent with what was used during that period.
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Carbon-dating has revealed the parchment dates back to the early 15th century, somewhere between 1404 to 1438. Analysis of the ink used also confirmed it was consistent with what was used during that period.
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Will the Voynich Manuscript ever be understood, or will it remain an enduring mystery?
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Will the Voynich Manuscript ever be understood, or will it remain an enduring mystery?
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Story highlights

  • The Voynich manuscript has been dated to the middle ages
  • It is written in incomprehensible text and has spawned countless theories as to its meaning and origins

(CNN)Naked women in pools of green liquid, strange looking plants, and text written in an unknown alphabet; they can all be found on the delicate parchment pages of a mysterious manuscript from the 15th century. And nobody knows what any of it means.

Frayed, browned and in fragile condition, the Voynich manuscript currently resides deep in a basement at Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library but digitized copies of it are available for free online.
    Since it came to light over 100 years ago, many have tried and failed to decode the text -- from US Army cryptographers to ordinary citizens postulating theories in the deepest corners of Reddit.