An article in Science focuses on the Isthmian Inscriptions, an ancient script from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region in Mesoamerica, dating to around 500 BC. to AD 500. These inscriptions have remained undeciphered for a long time and are gaining new attention along with disputed interpretation. In 1993, John Justeson and Terrence Kaufman claimed to have deciphered the inscriptions on the 159 AD La Mojarra stele, which contains about 400 characters and identified it as Epi-Olmec. Their translation assumes syllabic characters and belonging to the Zoquean language family. However, a new study by Stephen D. Houston and Michael D. Coe challenges this interpretation based on an analysis of a Teotihuacan-style mask that adds 25 new signs and shows a nonsensical pattern when applying the previous system. Isthmian inscriptions are attested in only 5 to 10 specimens, in contrast to the approximately 10,000 Maya texts, making them difficult to study. The authors emphasize that the script probably combines syllabic and verbal signs.[3][1][2]