The aim is to assess how an exceptional, ample corpus of Roman marks and Non-Textual Marking Systems (NTMS) were used in the community, how and for what reasons. By describing and explaining their function, interconnectivity and co-existence, the goal is to understand their relation with the society, its administration, politics, beliefs and ideology. The results are expected to have an interdisciplinary impact. The empirical data is based on hundreds of unpublished marks displayed on artefacts recorded in person at Gebel el-Silsila, Egypt, deriving from one homogeneous site, community and chronology. What systems were used, how, by whom and why? How do they relate with writing and iconography? The NTMS appear as communicating media, signifying concepts to be understood by all. Still today, we globally communicate with logos, signs and emoji, for which Decoding the Past will bridge with our Present. The objectives are to 1) describe and classify the marks according with semiotics and structuralism; material culture will be studied for data on beliefs and ideology; 2) compare the systems for common patterns/meanings; 3) apply advanced digital technology for educational digital interaction, and reconstruct the context and historical role of the NTMS. Results will be presented at conferences, in journals, and a symposium is to be organised. As director of the site, and a notable body of pioneering results published, I consider myself accomplished to conduct this project.