The Rosetta Stone was the key to deciphering Ancient Egyptian writing. The Rosetta Stone was found in 1799 by French soldiers that were rebuilding a fort in Rashid (now known as Rosetta). Researchers believed the Stone was carved in about 196 B.C. There were three different languages on the stone: Greek, Demotic Egyptian, and Hieroglyphic Egyptian. Since almost everyone spoke Greek as a second language, it was easy to decode the Stone. They matched up each language to decipher what it said. According to what was written on the Stone, priests wrote it. The priests that wrote it were honoring Pharaohs. The Rosetta Stone was made of basalt.