Yuri Valentinovich Knorosov (alternatively, Knorozov; in Russian: Юрий Валентинович Кнорозов; b. November 19, 1922 — d. March 31, 1999) was a Russian linguist, epigrapher and ethnographer, who is particularly renowned for the pivotal role his research played in the decipherment of the Maya script, the writing system used by the pre-Columbian Maya civilization of Mesoamerica.