SZ-39.1

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Inscription
Transliteration:	$upi
Original script:
Object:	SZ-39 axe (iron) (Inscriptions: SZ-39.1, SZ-39.2)
Position:
Script:	unknown
Direction of writing:	sinistroverse
Letter height:	11 cm <br /> – 1.5 cm
Number of letters:	2
Number of characters:	4
Number of lines:	1
Craftsmanship:	embossed
Current condition:	complete
Date of inscription:	5th–1st centuries BC [from object]
Date derived from:	archaeological context [from object]
Language:	unknown
Meaning:	unknown
Alternative sigla:	IR 38 a LIR SA-64 a TM 218409
Sources:	Schumacher 2004: 141

Images

Object SZ-39 axe with inscription SZ-39.1.

Inscription SZ-39.1.

Commentary

First published in IR. Autopsied by TIR in October 2014.

Images in Nothdurfter 1979: Abb. 23 (no. 180) (drawing), IR (photo tav. XLIV,b and drawing) = LIR.

Autopsy could only be conducted through the glass of the display case, but the side of the axe with SZ-39.1 on it was well visible. Length approx. 3.5 cm (measurements apud Mancini). The white inlay visible on Mancini's photo appears to have been gotten rid of. Mancini read χali, but the first character is clearly an asterisk . appears with a smaller chevron inscribed into it, maybe to make it similar to the common symbol . Mancini's reading as inverted Alpha is due to his overlooking the second hasta of the smaller chevron. The punctuation mark seen by him after could not be verified. The inscription can be compared to upi on numerous other iron implements from Sanzeno. As usual in these cases, the object bears a similar inscription on the other side.

Bibliography

IR	Alberto Mancini, "Iscrizioni retiche", Studi Etruschi 43 (1975), 249–306.
LIR	Alberto Mancini, Le Iscrizioni Retiche [= Quaderni del dipartimento di linguistica, Università degli studi di Firenze Studi 8–9], Padova: Unipress 2009–10. (2 volumes)