MA-21 antler

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Object
Classification:	unidentifiable
Material:	antler
Size:	length: 2.9 cm, width: 1.8 cm, height: 6.5 mm
Condition:	fragmentary
Date:	3rd–2nd centuries BC
Date derived from:	archaeological context
Site:	Magrè (fraction of: Schio, Vicenza, Veneto, Italy)
Field name:	Castello
Archaeological context:	3rd stratum near the medieval tower (Objects: MA-1 antler, MA-2 antler, MA-3 antler, MA-4 antler, MA-5 antler, MA-7 antler, MA-8 antler, MA-9 antler, MA-11 antler, MA-13 antler, MA-14 antler, MA-15 antler, MA-16 antler, MA-17 antler, MA-18 antler, MA-19 antler, MA-20 antler, MA-21 antler, MA-23 antler, MA-24 ingot)
Coordinates (approx.):	45° 42' 21.60" N, 11° 20' 52.80" E [from site]
Find date:	1912
Find circumstances:	excavation
Current location:	unknown
Inscription:	MA-21 (pịθ̣[)
Sources:	Pellegrini 1918: 186 [No. 16], fig. 23 Nothdurfter 2002: 1149 [list 3, No. 5]

Commentary

Antler point.
Carbonized and fragmentary.
Remains of an inscription.
After the accidental finding of one antler an official governmental excavation was started. The major part of the findings was discovered at the 3rd stratum near the medieval tower on the hill (cp. Pellegrini 1918: 175).
According to Pellegrini the whole antler group from Magrè dates to the Este culture - Este IV - and due to the archaic appearance of the characters the antlers date to the first half of this period, therefore to the 4th century BC (cp. Pellegrini 1918: 175–176, 206). Gambacurta however dates the entire group to the 3rd–2nd centuries BC (cp. Gambacurta 2002b: 122 and in consequence Gambacurta et al. 2002: 188).
Because of the character of the find place which can definitely interpreted as ritual place, the entire antler group from Magrè has also a votive importance.
Concerning the antler piece Schumacher indicates the repository as unknown (cp. Schumacher 2004: 166 [MA-21]). But analogous to the other antler points from Magrè and their current repository, in all probability the current location of the fragment is also the Museo Nazionale Atestino. Moreover, in the recently released study about the Raetic inscriptions by Marchesini the Museo Nazionale Atestino is indicated as repository for the antler fragment which is kept there with the inventory number "60455". The object is listed with "MLR 50", an autopsy was effected (cp. MLR: 83 [MLR 50]). However, by comparing the drawing given in Pellegrini (cp. Pellegrini 1918: 186 [No. 16], fig. 23) and the photo given by Marchesini (cp. MLR: 83) it become obvious that the two antlers do not coincide. Related to the shape of the antler piece, the indicated dimensions as well as the characters on the fragment Marchesini's "MLR 50" corresponds with MA-22 antler. Therefore, concerning the present antler further indications remain to be still made clear.
So far not autopsied by the Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum. The indications follow the information given in literature (cp. below the bibliography).

S.K.

Bibliography

Gambacurta 2002b	Giovanna Gambacurta, "Manufatti iscritti in osso o corno", in: Giovanna Gambacurta, Daniela Locatelli, Luigi Malnati, Patrizia Manessi, Anna Marinetti, Giovanna Luisa Ravagnan (Eds), Akeo. I tempi della scrittura. Veneti antichi: alfabeti e documenti, 121–126.
Gambacurta et al. 2002	Giovanna Gambacurta, Daniela Locatelli, Luigi Malnati, Patrizia Manessi, Anna Marinetti, Giovanna Luisa Ravagnan (Eds), "Catalogo. Veneti antichi. Alfabeti e documenti", in: Giovanna Gambacurta, Daniela Locatelli, Luigi Malnati, Patrizia Manessi, Anna Marinetti, Giovanna Luisa Ravagnan (Eds), Akeo. I tempi della scrittura. Veneti antichi: alfabeti e documenti, 157–275.