Non-script notational systems

Preliminaries

The Raetic corpus at it presents itself today contains a considerable number of "inscriptions", that can – with varying degrees of certainty – be determined not to represent "proper" script in the linguistical sense (i.e., reflecting linguistic units). The vast majority of these, however, must be expected to have a para-linguistic meaning, and should not be completely disregarded. This page collects the correspondent material from the corpus, new inscriptions from LIR which have not been included in the TIR, as well as diverse testimonies mentioned in the literature, which have been examined at various repositories by the TIR project staff. To facilitate reference, we have attempted a preliminary organisation of the material by assigning all these testimonies the sigla EX ("excluded"), regardless of their provenance. An introduction presenting options for classification and interpretation of the material will follow in time.

Potentially relevant testimonies included in the Raetic corpus (autopsied)

• potential factory marks on rims and handles of metal vessels: BZ-7.1, BZ-7.2, BZ-8.1, BZ-8.2, NO-8, SZ-18, SZ-35, SZ-36, SZ-37.1, SZ-37.2, SZ-75, SZ-82
• potential factory marks on iron implements:
  • (including) symbols / ornament (?): BZ-19, SZ-25, SZ-26 (?), SZ-78, SZ-80
  • on scythe rings and related: SZ-44.1, SZ-44.2, SZ-45.1, SZ-45.2, SZ-46.1, SZ-46.2; SZ-47, SZ-72 (different groups); SZ-50, SZ-51 (tools)
  • on the side of axe heads: SZ-62, SZ-76.1, SZ-76.2, SZ-77, SZ-81
  • letter: SZ-33, SZ-74 (þine), SZ-43.1, SZ-43.2, SZ-79.1, SZ-79.2 (uli)
• on bronze implements: HU-1; SZ-65.1, SZ-65.2 (ku)
• on statuettes: SZ-20, SZ-71
• on bone/antler: BZ-15, SZ-48, SZ-49, SZ-63
• on pottery: BZ-20, BZ-21, BZ-22, BZ-23, IT-9, IT-10, SZ-55, SZ-69, SZ-83, WE-8.1, WE-8.2; NO-14, WE-7 (θr)
  • scratchings on handles type Himmelreich: IT-1
  • scratchings on Sanzeno bowls (see inscription pages for recurring groups): NO-18, SZ-27.1, SZ-27.2, SZ-28, SZ-29, SZ-52, SZ-54, SZ-56, SZ-57.1, SZ-57.2, SZ-58, SZ-59, SZ-60.1, SZ-60.2, SZ-60.3, SZ-61, SZ-84, SZ-85, SZ-86, WE-5.1, WE-5.2, WE-6
• on stone: IT-6

Additional material from Raetic context (geographical/archaeological) – preliminary collection

Provenance	Comments	Literature	Images	Dating
Himmelreich	Numerous fragments of pottery bearing diverse characters, often on handles and bottoms, ranging from obviously non-script, ornament-like scratchings and symbols to such as might be interpreted as letters (e.g. , ). The finds from the Himmelreich are preserved in the Museum Wattens (EX-81, see photo on this page); similar sherds are found throughout the Inn Valley. IT-1 is not an inscription, but belongs with this group.	Sinnhuber 1949, Kasseroler 1957	Drawings in Kasseroler 1957, with a table of signs (pl. 63); photos in Sinnhuber 1949 (pl. XXV)	La Tène period according to the archaeological context
Ganglegg	Among several inscribed bone points (cp. VN-9 bone point, etc.) discovered on the Ganglegg hill, also a large number of bone points with incised non-script signs of which the interpretation is uncertain. Probably they present decorations, symbols or numbers or the like. Sometimes the signs could be interpreted as letters (e.g. flanked by a row of vertical strokes). (EX-16 to 19, EX-23 to 27) Among several inscribed bones (cp. VN-2 bone, etc.) discovered on the Ganglegg hill, also a large number of bones with incised non-script signs of which the interpretation is uncertain. Probably they present decorations, symbols or numbers or the like. Sometimes the signs could be interpreted as letters (e.g. ). (EX-20 to 23, EX-30 (astragalos))	Gamper 2006: 144-146 Gamper 2006: 142-143	Drawings in Gamper 2006: fig. 77 Drawings in Gamper 2006: fig. 76	3rd-1st centuries BC according to the archaeological context
Kosman-Gut	A large number of small fragments of at least seven different helmets of the Negau type; 18 of them bear marks. Of those, four are included in the Raetic corpus (BZ-26, BZ-27, BZ-28, BZ-29 in descending order regarding the certainty of script character). Of the remaining 14, one is believed to belong to the same helmet as the one bearing BZ-26; the single scratch visible is more pronounced than the inscription, cp. maybe the diverse marks occurring on helmets with inscriptions (SL-1 helmet, SL-2 helmet, Helm A, and the pieces listed sub ???). The other 13 fragments (EX-66, see photo) display mostly fragmented scratches, sometimes intersecting or forming angles. Some arrangements are clearly non-linear and/or non-script, some indeterminable. No. 69 (second from the right in the second row) might have (cp. BZ-27 and BZ-28); no. 65 (second from the left in the first row) has an asterisk flanked by vertical scratches. Currently an the Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen / Ufficio Beni archeologici Bolzano.	Lunz & Morandi 2003: 343 f.		5th–1st c. BC (typology)
Sanzeno I (symbols on iron)	Many heavy iron implements from Sanzeno (apparently a centre of iron workmanship), namely chisels, gouges, ferrules, axe heads, hoes, sickles, scythe rings and knives, bear marks, often in the same spot on the same type of object. The most regularly recurring characters are the asterisk and the sign "a caporale" , registered as "symbols" in the inscriptions in our database. For the associated testimonies from the Raetic corpus see above sub "potential factory marks on iron implements". Mancini included a number of these symbols as new inscriptions in the LIR; according to our policy of concentrating on characters which can be read as letters, these have not been included in the TIR. They are: EX-2 (SA-109), EX-3 (SA-104), EX-4 (SA-105), EX-5 (SA-106) (for all these, see the drawings on this page), EX-6 (SA-112), EX-9 (SA-111), EX-10 (SA-102) and EX-12 (SA-108).	LIR; some already in Nothdurfter 1979	LIR; some already in Nothdurfter 1979
Bostel	In addition to the ceramic beakers bearing language-encoding inscriptions and/or recurring marks, four more beakers (EX-94, EX-95, EX-96, EX-97) and one bowl (EX-98) are inscribed with various scratchings. EX-101, EX-102, EX-103, EX-104 and EX-105 on potsherds (all lost) also belong here; the first three may represent further examples of the iθθi-group. EX-98: Eleven small bones bearing one or two simple marks (e.g. , , ).	MLR 103, 105, 119	Photos in MLR
Marks on fibulas	The Raetic corpus contains one potential inscription on a fibula (NO-9), which is highly suspect of being ornamental. Parallels: fibulas from Pfaffenhofen (Landeskonservatorat für Tirol), EX-46
Marks on bronze axes from the Hallstatt era	A substantial collection of bronze axe heads bearing diverse marks are preserved in the Archäologisches Museum Fliess (EX-82). They are too old to be considered in any way connected to the Raetic script proper, but may be of relevance for the interpretation of non-script marks contemporaneous with it. BZ-17 belongs with this group.			Hallstatt era
Marks on Astragaloi	EX-30, EX-51. The only known inscription on an astragalos (which also bears additional marks) is NO-13.

Dubious cases which ought to be mentioned

• EX-80: A wooden board, unpublished, currently at the Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen / Ufficio Beni archeologici Bolzano. Along one lengthwise edge, discolourations and to some extent indentations in the shape of lines, which might possibly be traces of characters. The lines cannot be arranged into letters; they are more likely to be marks left by some kind of metal fitting or the like.
• New inscriptions in LIR which have not been included in the TIR:
  • EX-1 (SA-96) – clearly ornamental (see drawing on this page)
  • EX-7 (SA-83) – fragmented, but more likely to be a zig-zag ornament
  • EX-8 (SA-94) – a -shape on a handle, isolated and in the context of ornament
  • EX-11 (SA-107) – the symbols and on a bronze handle; see above "Sanzeno I"
  • EX-14 (NO-2) – illegible; maybe comparable with the group "Sanzeno I" above

Images

Object EX-1 knife.	Object EX-2 hoe.	Object EX-3 knife.	Object EX-4 axe.	Object EX-5 spear butt.
Object EX-114 potsherd - sideview.	Object EX-114 potsherd with inscription EX-114 - underside.	Inscription EX-114.	Object EX-115 bowl.	Object EX-115 bowl with inscription EX-115 - underside.
Inscription EX-115.	Object EX-15 potsherd	Object EX-16 bone point.	Object EX-17 bone point.	Object EX-18 bone point.
Object EX-19 bone point.	Object EX-20 bone.	Object EX-21 bone.	Object EX-22 bone.	Object EX-23 bone point.
Object EX-24 bone point.	Object EX-25 bone point.	Object EX-26 bone point.	Object EX-27 bone point.	Object EX-28 handle.
Object EX-29 bowl.	Object EX-30 bone.	Object EX-31 axe.	Object EX-32 axe.	Object EX-33 axe.
Object EX-34 axe.	Object EX-35 bone point.	Object EX-36 simpulum.	Object EX-37 situla.	Object EX-38 axe.
Object EX-39 axe.	Object EX-40 hoe.	Object EX-41 bronze.	Inscription EX-42.	Object EX-42 bowl.
Object EX-43 axe.	Object EX-44 bowl.	Object EX-45 hoe.	Object EX-46 fibula.	Object EX-47 axe.
Object EX-48 axe.	Object EX-49 potsherd.	Object EX-50 potsherd.	Objects EX-51 bone.	Object EX-52 potsherd.
Object EX-53 scythe.	Object EX-55 fragment.	Object EX-56 knife.	Object EX-57 bone.	Object EX-58 bone.
Object EX-59 handle.	Object EX-60 handle.	Object EX-62 bowl.	Object EX-63 bowl.	Object EX-64 potsherd.
Object EX-65 fibula.	Object EX-66 fragment (fragments of different helmets).	Object EX-67 fragment.	Object EX-68 bowl.	Object EX-69 simpulum.
Object EX-70 handle.	Object EX-71 potsherd.	Object EX-72 chisel.	Object EX-73 stone.	Object EX-74 potsherd.
Object EX-75 handle.	Object EX-80 wood.

Bibliography

Bassi 1996	Cristina Bassi, "Catalogo e osservazioni di carattere tipo-cronologico", in: Umberto Raffaelli (Ed.), Oltre la porta. Serrature, chiavi e forzieri dalla preistoria all'età moderna nelle Alpi orientali. Catalogo della mostra tenuta a Trento, Castello del Buonconsiglio, dal 13 luglio al 31 ottobre 1996, Trento: Castello del Buonconsiglio. Monumenti e collezioni provinciali 1996, 84–93.
De Guio 2011	Armando De Guio (Ed.), "Bostel di Rotzo (VI) - stato di avanzamento delle ricerche", Quaderni di Archeologia del Veneto (QdAV) XXVII (2011), 168–183.
Egg 1986	Markus Egg, Italische Helme. Studien zu den ältereisenzeitlichen Helmen Italiens und der Alpen. Teil 1: Text, Teil 2: Tafeln, Mainz: Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum 1986.
Fogolari 1960	Giulia Fogolari, "Sanzeno nell'Anaunia", in: Deputazione di Storia Patria per le Province di Romagna (Eds), Civiltà del Ferro. Studi pubblicati nella ricorrenza centenaria della scoperta di Villanova [= Documenti e studi VI], Bologna: Forni 1960, 265–321.
Gamper 2000	Peter Gamper, "Die latènezeitlichen Befunde und Funde", Der Schlern 74 (2000), 633–663.
Gamper 2006	Peter Gamper, Die latènezeitliche Besiedlung am Ganglegg in Südtirol. Neue Forschungen zur Fritzens-Sanzeno-Kultur [= Internationale Archäologie 91], Rahden/Westfalen: Leidorf 2006.
Gamper & Steiner 1999	Peter Gamper, Hubert Steiner, Das Ganglegg bei Schluderns. Eine befestigte bronze- und eisenzeitliche Siedlung im oberen Vinschgau, Bozen: Athesia 1999.
Ghislanzoni 1930–31	Ettore Ghislanzoni, "La stipe votiva di S. Maurizio presso Bolzano", Bullettino di paletnologia italiana (BPI) L–LI (1930–1931), 179–188.
Ghislanzoni 1931	Ettore Ghislanzoni, "Sanzeno nell'Anaunia. Scavi di abitazioni preromane", Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità , Vol. VII (1931), 409–471.
Gleirscher et al. 2002	Paul Gleirscher, Hans Nothdurfter, Eckehart Schubert, Das Rungger Egg. Untersuchungen an einem eisenzeitlichen Brandopferplatz bei Seis am Schlern in Südtirol [= Römisch-Germanische Forschungen Band 61], Mainz: Philipp von Zabern 2002.
Kasseroler 1957	Alfons Kasseroler, Die vorgeschichtliche Niederlassung auf dem „Himmelreich“ bei Wattens [= Schlern-Schriften 166], Innsbruck: Wagner 1957.
Kluge 2017	Sindy Kluge, "Rätische UnSchriften. Überlegungen zu zwei Fallbeispielen", in: Raimund Karl, Jutta Leskovar (eds), Interpretierte Eisenzeiten. Fallstudien, Methoden, Theorie. Tagungsbeiträge der 7. Linzer Gespräche zur interpretativen Eisenzeitarchäologie, Linz: 2017, 311–322.
Kluge & Salomon 2015	Sindy Kluge, Corinna Salomon, "Ausgewählte Funde aus Dercolo im Kontext der rätischen Inschriften", Wissenschaftliches Jahrbuch der Tiroler Landesmuseen 8 (2015), 80–95.
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)
Lunz 1974	Reimo Lunz, Studien zur End-Bronzezeit und älteren Eisenzeit im Südalpenraum, Firenze: Sansoni 1974.
Lunz & Morandi 2003	Reimo Lunz, Alessandro Morandi, "Un frammento di elmo di bronzo con iscrizione retica da Settequerce – Siebeneich", Archeologia Classica LIV (2003), 341–349.
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Marinetti 2004	Anna Marinetti, "Nuove iscrizioni retiche dall'area veronese", Studi Etruschi 70 (2004), 408–420.
Marinetti 2011b	Anna Marinetti, "Le iscrizioni retiche dal Bostel di Rotzo (Vicenza)", Quaderni di Archeologia del Veneto (QdAV) XXVII (2011), 201–203.
Marzatico 1997	Franco Marzatico, I materiali preromani della Valle dell’Adige nel Castello del Buonconsiglio [= Patrimonio storico artistico del Trentino 21], Trento: 1997. (3 volumes)

Main Chapter Pages:
Ancient sources I Archaeology in the Raetic area I Bibliography I Concordance I Index I Modern research on Raetic I Non-script notational systems I Raetic epigraphy I Raetica I Script I The Raetic language