Raetic epigraphy
This page provides information about Raetic inscription groups combining archaeological, epigraphic and linguistic aspects.
Rock inscriptions
| dir | pun | lig | 
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST-1 | ← | - | - | - | - | - |
| ST-2 | ← | - | - | - | - | - |
| ST-3 | ← | - | - | - | - | - |
| ST-4 | ← | x | - | - | ||
| ST-5 | ← | x | x | x | x | x |
| ST-6 | → | x | x | x | x | x |
| ST-8 | → | x | - | x | x | |
| AK-1.1 | ← | - | - | - | ||
| AK-1.2 | ← | - | - | - | ||
| AK-1.6 | ← | - | - | - | - | |
| AK-1.7 | ← | - | - | - | ||
| AK-1.10 | → | x | - | |||
| AK-1.11 | → | x | (x) | x | x | x |
| AK-1.17 | → | - | (x) | x | ||
| AK-1.19 | → | - | - | - | ||
| AK-1.21 | → | - | - | - | ||
| AK-2.1 | → | (x) | x | |||
| AK-2.2 | → | x | x | |||
| UG-1.1 | → | - | - | x | - | - |
| UG-1.2 | → | - | - | - | - | - |
Petrographs from the Raetic area and displaying linguistically Raetic features have been found (so far) only in the very North, i.e. in the Northern Limestone Alps. The Schneidjoch (ST, one rock) and the site of the Achenkirch inscriptions (AK, min. two rocks) are located close to each other in the Steinberg/Achensee region (Tyrol); the Unterammergau inscriptions (UG, min. three rocks) are found in Southern Bavaria. Not all of the inscriptions registered in the TIR are epigraphically or linguistically utilisable – of some, only faint traces can be seen, many are doubtful, a few are most probably not Raetic or even script. Among the longer testimonies from Tyrol, two groups emerge under both alphabetical and linguistical aspects:
- Sinistroverse inscriptions ending in -nuale, containing straight-forward name formulae in the pertinentive case (where decipherable), featuring the expectable Venetoid
and other Magrè letter forms and being generally inconspicuous: ST-1, ST-2, ST-3, AK-1.1, AK-1.2, AK-1.6, AK-1.7, AK-1.19. - Dextroverse inscriptions of unclear linguistic content, showing certain special features (to varying extent): the punctuation of suffixes, ligatures, and the letter forms (angles opening in writing direction), and . Of these inscriptions, ST-5 (the only sinistroverse one) and ST-6 are particularly similar in structure; AK-1.11 (as well as the fragmentary AK-1.10, AK-2.1 and AK-2.2) may be grouped alongside. Dextroverse AK-1.17 lacks the punctuated suffixes, but has and apparently a (different) ligature.
For a detailed itemisation see the table on the right. The inscriptions ST-4 and ST-8 do not fit in smoothly with either group. The testimonies from Unterammergau are hard to compare with the Achental-subcorpus: Of the two utilisable inscriptions, both dextroverse, UG-1.1 is unusually short and features ; UG-1.2 has standard 
and is equally opaque.
The inscriptions of the first group are written in the Magrè alphabet, with the typically Raetic orientation of Sigma, but "traditional" North Italic Alpha with the bar slanting down in writing direction. As concerns the second group, the form of Lambda occurs in the votive inscriptions of the Venetic sanctuaries of Auronzo and Calalzo (Làgole) di Cadore in the upper Piave/Ansiei valley, but this is the only similarity with that subcorpus. Punctuation of suffixes rather than syllabic punctuation is not known from Venetic, but see the comments on punctuation in Raetic below. The ligatures stand isolated as well. None of the Raetic petrographs show any particular affinity to the only rock inscriptions in the Venetic corpus, those from Würmlach in the Gail valley (Gt 13–23).
Apart from the somewhat doubtful and epigraphically Camunic AV-1, the rock inscriptions are the only testimonies of Raetic from beyond the Inn valley. Any propositions concerning the ultimate function of these inscriptions and the identity and purpose of the writers must at this point remain speculative.
Stone slabs
Ciottoloni
Two oval stones, both from alphabetical Magrè context and bearing somewhat similar marks on one of the more level surfaces. The objects themselves, however, are less similar: While the object from the Inn valley is smaller and perforated, the one from Serso is too large to be carried about, and features a cross on the other side. Their function and the nature of the characters is unknown. Cp. ciottoloni from Venetic context, which are inscribed with funerary texts (Pellegrini & Prosdocimi 1967: Es ???).
Helmets
Loom weights
Two stone loom weights were found near St. Lorenzen / San Lorenzo di Sebato in the Puster valley, but in different find spots and of different type: While PU-2 loom weight is conical (Zettelstrecker), PU-3 loom weight is circular. The characters inscribed are also quite different. The circular object is the most relevant find epigraphically, bearing numerous characters in different sizes, applied with different instruments; the manner of inscription is more reminiscent of certain bowls (see above). The conical weight, on the other hand, is inscribed (or more likely decorated) with sequences of alternate 
and 
, and thereby more similar to another conical object which might qualify as a loom weight: a leaden ingot from Magrè inscribed with a zig-zag line.
Sequences of , and 
- The uθiiθi-group. The sequence recurs on three scythe rings (SZ-44.1, SZ-45.1, SZ-46.1), always accompanied by la in the reverse side, and also appears on a chisel and a knife. This suggests a factory mark; however, a fourth scythe ring is inscribed with a different combination of , and . This objects differs from the others in size, so numerical notation (size, weight, price?) comes into consideration. (A fifth scythe ring appears to have yet another sequence, maybe featuring additional characters.) la, interestingly, is also associated with bowls (see above).
- . The sequence occurring on the abovementioned fourth scythe ring is also found, curiously, on a worked piece of bone – the latter has been interpreted as being connected to lot throwing (cp. the bone points of the Ganglegg), which would lead one to expect an inscription in some way connected to the numinous sphere, or names as on the Ganglegg. Then again, knowing as little as we do about the actual practice of Raetic sortes, we cannot exclude numerical writing (or indeed, anything).
- Another presumably votive object is the horse statuette with . See above on the question of whether votive bronzes feature indications of price.
- . Occurring only once, on a bronze axe only likely to be from Sanzeno, but suspiciously similar to .
- On diverse iron implements. SZ-81, BZ-19
- On bronze vessels. SZ-82, BZ-8.2
- On pottery. BZ-20, (BZ-21), (BZ-22), (BZ-23)
- Ornament. and being age-old elements of decoration, sequences serving purely aesthetic purposes may find their way into the corpus. They can sometimes be identfied by the symmetry of arrangement and/or position: on the tip of a tusk, on a loom weight. Another such case, introduced by Mancini in the LIR (SA-96; EX-1), is an obviously ornamental band along the back of a knife, and has not been included in the TIR. Also suspicious is SZ-80 with its curious spacing ( ).
(IT-9), (SZ-36), VN-4, VN-5.1, VN-6, VN-7.2, VR-8, WE-5.1.2, WE-8.2 kolie-tu zu den codae?
