Images
Antler fragment probably handle of a knife or a tool.
Semi-circular cross section; curved side smoothed, flat side not worked, therefore rough. On both ends broken at which one end is slivered. Three longitudinal grooves as well as horizontal crenations in the area of this end.
On the curved side an inscription in two lines; on the flat side characters.
Doubts in matters of the material. The literature, e.g. Franz 1957: 107 fn. 19, who contradicts directly the statement of Mayr, Zemmer-Plank et al. 1985: 166, and Nothdurfter 2002: 1151, characterises it as made of bone. The museum as well as Mayr 1956b: 246 describe the object as made of antler.
Also various interpretations related to the function: Zemmer-Plank et al. 1985: 166, as well as Nothdurfter 2002: 1151 note it as handle; the museum identifies it with a votive offering and Mayr 1956b: 246 indicates the two suggestions as possible. It is probable that the fragment was a handle related to the primary function, however later it was dedicated as votive offering. Probably therefore the characters on the flat side.
According to Mancini the object was found in two pieces in November 1908 in Sanzeno (LIR: 93).
Autopsied by the Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum in November 2013.
| Franz 1957
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Leonhard Franz, "Südtiroler Reitia-Inschriften", Der Schlern 31 (1957), 105–109.
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| LIR
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Alberto Mancini, Le Iscrizioni Retiche [= Quaderni del dipartimento di linguistica, Università degli studi di Firenze Studi 8–9], Padova: Unipress 2009–10. (2 volumes)
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| Mayr 1956b
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Karl M. Mayr, "Hirschhornvotive aus den rätischen Bergen", Der Schlern 30 (1956), 245–246.
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