SZ-38

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Inscription
Transliteration:	ṣχsi
Original script:
Object:	SZ-38 knife (iron)
Position:	centre"centre" is not in the list (front, back, top, bottom, inside, outside, neck, shoulder, foot, handle, ...) of allowed values for the "position" property.
Orientation:	180°
Script:	North Italic script
Direction of writing:	sinistroverse
Letter height:	11 cm <br /> – 1.6 cm
Number of letters:	4
Number of lines:	1
Craftsmanship:	embossed
Current condition:	complete, damaged
Archaeological culture:	Late Iron Age [from object]
Date of inscription:	5th–1st centuries BC [from object]
Date derived from:	archaeological context [from object]
Language:	unknown
Meaning:	unknown
Alternative sigla:	IR 37 LIR SA-29
Sources:	Schumacher 2004: 141

Commentary

First published in Pellegrini 1951: 316 (no. 18). Autopsied by TIR in June 2015.

Image in Pellegrini 1951: 313 (no. 18) (drawing).

Length 2.3 cm; written on the blade about 3 cm from the rivet hole, facing the blunt edge. The first is hardly visible; the inscription may have been in better condition when seen by Pellegrini, in whose drawing the letter appears without reservations. Sigma is taller than and also . Apart from the shape of Khi, the inscription is identical to SZ-17, including tall Sigma with the upper angle opening in writing direction. A manufacturer's mark?

Further references: Vetter 1954: 72 f. (no. 18).

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)