AK-1.17

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Inscription
Transliteration:	es?esχarṭa
Original script:
Object:	AK-1 rock (stone) (Inscriptions: AK-1.1, AK-1.2, AK-1.3, AK-1.4, AK-1.5, AK-1.6, AK-1.7, AK-1.8, AK-1.9, AK-1.10, AK-1.11, AK-1.12, AK-1.13, AK-1.14, AK-1.15, AK-1.16, AK-1.17, AK-1.18, AK-1.19, AK-1.20, AK-1.21)
Position:	bottom, right
Orientation:	90°
Script:	North Italic script (Magrè alphabet)
Direction of writing:	dextroverse
Letter height:	88 cm <br /> – 9.6 cm
Number of letters:	9
Number of lines:	1
Craftsmanship:	engraved
Current condition:	damaged
Date of inscription:	unknown [from object]
Date derived from:
Type:	prob. votive
Language:	unknown
Meaning:	unknown
Alternative sigla:	none

Images

Inscription AK-1.17.

Object AK-1 rock - picture area 5 with inscriptions AK-1.15, AK-1.16, AK-1.17, AK-1.18, AK-1.19 and AK-1.20.

Tracing of inscriptions on AK-1 rock.

Inscriptions AK-1.15, AK-1.16, AK-1.17, AK-1.18, AK-1.19, AK-1.20 - picture area 5.

Inscription AK-1.17.

Commentary

Not previously published. Examined by TIR in July 2014.

Image in Mandl 2011: Abb. 142 (photo).

Length about 55 cm, starting at about 80 cm above the ground. Running vertically upwards, slightly curving to the left. The very faint trace of a frame line may be visible on the left, but may well be just a trick of the eye. The best-preserved inscription on this rock as fas as the distinctness of scratches is concerned.

is preceded by a small round indentation similar to the one in AK-1.11, probably natural. After , a distinctly visible zig-zag line in the lower area, its left end starting below preceding , its right end touching the hasta of following at the height of the lowest bar. The element can be best explained as part of a ligature with either sigma <sm> or epsilon <me> – cf. the only other ligature known from Raetic rock inscriptions with the bars of , turned against writing direction, branching off the hasta of the following letter. If <me>, the zig-zag representing the bars of mu should be inverted to connect with the lower tip of the hasta of epsilon. If we entertain the possibility that the writer got confused about the orientation of this element, it cannot be excluded that the intended ligature is not <me>, but <ne>. The next four letters are well legible. After , a hasta with at least one bar crossing it (). Traces of up to two more such bars might be considered intentional, yielding either or, unlikely, a very crooked . Then , and possibly another letter after it (see drawing).

AK-1.17 is distinguished both by its good state of preservation and its content – unlike the other passably well legible inscriptions on AK-1 rock, it gives no clue to a possible Raetic interpretation. The use of four-stroke sigma and possibly a ligature involving inverted mu or nu as well as the dextroverse orientation connect the inscription with the type-2 petrographs; cf. on this rock wall AK-1.10 and AK-1.11; see Raetic epigraphy.

Bibliography

Mandl 2011	Franz Mandl, Felsbilder. Österreich – Bayern: Nördliche Kalkalpen [= Anisa – Verein für alpine Forschung 4], Haus im Ennstal: 2011.