EN-1 potsherd

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Object
Classification: vessel
Material: pottery
Condition: fragmentary
Date: 5th–1st centuries BC
Date derived from: archaeological context

Site: Ardez (fraction of: Scuol, Graubünden, Switzerland)
Coordinates (approx.): 46° 46' 30.00" N, 10° 12' 7.20" E [from site]
Find date: 1973
Find circumstances: excavation
Current location: Rätisches Museum Chur (on exhibition)
Inventory Nr.: P 1973/2842

Inscription: EN-1 (aχ?[)

Sources: Risch 1984: 29–30, fig. 9
Risch 1989: 1580 (No. 1), fig. 7

Images

Commentary

Ceramic fragment.
Medium-fine, hard-fired clay with a moderate temper of fine grained sand and cast gold as well as fine grained lime. Mixed fire; outside oxidation firing, light red brown in colour; inside principally reduced firing, from light red brown to black in colour.
The potsherd from Ardez is very distinguished because of the alphabetic characters the fragment bears. From there this is the most occidental evidence known so far.
Found 1973 in Ardez; in addition to the potsherd some antlers and bones with characters (see Risch 1984: 29, fig. 10a, fig. 10b, fig. 11, or Risch 1989: 1580, fig. 8, fig. 9, fig 10) were found, at which the interpretation of these characters are uncertain (Risch 1989: 1580). As yet the results as well as the discoveries of the excavation are not published. But obviously the objects date to the Fritzens-Sanzeno culture.

Bibliography

Caduff 2007 Bruno Caduff, "Ardez-Suotchastè. Eine urgeschichtliche Fundstelle im Unterengadin (GR)", Jahrbuch der Historischen Gesellschaft von Graubünden (= 137. Jahresbericht der Historischen Gesellschaft) (2007), 5–98.