IT-3 potsherd

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Object
Classification: vessel
Material: pottery
Size: length: 4.8 cm, height: 5.6 cm, thickness: 3 mm
Condition: fragmentary
Archaeological culture: La Tène C

Site: Volders (Tirol, Austria)
Field name: Himmelreich
Archaeological context: settlement
Coordinates (approx.): 47° 17' 16.91" N, 11° 34' 43.72" E
Find date: propably 1932–1935
Find circumstances: excavation
Current location: Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum (repository)
Inventory Nr.: 18.22 H 659

Inscription: IT-3 (tiva)

Sources: Sinnhuber 1949: 64–65, pl. XXV, 43

Commentary

Ceramic fragment.
Due to the fragmentary state the vessel type is not determinable anymore. The potsherd is probably a part of the body. Fine clay, from grey to dark brown in colour, with a moderate temper of fine grained sand and cast gold; reduction firing.
No further decorations visible.
Outside characters which were engraved before firing (cp. Sinnhuber 1949: 64). However, Schumacher supposes that the characters were engraved after firing (cp. Schumacher 1992: 216). Indeed, the white chalk inlay is caused by Sinnhuber's study and the in this context taken photos (cp. Sinnhuber 1949: 64).
The ceramic fragment presents one of the findings from the Raetic settlement Himmelreich. Between 1932 and 1935 the area on the lower terrace in the east and the north of the hill was investigated by Dr. Stainer and the sherd is one of the discoveries made during these not planned excavations.


According to the other discoveries made in Himmelreich the sherd dates to the middle La Tène period. The archaeological finds from Himmelreich indicate a dating to the La Tène period whereas the major part dates to the middle La Tène period (see the fibulae from Himmelreich cp. Sinnhuber 1949: 20–22). Therefore the above-mentioned dating is in agreement with the archaeological context. Due to the fragmentary state no statement concerning the dating can be made based on the typology.
According to Schumacher the fragment was first mentioned in Schumacher 1992: 190, and later assumed in the revised edition from 2004 (cp. Schumacher 2004: 190, 216, pl. 5.3, pl. 6.2). However, the sherd is already part in Sinnhuber 1949: 64–65, pl. XXV, 43, but at this the excavation and the findings were to the fore. Sinnhuber discusses the ceramic fragments with characters (in total 46) only generally (cp. Sinnhuber 1949: 64–65).
Autopsied by the Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum in November 2013.

S.K.

Bibliography