MA-15 antler

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Object
Classification:	unidentifiable
Material:	antler
Size:	length: 4.5 cm, width: 2.2 cm, height: 9 mm
Condition:	fragmentary
Date:	3rd–2nd centuries BC
Date derived from:	archaeological context
Site:	Magrè (fraction of: Schio, Vicenza, Veneto, Italy)
Field name:	Castello
Archaeological context:	3rd stratum near the medieval tower (Objects: MA-1 antler, MA-2 antler, MA-3 antler, MA-4 antler, MA-5 antler, MA-7 antler, MA-8 antler, MA-9 antler, MA-11 antler, MA-13 antler, MA-14 antler, MA-15 antler, MA-16 antler, MA-17 antler, MA-18 antler, MA-19 antler, MA-20 antler, MA-21 antler, MA-23 antler, MA-24 ingot)
Coordinates (approx.):	45° 42' 21.60" N, 11° 20' 52.80" E [from site]
Find date:	1912
Find circumstances:	excavation
Current location:	Museo Nazionale Atestino
Inscriptions:
Sources:	Pellegrini 1918: 189 [No. 20], fig. 27 Nothdurfter 2002: 1149 [list 3, No. 5]

Commentary

Fragment of an antler point.
The fragment fits to MA-4 antler like the figure indicates (cp. Pellegrini 1918: 189 [No. 20], fig. 27). The present fragment is the larger one.
Both fragments charred; the middle section missing as well as the right side, hence the beginning of the entire inscription (cp. MA-4). On the present fragment is to observed the end of the whole insription.
After the accidental finding of one antler an official governmental excavation was started. The major part of the findings was discovered at the 3rd stratum near the medieval tower on the hill (cp. Pellegrini 1918: 175).
According to Pellegrini the whole antler group from Magrè dates to the Este culture - Este IV - and due to the archaic appearance of the characters the antlers date to the first half of this period, therefore to the 4th century BC (cp. Pellegrini 1918: 175–176, 206). Gambacurta however dates the entire group to the 3rd–2nd centuries BC (cp. Gambacurta 2002b: 122 and in consequence Gambacurta et al. 2002: 188).
Because of the character of the find place which can definitely interpreted as ritual place, the entire antler group from Magrè has also a votive importance.
According to the drawing given by Pellegrini most likely the present antler piece must combine with MA-4 antler: Despite the drawing and reading of the entire inscription given in Pellegrini (cp. Pellegrini 1918: 189 [No. 20], fig. 27), Whatmough separates the two fragments and indicates two different inscriptions with a particular number (cp. PID: 37–38 [No. 223] and PID: 44 [No. 235]. Schumacher follows the indications given in the PID (cp. Schumacher 2004: 162, MA-4 and Schumacher 2004: 164, MA-15). However Morandi combines the both fragments as indicated by Pellegrini, whereas he mentiones that "non reperibile nel Museo di Este l'altro frammento con due lettere figurante nello stesso disegno della edizione di Notizie degli Scavi" (cp. Morandi 1999: 81 [No. 45]). Although Marchesini refers to the study by Morandi, she ignores the connection of both fragments. Therefore, on one side is indicated with number "MLR 47" the entire indication as given by Pellegrini and repeated by Morandi, moreover "MLR 47" is related to number 223 of the PID and MA-4 of Schumacher, on the other side she listes with number "MLR 67" the present antler fragment with two letters again, whereas she refers to number 235 of the PID and MA-15 of Schumacher. Concerning the repository of the present antler Schumacher notes that the current location is unknown (cp. Schumacher 2004: 164 [MA-15]). But analogous to the other antler points from Magrè and their current repository, in all probability the fragment is also kept at the Museo Nazionale Atestino as indicated by e.g. Marchesini (cp. MLR: 99 [MLR 67]). However, if the present antler can be combined with the other antler fragment as it coud be made clear by a future autopsy of the latter, it is possible that the present antler must be excluded from the entire corpus.
So far not autopsied by the Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum. The indications follow the information given in literature (cp. below the bibliography).

S.K.

Bibliography

Gambacurta 2002b	Giovanna Gambacurta, "Manufatti iscritti in osso o corno", in: Giovanna Gambacurta, Daniela Locatelli, Luigi Malnati, Patrizia Manessi, Anna Marinetti, Giovanna Luisa Ravagnan (Eds), Akeo. I tempi della scrittura. Veneti antichi: alfabeti e documenti, 121–126.
Gambacurta et al. 2002	Giovanna Gambacurta, Daniela Locatelli, Luigi Malnati, Patrizia Manessi, Anna Marinetti, Giovanna Luisa Ravagnan (Eds), "Catalogo. Veneti antichi. Alfabeti e documenti", in: Giovanna Gambacurta, Daniela Locatelli, Luigi Malnati, Patrizia Manessi, Anna Marinetti, Giovanna Luisa Ravagnan (Eds), Akeo. I tempi della scrittura. Veneti antichi: alfabeti e documenti, 157–275.