MA-2 antler

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Object
Classification:	unidentifiable
Material:	antler
Size:	MA-2 antler + MA-3 antler: length: 12.3 cm, width: 2.9 cm, height: 1 cm
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
Inventory Nr.:	MNA 58811
Inscription:	MA-2 (piθanmelka[θ̣ụṛịẹþ̣ụ)
Sources:	Pellegrini 1918: 185 [No. 13], fig. 20 Gambacurta et al. 2002: 189 [cat. No. 22.3] Nothdurfter 2002: 1148 [list 3, No. 5]

Commentary

Fragment of an antler point.
The whole object is broken in three sections and now it is fragmentary, at which the present object is the larger one. The fragment fits to MA-3 antler like the figure indicates (cp. Pellegrini 1918: 185 [No. 13], fig. 20).
An inscription from left to right.
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.
The recently released study about the Raetic inscriptions by Marchesini indicates the antler fragment with the siglum "MLR 60", an autopsy was effected. The presented object in the photo in Marchesini's study shows only MA-2 antler, therefore in contrast to the drawing given by Pellegrini, only one part of the entire antler. Cp. MLR: 93 [MLR 60]. The photo of "MLR 60" (= MA-2 antler) given by Marchesini as well as the drawing given in Gambacurta et al. 2002: 189 [n. 22.3] are identical.
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.