Non-script notational systems

From Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum
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Preliminaries

The Raetic corpus at it presents itself today contains a considerable number of "inscriptions" which can fairly certainly be determined to not represent writing in the linguistical sense (i.e., reflecting linguistic units). The vast majority of these, however, must be expected to have a para-linguistic meaning, and should not be disregarded. This page collects 1. the relevant material from the TIR corpus, 2. inscriptions which have been included in other editions of Raetic inscriptions, but not in TIR, and 3. various documents which are mentioned in the older or archaeological literature or were found by the project team in repositories. To facilitate reference to the documents in groups 2 and 3, we have attempted a preliminary organisation of the material by assigning the sigla code EX (for "excluded" from the corpus), regardless of provenance, followed by a consecutive reference number. An introduction presenting options for classification and interpretation of the material will follow in time. See, in the meantime, Kluge 2017. (Punctuation marks as integral elements of the writing system proper are discussed on Script.)

Para-script in the Raetic corpus

Delimitation signs

A number of (arguably) language-encoding inscriptions feature in final position a character or mark which, though sometimes in the shape of a letter, can be demonstrated (or argued) to be a delimiter, i.e. marking the end of a text.

  • NO-6 and SZ-40 appear to be delimited by a mark punctuation10 s (oblique strokes in SZ-40), though is is not sure that the fragmentary NO-6 does not go on after the mark. Cp. VN-7.1.
  • A mark Θ s appears in final position in NO-7 and CE-1.5. In both cases, the interpretation of the inscription strongly suggests that Θ s is to be read not as a letter Theta, but as a delimiter.

Preliminary list of (suspected) para-script material included in the Raetic corpus

Para-script in Raetic context

Complete list of objects with marks filed with an EX(cluded)-siglum in TIR

Siglum and object type Find place Repository and inv. no. Reference see below
EX-1 knife Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 12.578 LIR SA-96; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 300 Dubious cases
EX-2 hoe Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 12.571 LIR SA-109; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 340; MLR 227 Sanzeno I
EX-3 knife Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 12.302 LIR SA-104; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 295; MLR 233 Sanzeno I
EX-4 axe Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 12.580 LIR SA-105; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 199; MLR 191 Sanzeno I
EX-5 spear butt Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 12.390 LIR SA-106; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 1247 Sanzeno I
EX-6 chisel Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 12.453 LIR SA-112; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 154; MLR 224 Sanzeno I
EX-7 fragment (bronze vessel) Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 13.225a LIR SA-83; MLR 184 Dubious cases
EX-8 handle (bronze vessel) Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 13.475 LIR SA-94 Dubious cases
EX-9 gouge Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 12.537 LIR SA-111; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 143; MLR 223 Sanzeno I
EX-10 chisel Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 12.418 LIR SA-102; MLR 230 Sanzeno I
EX-11 handle (bronze vessel) Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 12.871 LIR SA-107; MLR 225 Dubious cases
EX-12 hoe Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 12.541a LIR SA-108; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 337; MLR 235 Sanzeno I
EX-13 key Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 12.354a Nothdurfter 1979: no. 834; Bassi 1996: 87 [Scheda N. II.2], fig. 24.2
EX-14 knife Sanzeno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 3.487 LIR NO-2 Dubious cases
EX-15 potsherd Ganglegg Vintschger Museum (no inv. no.) Gamper & Steiner 1999: fig. 24.12; Steiner & Gamper 1999: fig. 10.6
EX-16 bone point Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G 2001.109 ? Ganglegg
EX-17 bone point Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G 2001.209 Gamper 2006: fig. 63.12 Ganglegg
EX-18 bone point Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G 97.274 Gamper 2006: fig. 87.7 Ganglegg
EX-19 bone point Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G 2000.1030 ? Ganglegg
EX-20 bone Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G 2011.80 unpublished Ganglegg
EX-21 bone Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G 2011.83 unpublished Ganglegg
EX-22 bone Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G 97.263 Gamper 2006: fig. 73.2 Ganglegg
EX-23 bone point Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G 97.[???] Gamper 2000: fig. 12.3; Gamper 2006: fig. 149.11 Ganglegg
EX-24 bone point Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G [?] Gamper 2006: fig. 69.4; MLR 262.4 Ganglegg
EX-25 bone point Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G 2000.1070 Steiner & Gamper 2001: fig. 6.3; Gamper 2006: fig. 69.3; MLR 262.3 Ganglegg
EX-26 bone point Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G 2000.1031 Steiner & Gamper 2001: fig. 6.6; Gamper 2006: fig. 69.2; MLR 262.2 Ganglegg
EX-27 bone point Ganglegg Vintschger Museum G 2000.1063 Gamper 2006: fig. 69.1; MLR 262.1 Ganglegg
EX-28 handle (bronze vessel) Ganglegg Vintschger Museum W.P. 1155 Gamper 2000: fig. 8.11
EX-29 bowl Ganglegg Vintschger Museum (inv. no. unknown) Gamper & Steiner 1999: fig. 24.11; Steiner & Gamper 1999: fig. 8.6; Gamper 2006: fig. 150.7
EX-30 bone (astragalos) Ganglegg Vintschger Museum (inv. no. unknown) Gamper 2006: fig. 69.25 Marks on astragaloi
EX-31 axe Piperbühel Stadtmuseum Bozen / Museo Civico di Bolzano 530 Menghin 1914: 7, fig. 6b
EX-32 axe Kaltern / Caldaro Castello del Buonconsiglio 2.788 Orsi 1882: no. 4; MLR 19 Marks on Hallstatt axes
EX-33 axe Kaltern / Caldaro Castello del Buonconsiglio 2.791 Orsi 1882: no. 6; MLR 18 Marks on Hallstatt axes
EX-34 axe Kaltern / Caldaro Castello del Buonconsiglio 2.792 Orsi 1882: no. 7 Marks on Hallstatt axes
EX-35 bone point Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 7.043 Ghislanzoni 1931: 442, fig. 52, fig. 96h; MLR 187 Ganglegg
EX-36 simpulum Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 6.983 Ghislanzoni 1931: 432, fig. 30, fig. 96g; MLR 186
EX-37 situla Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 8.155 Fogolari 1960: 285 [no. 89]
EX-38 axe Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 2.836 LIR: SA-110; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 181
EX-39 axe Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 8.043 Fogolari 1960: 276–277 [no. 89], pl. V.1
EX-40 hoe Castelfondo Castello del Buonconsiglio 4.557 unpublished
EX-41 bronze Nonsberg / Val di Non Castello del Buonconsiglio 3.618 Oberziner 1883: 191, pl. III, fig. 1; LIR NO-1; Kluge & Salomon 2015: 85, fig. 2
EX-42 bowl Dercolo Castello del Buonconsiglio 3.445 Kluge & Salomon 2015: 86–88, fig. 6
EX-43 axe Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 7.038 LIR: SA-87; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 169
EX-44 bowl Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 7.041 Ghislanzoni 1931: 459, fig. 96c, fig. 96d; LIR SA-39
EX-45 hoe Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 7.004 Nothdurfter 1979: no. 338
EX-46 fibula Pfatten / Vadena Castello del Buonconsiglio 2.447 Orsi 1883: pl. IV.4; Marzatico 1997: 481 [no. 1144] Marks on fibulae
EX-47 axe Zambana, Coel Castello del Buonconsiglio 3.693 Lunz 1974: 356, pl. 7.9; Marzatico 1997: 427–428 [no. 1086]
EX-48 axe Mezzolombardo (?) Castello del Buonconsiglio 3.103 Lunz 1974: 357, pl. 10.1; Marzatico 1997: 134–135 [no. 247] Marks on Hallstatt axes
EX-49 potsherd Zambana Castello del Buonconsiglio (no inv. no.) Marzatico 1997: 409–410 [no. 1054]
EX-50 potsherd Pfatten / Vadena Castello del Buonconsiglio 2.669 Marzatico 1997: 798 [no. 2256]
EX-51 bone (astragalos) Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 7.143 unpublished Marks on astragaloi
EX-52 potsherd Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 7.127 unpublished
EX-53 scythe Sanzeno Museo Retico Sanzeno 6.319 Nothdurfter 1979: no. 325; MLR 159
EX-54 axe Sanzeno Museo Retico Sanzeno 8.182 Fogolari 1960: 283 [no. 86]; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 168
EX-55 fragment
(bronze vessel)
Cles, Campi Neri Museo Retico Sanzeno (no inv. no.) MLR 32
EX-56 knife Sanzeno Museo Retico Sanzeno (inv. no. unknown) ?
EX-57 bone Montesei di Serso Museo delle Scienze di Trento PEGO 76 Pellegrini & Sebesta 1965: 16 [no. 3]
EX-58 bone
(three fragments, two incised)
Montesei di Serso Museo delle Scienze di Trento PEGO 77–80 Pellegrini & Sebesta 1965: 16 [no. 5] [only one fragment = the one on the left in the photo below]
EX-59 potsherd Montesei di Serso Museo delle Scienze di Trento PEGO 119 Pellegrini & Sebesta 1965: 16 [no. 1]
EX-60 potsherd Montesei di Serso Museo delle Scienze di Trento PEGO 1166 Pellegrini & Sebesta 1965: 16 [no. 7 (?)]
EX-61 bowl Montesei di Serso Museo delle Scienze di Trento PEGO 56 Perini 1965b: 41 [C 1], fig. 7; MLR 94
EX-62 potsherd Stufels Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen ST 6484 MLR 15
EX-63 bowl Mellaun, Albanbühel Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen (no inv. no.)
EX-64 potsherd Jenesien, Greifenstein Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen (no inv. no.) Torggler 2002: 141, fig. 5
EX-65 fibula Rungger Egg Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen R85/5B Gleirscher et al. 2002: 152 [no. 29.6], pl. 29.6; MLR 24 Marks on fibulae
EX-66 fragments
(different helmets)
Greifensteiner Hang, Kosman-Gut Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen (no inv. no.) Egg 1986: 244 [no. 367a], fig. 210–211, pl. 279b–c; Lunz & Morandi 2003: 344 Marks on helmets – Kosman-Gut
EX-67 fragment (situla) Moritzing Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen MN 13-2 (MN_2 ?) Steiner 2002: 193, 293 [no. 5], fig. 5, pl. 3.5; MLR 12
EX-68 bowl Moritzing Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen (no inv. no.) (MN 309-20 ?) Steiner 2002: 300 [no. 12], pl. 13.12
EX-69 simpulum Moritzing Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen (no inv. no.) Steiner 2002: 203, 301 [no. 5], fig. 21, pl. 14.5
EX-70 handle (simpulum) Moritzing Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen (no inv. no.) Steiner 2002: 203, 303 [no. 7], pl. 19.7; MLR 11
EX-71 potsherd Moritzing Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen (no inv. no.) Ghislanzoni 1930–31: 185; Mayr 1960f: 390, fig. 6; LIR: BZ-11
EX-72 chisel Unterinn, Zwingenstein Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen (no inv. no.) Putzer 2011: 29, pl. 5.3
EX-73 stone Riffian, Burgstall Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen (no inv. no.) Niederwanger & Nothdurfter 1999: 162, fig. 17
EX-74 potsherd Riffian, Burgstall Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen RIB 0022a Niederwanger & Nothdurfter 1999: 162, fig. 19.6
EX-75 handle (simpulum) Riffian, Burgstall Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen RIB 0019 Niederwanger & Nothdurfter 1999: 162, fig. 24.2
EX-76 fibula Riffian, Burgstall Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen RIB 0004 Niederwanger & Nothdurfter 1999: 162, fig. 23.8
EX-77 potsherd Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 7.142 Ghislanzoni 1931: 463, fig. 96b
EX-78 potsherd Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 7.142 Ghislanzoni 1931: 463, fig. 96a
EX-79 potsherd Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio (no inv. no.) Fogolari 1960: 285 [No. 83]
EX-80 wood Pfalzen, Moorfeld Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen (no inv. no.) unpublished Dubious cases
EX-81 potsherd
(collective siglum for different ceramic fragments)
Himmelreich Museum Wattens M 4, M 5, M 6, M 7, M 30, M 103, M 110, M 124, M 129, M 198, M 271, M 272, M 277, M 278, M 461, M 611, M 615, Z 6
Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 18.228/H 477, H 505, H 557, H618–H661
Sinnhuber 1949: pl. XXV; Kasseroler 1957: pl. 63; MLR 297 Himmelreich
EX-82 axe (collective siglum for different axes) Fliess Archäologisches Museum Fliess Sydow 1995 Marks on Hallstatt axes
EX-83 axe Kaltern / Caldaro Castello del Buonconsiglio 2.793 Orsi 1882: No. 10; Marzatico 1997: 450 [no. 1097] Marks on Hallstatt axes
EX-84 helmets Ženjak Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien – Antikensammlung Reinecke 1950; Egg 1986 Marks on helmets – Ženjak
EX-85 helmets various various Reinecke 1950; Egg 1986 Marks on helmets
EX-86 pitcher Lover Castello del Buonconsiglio 5.225 LIR: LOV-1
EX-87 awl Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 8.050 LIR: SA-69; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 241; Fogolari 1960: 275 [no. 49], pl. VII.13
EX-88 key Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio (no inv. no.) LIR: SA-95; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 839; Bassi 1996: 88 [Scheda N. II.7], fig. 25.3
EX-89 axe Zambana, Scalette Castello del Buonconsiglio 5.456 Marzatico 1997: 414–415 [no. 1061]
EX-90 axe Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 8.043 Fogolari 1960: 289–290 [no. 10]; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 167
EX-91 axe Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 8.182 Fogolari 1960: 290 [no. 28]; Nothdurfter 1979: no. 168
EX-92 drill bit Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 9.362 Fogolari 1960: 290 [no. 11]
EX-93 file Sanzeno Castello del Buonconsiglio 8.069 Fogolari 1960: 275 [no. 71]; Nothdurfter 1979: o. 132
EX-94 beaker Bostel Museo Archeologico dell'Altopiano dei Sette Comuni (inv. no. unknown) MLR 103 Bostel
EX-95 beaker Bostel Museo Archeologico dell'Altopiano dei Sette Comuni 320443 De Guio 2011: 176f., fig. 10.1; Marinetti 2011b: 201 [no. 1] with fig.; MLR 105 Bostel
EX-96 beaker Bostel Museo Archeologico dell'Altopiano dei Sette Comuni 320447 unpublished Bostel
EX-97 potsherd Bostel Museo Archeologico dell'Altopiano dei Sette Comuni (inv. no. unknown) unpublished Bostel
EX-98 bowl Bostel Museo Archeologico dell'Altopiano dei Sette Comuni (inv. no. unknown) De Guio 2011: 176f., fig. 11.12 Bostel
EX-99 bone
(collective siglum for different bones / bone fragments)
Bostel Museo Archeologico dell'Altopiano dei Sette Comuni (no inv. no.) MLR 119 Bostel
EX-100 ingot Magrè Museo Nazionale Atestino MNA 57550 Pellegrini 1918: 174, fig. 6; LIR: MA-22a
EX-101 potsherd Bostel currently untraceable Pellegrini 1915: 121; PID: 218 i (b); Schumacher 2004: AS-3 (St2); LIR: ROT-4 Bostel
EX-102 potsherd Bostel currently untraceable Pellegrini 1915: 121; PID: 218 i (c); Schumacher 2004: AS-3 (St3); LIR: ROT-14 Bostel
EX-103 potsherd Bostel currently untraceable Pellegrini 1915: 121; PID: 218 i (d); Schumacher 2004 AS-3 (St4); LIR ROT-13 Bostel
EX-104 potsherd Bostel lost Nalli 1895: 259 [no. a]; LIR: ROT-17 Bostel
EX-105 potsherd Bostel lost Nalli 1895: 258 [no. 2] Bostel
EX-106 potsherd St. Lorenzen Museum Mansio Sebatum SPR 2.348–368 unpublished
EX-107 potsherd St. Lorenzen Museum Mansio Sebatum SPR 2.350-368 unpublished
EX-108 bone San Giorgio di Valpolicella Soprintendenza Archeologia del Veneto – Nucleo Operativo di Verona
Inv. No. IG VR 65203
Marinetti 2003: 114 [no. 8], fig. 1.8; Marinetti 2004: 415 [no. 8], fig. 2.8; MLR 129
EX-109 bone San Giorgio di Valpolicella Soprintendenza Archeologia del Veneto – Nucleo Operativo di Verona
Inv. No. IG VR 65202
Marinetti 2003: 114 [no. 9], fig. 1.9; Marinetti 2004: 415 [no. 9], fig. 2.9; MLR 128
EX-110 bone San Giorgio di Valpolicella probably Soprintendenza Archeologia del Veneto – Nucleo Operativo di Verona (currently untraceable) Marinetti 2003: 114 [no. 10], fig. 1.10; Marinetti 2004: 415 [no. 10], fig. 2.10
EX-111 bone San Giorgio di Valpolicella probably Soprintendenza Archeologia del Veneto – Nucleo Operativo di Verona (currently untraceable) Marinetti 2003: 114 [no. 11], fig. 1.11; Marinetti 2004: 415 [no. 11], fig. 2.11
EX-112 bone San Giorgio di Valpolicella probably Soprintendenza Archeologia del Veneto – Nucleo Operativo di Verona (currently untraceable) Marinetti 2003: 114 [no. 12], fig. 2.12; Marinetti 2004: 415 [no. 12], fig. 3.12
EX-113 bone San Giorgio di Valpolicella probably Soprintendenza Archeologia del Veneto – Nucleo Operativo di Verona (currently untraceable) Marinetti 2003: 114 [no. 13], fig. 2.13; Marinetti 2004: 415 [no. 13], fig. 3.13
EX-114 potsherd Fliess, Pillerhöhe Archäologisches Museum Fliess Pi 228/98/1 Tschurtschenthaler & Wein 1998: 247; Tschurtschenthaler & Wein 2002: 663f., TM 653659
EX-115 bowl Fliess, Pillerhöhe Archäologisches Museum Fliess Pi 225/95 Tschurtschenthaler & Wein 1998: 247, fig. 23.12; Tschurtschenthaler & Wein 2002: 663f., TM 653658
EX-116 bowl Mellaun / Meluno Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 11.555 Lunz 1974: 397, pl. 66.9, TM 653653, TM 653654

Types of marks and respective objects from Raetic context (geographical/archaeological)

Provenance Description Literature Images Dating
Himmelreich Numerous fragments of pottery bearing diverse characters, often on handles and bottoms, ranging from obviously non-script, ornament-like scratchings and symbols to such as might be interpreted as letters (e.g. Θ s, Þ3 s). The finds from the Himmelreich are preserved in the Museum Wattens as well as in the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum (collective siglum: EX-81); similar sherds are found throughout the Inn Valley. IT-1 is not an inscription, but belongs with this group. Sinnhuber 1949, Kasseroler 1957 Drawings in Kasseroler 1957, with a table of signs (pl. 63); photos in Sinnhuber 1949 (pl. XXV) La Tène period according to the archaeological context
Ganglegg

Besides the inscribed bones and bone points discovered on the Ganglegg hill which are included in the Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum, a large number of objects of the same kind were found (bones: EX-20, EX-22 and EX-23, EX-30 (astragalus; for the latter cp. below 'Marks on astragaloi'); bone points: EX-16 to EX-19, EX-23 to EX-27). These bear (supposedly) non-script characters the interpretation of which is uncertain. Some of the characters are formally identical with letters (e.g. Θ s flanked by a row of vertical scratches). If the bones and bone point are connected to some sort of lot casting practice, they might represent personal marks of the owners. In light of the properly inscribed ones, which appear to bear mainly names, mere decorations are unlikely. The lot are preserved in the Vintschger Museum. An isolated, similar find comes from Sanzeno (EX-35; Castello del Buonconsiglio, Inv. No. 7.043).

Gamper 2006: 142–146 Drawings in Gamper 2006: fig. 76 and 77 3rd–1st centuries BC (by archaeological context)
Marks on helmets
  • Kosman-Gut: A large number of small fragments of at least seven different helmets of the Negau type; eighteen of them bear marks. Of those, four are included in the Raetic corpus (BZ-26, BZ-27, BZ-28, BZ-29 in descending order regarding the certainty of script character). Of the remaining fourteen, one is believed to belong to the same helmet as the one bearing BZ-26; the single scratch visible is more pronounced than the inscription, cp. maybe the diverse marks occurring on helmets with inscriptions (SL-1 helmet, SL-2 helmet, the Negau helmet A, and the pieces listed below). The other thirteen fragments (EX-66, see photo) display mostly fragmented scratches, sometimes intersecting or forming angles. Some arrangements are clearly non-linear and/or non-script, some indeterminable. No. 69 (second from the right in the second row) might have A d (cp. BZ-27 and BZ-28); no. 65 (second from the left in the first row) has an asterisk symbol2 s flanked by vertical scratches. Currently in the Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen / Ufficio Beni archeologici Bolzano.
  • Ženjak: collective siglum EX-84, preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien – Antikensammlung.
  • various: EX-85
Egg 1986: 244 [No. 367a]; Lunz & Morandi 2003: 344 Egg 1986: fig. 210–211, pl. 279b–c 5th–1st centuries BC (typology)
Sanzeno I
(symbols on iron)
Many heavy iron implements from Sanzeno (apparently a centre of iron workmanship???), namely chisels, gouges, spear butts, axe heads, hoes, sickles, scythe rings and knives, bear marks, often in the same spot on the same type of object. The most regularly recurring characters are the asterisk symbol2 s and the sign "a caporale" symbol4 s, registered as "symbols" in the inscriptions in our database. For the associated testimonies from the Raetic corpus see above sub "potential factory marks on iron implements". Mancini included a number of these symbols as new inscriptions in the LIR; according to our policy of concentrating on characters which can be read as letters, these have not been included in the Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum. They are: EX-2 (LIR: SA-109), EX-3 (LIR: SA-104), EX-4 (LIR: SA-105), EX-5 (LIR: SA-106) (for all these, see the drawings on this page), EX-6 (LIR: SA-112), EX-9 (LIR: SA-111), EX-10 (LIR: SA-102) and EX-12 (LIR: SA-108). LIR; some already in Nothdurfter 1979 LIR; some already in Nothdurfter 1979
Bostel
  • In addition to the ceramic beakers bearing language-encoding inscriptions and/or recurring marks, four more beakers (EX-94, EX-95, EX-96, EX-97) and one bowl (EX-98) are inscribed with various scratchings. EX-101, EX-102, EX-103, EX-104 and EX-105 on potsherds (all lost) also belong here; the first three may represent further examples of the iθθi-group.
  • Collective siglum EX-99: Eleven small bones and/or bone fragments bearing one or two simple marks (e.g. Θ s, symbol2 s, Χ3 s).
MLR 103, 105, 119 Photos in MLR
Marks on fibulae The Raetic corpus contains one potential inscription on a fibula (NO-9), which is highly suspect of being ornamental. Parallels: fibulae from Pfaffenhofen (Landeskonservatorat für Tirol), EX-46 from Pfatten / Vadena (Castello del Buonconsiglio, Inv. No. 2.447), EX-65 from Rungger Egg (Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen / Ufficio Beni archeologici Bolzano, Inv. No. R85/5B)
Marks on bronze axes from the Hallstatt period A substantial collection of bronze axes bearing diverse marks are preserved in the Archäologisches Museum Fliess (collective siglum: EX-82); four more pieces are kept in the Castello del Buonconsiglio (EX-32, EX-33, EX-34, EX-83; a fifth axe with Inv. No. 2.790 is missing). They are too old to be considered in any way connected to the Raetic script proper, but may be of relevance for the interpretation of non-script marks contemporaneous with it. BZ-17 belongs with this group. Hallstatt period
Marks on Astragaloi EX-30, EX-51. The only known inscription on an astragalus (which also bears additional marks) is NO-13.

Ciottoloni

Two oval stones, both from alphabetical Magrè context and bearing somewhat similar marks on one of the more level surfaces. The objects themselves, however, are less similar: While the object from the Inn valley is smaller and perforated, the one from Serso is too large to be carried about, and features a cross on the other side. Their function and the nature of the characters is unknown. Cp. ciottoloni from Venetic context, which are inscribed with funerary texts (Pellegrini & Prosdocimi 1967: Es ???).

Loom weights

Two stone loom weights were found near St. Lorenzen / San Lorenzo di Sebato in the Puster valley, but in different find spots and of different type: While PU-2 loom weight is conical (Zettelstrecker), PU-3 loom weight is circular. The characters inscribed are also quite different. The circular object is the most relevant find epigraphically, bearing numerous characters in different sizes, applied with different instruments; the manner of inscription is more reminiscent of certain bowls (see above). The conical weight, on the other hand, is inscribed (or more likely decorated) with sequences of alternate I s and Θ s, and thereby more similar to another conical object which might qualify as a loom weight: a leaden ingot from Magrè inscribed with a zig-zag line.

Sequences of lines, crosses and chevrons

  • The uθiiθi-group. The sequence recurs on three scythe rings (SZ-44.1, SZ-45.1, SZ-46.1), always accompanied by la in the reverse side, and also appears on a chisel and a knife. This suggests a factory mark; however, a fourth scythe ring is inscribed with a different combination of I s, Θ s and U2 s. This objects differs from the others in size, so numerical notation (size, weight, price?) comes into consideration. (A fifth scythe ring appears to have yet another sequence, maybe featuring additional characters.) la, interestingly, is also associated with bowls (see above).
  • U2 sI sΘ sI s. The sequence occurring on the abovementioned fourth scythe ring is also found, curiously, on a worked piece of bone – the latter has been interpreted as being connected to lot throwing (cp. the bone points of the Ganglegg), which would lead one to expect an inscription in some way connected to the numinous sphere, or names as on the Ganglegg. Then again, knowing as little as we do about the actual practice of Raetic sortes, we cannot exclude numerical writing (or indeed, anything).
  • Another presumably votive object is the horse statuette with I sI sΘ sI s. See above on the question of whether votive bronzes feature indications of price.
  • I sΘ sI sU2 sΘ sI s. Occurring only once, on a bronze axe only likely to be from Sanzeno, but suspiciously similar to I sΘ sI sI sΘ sU2 s.
  • On diverse iron implements. SZ-81, BZ-19
  • On bronze vessels. SZ-82, BZ-8.2
  • On pottery. BZ-20, (BZ-21), (BZ-22), (BZ-23)
  • Ornament. I s and Θ s being age-old elements of decoration, sequences serving purely aesthetic purposes may find their way into the corpus. They can sometimes be identfied by the symmetry of arrangement and/or position: I sI sΘ sI sI s on the tip of a tusk, I sΘ sI sΘ sI s on a loom weight. Another such case, introduced by Mancini in the LIR (SA-96; EX-1), is an obviously ornamental band along the back of a knife, and has not been included in the TIR. Also suspicious is SZ-80 with its curious spacing (I sI s Θ s I sI s I sI s).

(IT-9), (SZ-36), VN-4, VN-5.1, VN-6, VN-7.2, VR-8, WE-5.1.2, WE-8.2

Isolated cases and otherwise ungroupable material

  • EX-80: A wooden board, unpublished, currently at the Amt für Bodendenkmäler Bozen / Ufficio Beni archeologici Bolzano. Along one lengthwise edge, discolourations and to some extent indentations in the shape of lines, which might possibly be traces of characters. The lines cannot be arranged into letters; they are more likely to be marks left by some kind of metal fitting or the like.
  • New inscriptions in LIR, all preserved in the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, which have not been included in the TIR:
    • EX-1 (LIR: SA-96) – clearly ornamental (see drawing on this page)
    • EX-7 (LIR: SA-83) – fragmented, but more likely to be a zig-zag ornament
    • EX-8 (LIR: SA-94) – a K d-shape on a handle, isolated and in the context of ornament
    • EX-11 (LIR: SA-107) – the symbols symbol2 s and symbol4 s on a bronze handle; see above "Sanzeno I"
    • EX-14 (LIR: NO-2) – illegible; maybe comparable with the group "Sanzeno I" above


Images

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