SZ-30 situla

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Object
Classification:	vessel
Archaeological type:	Situla
Material:	bronze
Size:	Reconstructed height: 30.9 cm, length (inscription): 24 cm, thickness: 0.5 mm. Dimensions of the different fragments: Fragment A: 9 x 20.7 cm Fragment B: 19.8 x 24.6 cm Fragment C: 10.2 x 12 cm Fragment D: 12 x 12 cm Fragment E: 15.9 x 17.1 cm Fragment F: 8.7 x 3.6 cm Fragment G: 2.3 x 2.4 cm Fragment H: 1.9 x 2.3 cm Fragment I: 18 x 4.1 cm Fragment J: 7.8 x 4.5 cm Fragment K: 14.7 x 6.9 cm
Condition:	fragmentary
Date:	5th–4th centuries BC
Date derived from:	typology
Site:	Sanzeno (Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy)
Coordinates (approx.):	46° 21' 57.60" N, 11° 4' 30.00" E [from site]
Find date:	probably in the second half of the 19th century
Find circumstances:	old finding
Current location:	Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum (on exhibition)
Inventory Nr.:	none
Inscription:	SZ-30 (ka[? ?]isθi:puχe:̣ṭumis:p[ ]θiaḳ[? ?]auþile:ẹḷuku:̣)
Sources:	IR: 266–270 Morandi 1999: 57–59 (No. 15), fig. 21.15, 22

Images

Object SZ-30 situla with inscription SZ-30 - fragments A-K.

Object SZ-30 situla with inscription SZ-30.

Commentary

Different fragments of a situla.
Thin sheet bronze. Creased rim. In the area of the fragment A the sheet bronze is rivetted; the rivets are still visible. A rivet is also visible at fragment I, probably the rivet for the handle. Patina from green to dark green in colour with white patches, mainly on fragment C, light green patches, mainly on fragment E, and brown patches, mainly on fragment B.
Below the creased rim a cirumferential decoration ribbon with decorations in shape of triangles which are reversed, open upwards and with a stroke in the middle. In the lower area two circumferential parallel ribbons.
Several fragments of the preserved pieces bear remains of a probably circumferential inscription which is also framed by two ribbons. The inscription is inside like fragment A and the here placed rivets illustrate. It can be supposed that the inscription was placed after the intentional dismantling.
Furthermore some fragments are in a mediocre state of preservation, e.g. the upper area of fragment B is missing, also between the fragments C and D a not determinable piece is wanting. Due to the missing parts it also appears an impairment of the inscription. Besides fragment B, fragment D and fragment E were not restored until now.
No further indications related to the find circumstances are known. The object presents one of the old findings from Sanzeno which were found by the local inhabitants at the end of the 19th century in Sanzeno. The major part of these findings were acquired by the Tyrolean State Museum in the course of the turn of the century, hence the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
Due to the fact that the inscription was placed after the intentional dismantling of the situla it can be assumed that the situla presents a votive offering. However the placing of the inscription was made before the situla was damaged in the current fragmentary condition.
According to the museum at least the half of the complete situla is missing and so the sequence of the inscription is uncertain. The study of the different fragments however has shown that the sequence is not dubious and probably only a part between fragment C and D is missing. Concerning the missing part and his dimensions there are different statements.
In October 2013 only several fragments of the situla (fragment A, fragment B, fragment C, fragment D as well as fragment I) were shown on the permanent exhibition at the museum. The other fragments were held in the repository. The fragments in exhibiton were exposed with the inside facing upwards so that the inscription is visible. Only the non inscribed fragment I is exposed in the exact way: The representative side hence the outside is facing upwards.
Autopsied by the Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum in November 2013.
S.K. with additional information by C.S.

S.K.

Bibliography

IR	Alberto Mancini, "Iscrizioni retiche", Studi Etruschi 43 (1975), 249–306.