Clydai 3 (W-PEM-002)

Provenance

Discovery: First recorded with sketch 1698, some of the ogham recorded along edge of sketch; first reading of the ogham in 1860

Findspot: Clydau, Pembrokeshire, Wales (National Grid Reference: SN 2508 3546)

Last recorded location(s): Inside the church, clamped to the west wall of the south aisle.

Support

Monument Dyfed Archaeological Trust Historic Environment Record: 1211 Clydau, Clydey; St Clydai’s Church

Object type: Slab

Material: Porphyritic andesite

Dimensions: H 1.46 × W 0.42 × D 0.13 m

Inscription

Text field: The ogam inscription is incised ‘on the right angle of the face (A/B), originally reading upwards’ and fills the centre third of the right angle of the stone face (Edwards 2007, 319). The roman-letter, Latin inscription consists of two lines, originally reading vertically downwards. The inscriptions are now ‘upside-down’ as the stone is positioned with the cross ‘the correct way up’ (Edwards 2007, 319).

Letters: The ogham and Latin inscriptions are pocked. The roman-letter inscription was ‘incised using a punch’ and consists of capitals (Edwards 2007, 319).

Date: End of fifth or earlier sixth century A.D. (linguistic)

Edition

Ogham text: ᚇᚑᚃᚐᚈᚒ̣ᚉᚔ̣ᚄ

Transcription: 1 DOVATỤCỊS

Critical apparatus:

‘The precise form of the name in ogam is unclear. There is room on the angle of the stone for three vowel-notches between the T and C, thereby suggesting a U, which would tally with the form of the name in the roman. There appear to be traces of four vowel-notches between the C and the S, but room for five, and either an I or an EA seem possible, giving a reading of Dovat[u]c[i]s or Dovat[u]c[ea]s. McManus (1991, 67) has sugested the latter, in the genitive case, is more likely’ (Edwards 2007, 321). 2. The ‘roman-letter, Latin inscription uses the ‘X son of Y’ formula; the names are in the genitive case, while filivs is in the nominative. The reading is clear, apart from the form of the first name, which may be either DOBTVCI or DOBITVCI. There is room for an I, which may have been destroyed by the later carving’ (Edwards 2007, 320-321).

Translation

Ogham: Dovatucis / Dovatuceas

References

Edwards 2007, 318-321
Macalister 1945, 411-412
McManus 1991, 67

Visiting the Clydai 3 (W-PEM-002) Ogham Stone

The Clydai 3 (W-PEM-002) stone is one of Wales's finest early medieval monuments — and well worth the journey. Whether you're a dedicated epigrapher, a history enthusiast, or simply someone who loves exploring ancient places, seeing a 1,500-year-old inscription in person is an experience unlike any other.

The Stone in Detail