Provenance
Discovery: Found whilst digging in the garden in May 2020.
Findspot: Binley and Willenhall, Warwickshire, England (National Grid Reference: SP 37 78)
Current repository: England Herbert Art Gallery and Museum (inv. no. 2023.32.AR)
Last recorded location(s): Now in the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, where it was examined and 3d recorded for the OG(H)AM project in November 2023.
Support
Portable Antiquities Scheme ID: PAS ID: WMID-634A9A
Object type: Unknown
Material: Schist
Dimensions: H 110 × W 38 × D 19 mm
Condition: A sub rectangular rock of a dark grey colour, likely to be a shist type rock (metamorphic mudstone/shale), weighing 139g and bearing an ogham inscription
Inscription
Text field: The ogham text occupies three of the four sides of the rock. The front and back sides are smooth.
Letters: The incisions appear to have been done in a single action, not repeated.
Date: Fifth to sixth century but possibly fourth century
Edition
Ogham text: ᚋᚐᚓᚂᚇᚒᚋᚉᚐᚔᚂ ᚄ ᚂᚐᚄᚄ
Transcription: MAELDUMCAIL S LASS
Critical apparatus:
- The first part of the inscription relates to a person’s name: Mael Dumcail (or, alternatively, MAELDUMEAIL or ṂOULDUMEAIL). The second part of the inscription is less certain.
Commentary
The script is similar to that on an ogham-inscribed knife handle from Weeting, in Norfolk (E-NFK-001). The script is that of an early style, most likely fifth to sixth century but possibly as early as fourth century.