While working in his garden in Coventry, England, a 55-year-old geography teacher stumbled upon a small rectangular stone. It was later revealed that this artifact is over 1,600 years old. Experts discovered letters from the ancient Irish Ogham alphabet carved into its surface.
Intrigued by the mysterious markings, Mr. Senior sent photographs to an expert. He was astonished to learn that his find was museum-worthy.
Ogham is an alphabet that was used by the inhabitants of Ireland during the early Middle Ages. Before they began writing on parchment with Latin letters, they utilized this writing system.
The Discovery Proved Sensational
“I was weeding and clearing stones from the flowerbed when I saw this object and thought: this is unnatural; these aren’t scratches made by an animal,” Mr. Graham Senior recounted about his discovery.
He cleaned the stone and showed it to a relative who is an archaeologist. The archaeologist advised the geography teacher to reach out to researchers involved in the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which encourages citizens to register their archaeological finds.
Teresa Gilmore, an archaeologist and public relations specialist at Birmingham Museums, stated: “This amazing find sheds new light on our understanding of the early Middle Ages in Coventry. Each such discovery helps fill in the puzzle, giving us a bit more information.”
When Mr. Senior sent Ms. Gilmore several photographs, she immediately contacted Catherine Forsyth, a professor of Celtic studies at the University of Glasgow. The scholar confirmed the symbols belonged to the ancient alphabet and determined the age of the artifact. In her opinion, the inscribed stone dates back to the 4th to 6th century.
According to Teresa Gilmore, such stones are “very rare and are usually found in Ireland or Scotland.” How it ended up in England remains unclear. The expert suggested it might be linked to ancient migrations of people from Ireland, particularly monks and clergy who moved between monasteries.
What Else Is Known About the Stone and Its Future
The block, measuring 11 cm in length and weighing 139 grams, has inscriptions on three of its four sides. Its purpose is unclear, Ms. Gilmore noted. She speculated that it could have been a portable memorial item—a relic. In any case, “it’s a remarkable little piece.”
The archaeologist explained that in the inscription “Maldumcail/ S/ Lass,” the first word may refer to a person’s name. However, the meaning of “S/Lass” remains uncertain. It could possibly denote a location.
Mr. Senior donated his find to the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry. The artifact is currently on display at the exhibition “Collecting Coventry,” as reported by The Guardian.