The Ogham stone, markings dated 1,600 years, found in Coventry, England
The Ogham stone, markings dated 1,600 years, found in Coventry, England
![the background blur](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/157be37f-8ece-4543-a4d0-2004d9a998c5.jpeg?thumbnail=256&format=webp)
![](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/157be37f-8ece-4543-a4d0-2004d9a998c5.jpeg?thumbnail=1024&format=webp)
Ogham is a unique writing system consisting of parallel lines in groups of 1-5, making it highly unusual among world writing systems. These stones provide valuable insights into the Irish language before the adoption of the Latin insular script.
The earliest known ogham inscriptions date back to the 4th and 6th centuries AD, and over 400 ogham stones and fragments have been found, predominantly in Ireland and along the Welsh coast. While the main function of these stones is still uncertain, some historians believe they were used for legal purposes in land disputes, as they are often found on or near the boundaries of kin and bearing the names of ancestors.
More info can be found here: https://www.ancientpages.com/2024/05/18/coventry-mysterious-ogham-stone/