https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c14kywyk0vro BBC Homepage * Skip to content * Accessibility Help * Your account * Home * News * Sport * Earth * Reel * Worklife * Travel * More menu More menu Search BBC * Home * News * Sport * Earth * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Culture * Future * Music * TV * Weather * Sounds Close menu BBC News Menu * Home * Israel-Gaza war * War in Ukraine * India Election 2024 * Climate * Video * World * US & Canada * UK * Business More * Tech * Science * Entertainment & Arts * Health * In Pictures * BBC Verify * World News TV * Newsbeat * England * Regions * Coventry & Warwickshire Stone with ancient writing system unearthed in garden Ogham stoneImage source, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum Image caption, The stone's Ogham script is believed to have been carved sometime between the 4th and 6th Century Chi Chi Izundu BBC Radio 4 * Published 9 May 2024 The discovery of small stone carved with an early form of Celtic script has caused excitement among archaeologists after being dug up in a garden. It was found by geography teacher Graham Senior in Coventry during lockdown in 2020 while he was weeding, but its true value was only recently understood. Dating back possibly as far as the 4th Century, the stone's Ogham script features a series of lines inscribed on three of its sides, and experts are trying to understand their full meaning. Teresa Gilmore, finds liaison officer for Staffordshire and West Midlands said: "It's an amazing find, we're very lucky." She added: "Most Ogham inscriptions you generally find in the more Celtic areas - Scotland, Ireland and down in Cornwall - you don't generally get them down in the Midlands." Mr Senior told the BBC he had a "fair idea" what the stone was when he found it, but was unable to find someone to confirm his suspicions and "hit a brick wall". But he said that changed when Katherine Forsyth from the University of Glasgow "took the trouble to come down with a researcher" a few months ago. She partially translated the script to reveal a name: Mael Dumcail. Ali Wells and Graham SeniorImage source, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum Image caption, Graham Senior, here pictured (right) with Herbert curator Ali Wells, found the stone while weeding in 2020 Mr Senior said his theory was that it could have been a keepsake, possibly carried by a Roman soldier. "It's a very tactile thing - just feels right as if it was meant to be held," he said. The piece of sandstone measures just 11cm (4 inches) in length and is believed to have been carved sometime between the 4th and 6th Century AD. Ms Gilmore said another theory was that it could have been used by Irish tradesmen to make contact with each other. The team said Ogham was highly unusual among world writing systems, consisting solely of parallel lines in groups of one to five. They said it could provide an insight into the Irish language before the use of the Latin insular script Ogham stoneImage source, Birmingham Museums Trust Image caption, Part of the writing was deciphered and revealed a name: Mael Dumcail She said the discovery took her by surprise, but finds like this can "leave more questions than answers". She hopes to learn more when the rest of the stone is translated. It is due to go on display at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry on Saturday, as part of a free exhibition titled Collecting Coventry. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk, external Related Topics * Coventry More on this story * Ancient stones link observatory, writing and trolls + Published 2 July 2023 The Beaghmore Stone Circles are located at the foot of the Sperrin mountains Related internet links * Herbert Art Gallery & Museum * Portable Antiquities Scheme * University of Glasgow More on this story * Eurovision act Bambi Thug told to remove Ogham message + Published 6 days ago Bambie Thug representing Ireland performs on stage during the first semi-final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, in Malmo, Sweden Related internet links * Herbert Art Gallery & Museum * Portable Antiquities Scheme From other local news sites * Kenilworth street festival to return this May following successes last year + External Kenilworth Nub News * Coventry students rewarded after Children's Book Week competition + External Coventry Observer * Council to lease land to allow huge student accommodation block to be built + External Kenilworth Nub News * New music hub for budding young musicians coming to Warwickshire + External Stratford Observer * Roadworks started on Queensway and Ford Foundry + External Coventry Observer * Leamington floristry academy to exhibit at one of world's most prestigious flower shows + External WarwickshireWorld Information about BBC links to other news sites Top Stories * Trump's lawyer attacks Cohen in hush-money trial + Published 1 hour ago * Republicans flock to court to show they stand with Trump + Published 5 hours ago * Huge manhunt after French prison officers killed in ambush + Published 4 hours ago Features * Drama on and off screen at Cannes Film Festival Selena Gomez in Emilia Perez * Trapped in hell under collapsed building but pulled out alive Man and woman smiling at the camera * Top doctor cancer-free a year after world-first therapy Richard Scolyer * Cow dung's key role in India's energy industry Rukmini Baburao Kumbhar pours slurry into a pipe * The volunteer crime fighters using whistles, whips and guns in South Africa Abel Rapelego * In pictures: The Bafta TV Awards red carpet Bobby Brazier at the Baftas * Women's ice hockey finds winning formula in pro league Toronto and Montreal PWHL players * An alleged dowry death and a gruesome revenge Anshika at her wedding * Chainsaw vandals hack at trees to get better Sydney harbour view Sydney harbour Elsewhere on the BBC * Are you ready to rock through time? Watch the brand new trailer for the new series of Doctor Who Doctor Who * A terrifying adventure in the far future Can the Doctor and Ruby save a baby farm run by babies from the terrifying bogeyman? Doctor Who * Go behind the scenes... Join Steffan Powell as he gets the keys to the TARDIS and exclusive access to the Whoniverse Doctor Who Unleashed * Unmissable aftershow analysis Join Nadie Jae and Shabaz Ali in the newly regenerated Official Doctor Who Podcast [p0gvqfq1] Most Read 1. 1 Huge manhunt after French prison officers killed in ambush 2. 2 Republicans flock to court to show they stand with Trump 3. 3 First portrait of King since coronation unveiled 4. 4 Nobel Prize winning author Alice Munro dies aged 92 5. 5 Trump's lawyer attacks Cohen in hush-money trial 6. 6 Who is escaped French prisoner Mohamed Amra? 7. 7 US teen amasses $15m in college scholarships 8. 8 Bad behaviour shuts Dublin-New York portal 9. 9 Arrest made after eight killed in Florida bus crash 10. 10 US says sanctions possible after India-Iran port deal BBC News Services * On your mobile * On smart speakers * Get news alerts * Contact BBC News * Home * News * Sport * Earth * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Culture * Future * Music * TV * Weather * Sounds * Terms of Use * About the BBC * Privacy Policy * Cookies * Accessibility Help * Parental Guidance * Contact the BBC * Get Personalised Newsletters * Why you can trust the BBC * Advertise with us (c) 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. [p]