Caratacus Stone
Encyclopedia
The Caratacus Stone is an inscribed stone on Exmoor
in Somerset
, thought to date from the 6th century. The inscription, written in Latin
, reads ('kinsman of Caratacus
'), and is thought to have been built either as a memorial or as a boundary stone.
An excavation in 1937 revealed that the stone was not erected over a burial site. In 1906 a shelter was erected over the stone. The first mention of the stone dates from 1206, when it is described as 'the Langeston'. In 1890, the letter 'N' was missing from the inscription. By 1919, it had been cemented back in place.
Some accounts hold that the inscription should actually read , with the letters 'A' and 'T' forming a ligature.
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, thought to date from the 6th century. The inscription, written in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, reads ('kinsman of Caratacus
Caratacus
Caratacus was a first century British chieftain of the Catuvellauni tribe, who led the British resistance to the Roman conquest....
'), and is thought to have been built either as a memorial or as a boundary stone.
An excavation in 1937 revealed that the stone was not erected over a burial site. In 1906 a shelter was erected over the stone. The first mention of the stone dates from 1206, when it is described as 'the Langeston'. In 1890, the letter 'N' was missing from the inscription. By 1919, it had been cemented back in place.
Some accounts hold that the inscription should actually read , with the letters 'A' and 'T' forming a ligature.