Bern Zinc Tablet

The Bern Zinc Tablet (TM 219183 ) is a short inscription, probably of Roman date, in a combination of the Greek and Latin alphabet on a zinc sheet. It was found in Bern in 1984 and contains a dedication to the Celtic god Gobannus, in all likelihood in Gaulish. As this god is a smith (literally the meaning of his name), it is probably no coincidence that the poorly-known and little-used metal zinc was used. Gobannus is described as a 'world-wanderer' ('dobnoredo'), and the two other words ('Brenodor Nantaror') are toponyms, referring to the dedicants, the population of Brenodor in the valley of the river Aare. Despite the unusual writing surface, its authenticity has been chemically established beyond doubt.