The Monastic Complex of Murfatlar was discovered in June 1957 near the village of Basarabi 1, Romania. The workers of a limestone quarry suddenly found an entrance to a Rock Church, which later would be called B1. From 1957 to 1960, Romanian archaeologists conducted an archaeological survey organised by the Institute of Archaeology in Bucharest, presented by Ion Barnea and the Directorate of Architectural Monuments, presented by Victor and Liana Bilciurescu 2. During studies, they found several churches and chapels (B1, B2, B3, B4, E3, E5), galleries (H, G1-5), burial chambers (C1, C2) and cells (E1, E2, E4, E6). Medieval workers in a limestone quarry and monks have left many anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and geometric drawings on soft limestone walls. Also, they had engraved Cyrillic, Glagolitic, Greek and Runiform inscriptions. The object of this paper is the Runiform inscriptions which, according to researchers of the rock complex, are over 60. The first part of this work contains an overview of all known Murfatlar inscriptions. Also, a simple frequency analysis of all graphs will be conducted. The author’s proposal for deciphering the mysterious Runiform alphabet will be offered in the second part of this paper.
Presenting Murfatlar Inscriptions
Here will be examined 91 inscriptions found so far at Murfatlar monastery. Appearance and frequency of use of all graphemes will be compared. This simple statistic will be used in the following chapters to understand Murfatlar Script better. Inscriptions will be presented beginning from the longest and ending with single graphs:
Inscription M1 contains eight rows. It is incised on a wall in church B4. M1 consists of 33 characters. Popkonstantinov published photos of the inscription - Kronsetiner (Popkonstantinov K. Kronsetiner O. 1994) and on the website www.ansamblubasarabi.co.uk.
Inscription M2 was incised on the northern pillar of Church B4 and consisted of 30 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea, I. 1962A, p. 1 Murfatlar is the previous name of the village. 2 See Barnea, I., Bilciurescu, V. 1959. 2 309, Barnea, I. 1971, p. 21). Beshevliev presented the inscription under number 17 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, Tab. VI, Ins. 17). The facsimile of Popkonstantinov differs from that of Beshevliev (Popkonstantinov, K. 1993, p. 157). A photo of the inscription was published by K. Popkonstantinov (Popkonstantinov, K., Kronsetiner, O. 1998), www.ansamblubasarabi.co.uk, and www.biserici-rupestre-basarabi.ro.
Inscription M3 was incised on a wall of Church B4 and consisted of 21 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea, I. 1962a, p. 203 and Barnea, I. 1971, p. 201). Beshevliev listed Barnea’s copy under number 23 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. VII/23). Later, Popkonstantinov published different facsimiles (Popkonstantinov K. 1993, p.155). Photos of the inscription were posted by Popkonstantinov (Popkonstantinov, K. 1986, p. 86) and Popkonstantinov- Kronsetiner (Popkonstantinov- Kronsetiner 1993), www.patzinakia.com and www.ansamblubasarabi.co.uk.
Inscription M4 was incised on the south wall of Church B4. It consists of 19 characters. Barnea (Barnea I. 1963, p. 191) and Beshevliev (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. /16) published the first facsimile of the inscription. Popkonstantinov commented on the inscription and added a facsimile different from Barnea’s (Popkonstantinov K. 1993, p.157). Photographs of the inscription were published by Popkonstantinov- Kronsetiner (Popkonstantinov, K., Kronsetiner, O. 1994) and www.patzinakia. com.
Inscription M5 was incised over the entrance to the nave of church B1 and consists of 17 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Damian Bogdan 3 (Bogdan, D. 1960, p. 45). Later Ion Barnea brought to the public a slightly improved facsimile of M5 (Barnea, I. 1962A, p. 309 and also: I. 1971, p. 210, Barnea, I. 1981, p. 89). Next, Barnea’s facsimile was republished by Diaconu-Petre (Diaconu, P. Petre, N. 1969) and Beshevliev, which is listed under number 21 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. VIII). Popkonstantinov commented on the inscription and added his own facsimile, different from previous publications (Popkonstantinov K. 1993, p. 153). According to him, M5 is long, 20 sm. and the height of graphs varies between 1 and 2 sm. Photographs of M5 were published in www.patzinakia.com and www.ansamblubasarabi.co.uk
Inscription M6 contains three lines and totals 19 characters. A photograph of M6 was published by Popkonstantinov- Kronsetiner (Popkonstantinov K. Kronsetiner O. 1994). No further information was added besides that it is located at one of Murfatlar's Churches.
Inscription M7 was incised on the north wall of the nave of church B4 and consists of 17 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea, I. 1962B, p. 219). Later, Barnea’s facsimile was republished by Diaconu-Petre (Diaconu, P. Petre, N. 1969) and Beshevliev, who listed it under number 19 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. VII). Popkonstantinov comments on the inscription and adds changes in Barnea's facsimile: third and 15th graph (Popkonstantinov K. 1993, p. 156). A photograph of the inscription was published by Popkonstantinov- Kronsetiner (Popkonstantinov K., Kronsetiner, O. 1994, Fig. 29).
Inscription M8 was found at Murfatlar Monastery. It consists of 13 characters. A photo of the inscription was posted on www.patzinakia.com without further information.
Inscription M9 was incised on the south wall of church B1 and consists of 12 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea, I. 1962A, p. 309, 1971, p 210 and 1981, p. 89). Barnea’s facsimile was presented again by Diaconu, P. /Petre, N. (Diaconu, P. Petre, N. 1969, p. 452) and Beshevliev, who listed it under number 22 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. VIII). Later, Popkonstantinov added another facsimile. According to him, the inscription is 20 sm. long and the height of the graphs is 1-2 sm. Popkonstantinov also believes that M9 and situated 5-6 sm. above it, Old-Bulgarian inscription might be the two parts of bilingual inscription (Fig. 9) (Popkonstantinov K. 1993, p. 135). A photograph of M9 was made available by Tryjarski (Tryjarski, E. 1981, p. 370 and 1985, p. 79).
Inscription M10 was incised on the north wall of the nave of church B4 and consists of 11 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Bogdan (Bogdan D. 1960, p. 49). At Beshevliev inscription is listed under number 14 (Beshevliev, V. 1977). A photo of the inscription was published by Tryjarski (Tryjarski E. 1985 b).
Inscription M11 was engraved on the north wall of the nave of church B4 and consists of 11 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea, I. 1971, p. 220). Later, the same facsimile was republished by Barnea (Barnea, I. 1981, p. 73) and Diaconu- Petre (Diaconu, P. Petre, N. 1969, p. 452). At Beshevliev, the inscription is listed under number 20 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. VII). Popkonstantinov commented on the inscription and added changes in Beshevliev's facsimile (the fifth graph is different) (Popkonstantinov K. 1993, p. 156). According to him, M11 is long 27 sm., and the graphs’ height varies between 2 and 3 sm. A photograph of the inscription was published by K. Popkonstantinov (Popkonstantinov K. 1987).
Inscription M12 was incised on the right side of the entrance of Church B1. It contains 11 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Bogdan (Bogdan D. 1960, p. 44). He thought that inscription M12 was written in Cyrillic. His hypothesis was criticised by Comsa (Comsa M. 1964), Galabov (Galabov, Iv. 1975) and Popkonstantinov (Popkonstantinov K. 1983, Popkonstantinov K. 1987, p. 127). They all undoubtedly classified the inscription as Runiform. At Beshevliev, it is listed under number 24 (Beshevliev, V. 1977).
Inscription M13 is a one-line inscription. It was incised on the east side of one of the columns of Church B4. M13 consists of 10 characters. The only facsimile of the inscription was published by Popkonstantinov (Popkonstantinov, K. 2003, p. 110). А Photograph was published by Popkonstantinov- Kronsetiner (Popkonstantinov K. Kronsetiner O. 1994).
Inscription M14 is located at the Rock Churches of Murfatlar and contains 10 characters. The drawing of the inscription was posted on www.patzinakia.com. Its exact location was not specified.
Inscription M15 was engraved on the wall left of the entrance to the altar of church B3 and consists of 9 characters. A photo of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea I.1981, p.51) and Tryjarski (Tryjarski, E. 1980, p. 368). Later, Popkonstantinov and Kronsetiner made available another photograph of M15 (Popkonstantinov, K., Kronsetiner, O. 1994). Also, pictures of M15 were published by websites www.patzinakia.com, ansamblubasarabi.co.uk and www.biserici-rupestre-basarabi.ro.
Inscription M16 is incised on a wall in church B3 and consists of 9 characters. A photo of the inscription was published by Tryjarski (Tryjarski E. 1981) and www.patzinakia.com.
Inscription M17 was incised on a column in Church B4. It consists of 9 characters. A photo of the inscription was published at www.patzinakia.com and www.ansamblubasarabi.co.uk.
was engraved on the wall of the burial chamber C1. It consists of 9 characters. A facsimile of the inscription was published by Bogdan (Bogdan D. 1960, p. 47).
Inscription M19 was incised on a column in Church B4. It consists of 7 characters. A photo of the inscription was published by Tryjarski (Tryjarski E. 1981, p. 365), at www.patzinakia.com and at www.ansamblubasarabi.co.uk.
Inscription M20 inscription was incised on a fragment from chapel E3. It consists of 7 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Bogdan (Bogdan D. 1960, p. 49). At Beshevliev, it is listed under number 10 (Beshevliev, V. 1977). A photo of the inscription was published by Tryjarski (Tryjarski E. 1981, p. 78, tab. VI).
Inscription M21 was engraved on the wall left of the entrance to the altar of church B3. It consists of 7 characters. A photo of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea I.1981, p. 55).
Inscription M22 was engraved on a wall of church B1. It consists of 7 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea, I. 1962b, p. 188) and Bogdan (Bogdan D. 1960, p. 46). At Beshevliev inscription number 12 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. VI).
Inscription M23 is engraved on a wall in a burial chamber C1 and consists of 7 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea I. 1962b, p.188). At Beshevliev inscription is number 7 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. V)
Inscription M24 was engraved on the wall left of the entrance to the altar of church B3. It consists of 7 characters. A photo of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea I.1981, p. 55) and also at www.patzinakia.com.
Inscription M25 was engraved on the wall of church B1 and consists of 6 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea, I. 1962a, p.307, Barnea I. 1971, p. 206). At Beshevliev, the inscription is under number 8 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. V). A photo of the inscription was published at www.patzinakia.com.
Inscription M26 was engraved on a wall of chapel E3. It consists of 6 characters spread over a large area, perhaps part of multiple incisions. A facsimile of the inscription was published by Bogdan (Bogdan D. 1960, p. 48).
Inscription M27 was incised on a wall in burial chamber C1. It consists of five characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea I. 1962a, p. 187). At Beshevliev inscription is under number 13 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. VI).
Inscription M28 is incised in Church B4. It consists of 5 characters. A facsimile of the inscription was published by K. Daniel (Daniel C. 1989).
Inscription M29 was engraved on the walls of one of the galleries and consists of 5 characters. The first facsimile of the inscription was published by Barnea (Barnea I. 1962b, p. 188). At Beshevliev inscription is under number 6 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. V). A photo of the inscription was published at www.patzinakia.com.
Inscription M30 was engraved on a wall of galleries. It consists of 5 characters. Barney (Barnea I. 1962, p. 187) and Bogdan (Bogdan D. 1960, p. 46) published the first facsimiles of the inscription. At Beshevliev inscription is under number 9 (Beshevliev, V. 1977, tab. V). A photo was posted at www.patzinakia.com.
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