The ancient Ogham script (pronounced 'oh-am') is most often
found on Ogham stones that date back to the third century. Most
examples of the writing is found on Ogham stones of which there
are over 350 found mostly in southern Ireland as well as in
Scotland, the Isle of Man, Cornwall and Wales. The transition to
the use of the Roman alphabet took place about the sixth
century. Most examples of Ogham writing confer the name of
person that they represent, thus the stones are often memorial
symbols. When carved on stones the first letter was at the base
and the inscription read from the bottom up. Ogham is
occasionally called the 'Celtic Tree alphabet' as many of the
letters of Ogham refer to trees. The origin of Ogham is unclear
with some scholars suggesting that the language was invented to
allow the native Irish communicate in code that the Roman
Britons would not understand. Other scholars contend that the
language is of Christian origin and exists as a means of
religious communication. THE ANCIENT OGHAM LANG