The paper, written within the framework of the scientific project “Corpus inscriptionum Rossicarum”, contains an analysis of the inscription on a wooden cross, copied by the participants of the polar expedition of Willem Barents on Matveev Island (Pechora Sea, 69°28?03? of northern latitude, 58°32?17? of eastern longitude). The cross was installed in 1574/75 by the participants of the pomorsky trade and is well known in historiography. Paleographic analysis of the inscription showed that the Dutch navigators copied it with minor inaccuracies and reflected the product of a carver who was well acquainted with handwritten writing. The revealed inaccuracies in the transfer of the inscription allowed us to clarify the spelling of the names of the two people who put the cross. Of these, the first is read as Fyodor Pavlov son Malo[y], who could have been a descendant of Malye, Dvinsky landowners. The second name belonging to the carver of the inscription is restored as {O}lishka and is a diminutive form of the name “Elisha” (“Olisey”). Later, the cross began to play the role of a navigation sign.
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