The text is inscribed unusually in a number of ways. Firstly, it is placed perpendicular to the rim, whereas typically graffiti are inscribed along the rim. Secondly, the second line of text, while placed neatly below the first, is written backwards, with letters facing right, but the text running retrograde. The right-most letter in the second line is rho, which has the shape of angular rho with the loop that does not touch the vertical, and the vertical is short and ends at the same level as the bottom end of the loop. This shape is typical in the Archaic graffiti in Borysthenes and Olbia. The only reading that would make sense is to take line 1 as a fragment of a compound name with the second element -agores. [- -]α̣γο-ρεω.

One possible name would be Anaxagores, so [Ἀναξ]α̣γο- in the first line, and in the second line - the ending of that name -ρεω in the Genitive. The name in this form is in fact attested in the VI century in Olbia (Dubois, IGDOlbia 23, verso, 3-5, 9-10) and on the island of Leuke (SEG XLIII 502. 4 (vase) ([Ἀνα]ξαγόρ[ης]). In another NW Black Sea location, at Apollonia-Sozopolis, in V-IV century: IGB I2 421 bis (Ἀναξαγορέω (gen.): f. Θεόμνηστος). It is also attested in several Ionian cities in Asia Minor, as well as in Thasos and Athens in the Vth and IV centuries. Altogether, 12 attestations are registerd in LGPN online.

Another possible name is ῾Ηραγόρης, attested 30 times altogether (according to LGPN online), and in our area (Olbia-Borysthenes) - a minimum of five times: VI-V century (Tolstoi 41; = LSAG2 p. 372 no. 58 (vase); mid. IV century (Dubois, IGDOlbia 106, 7; = SEG XLIV 669 (῾Ηραγόρη(ς)); IV century (SEG L 702 III, 3 (f. Διονυσόδωρος)); IV-III century (IOlbia 71 II, 4; = Dubois, IGDOlb 11 (s. Πρα̣–)); III century (Dubois, IGDOlb 109, 5; = SEG XXXVII 673). In Abdera, a coin issue that dates to 415-395 BCE: May, Abdera p. 162 no. 201 (coin) (῾Ηραγόρεω (gen.)); Also attested at Perinthos-Herakleia: Hp., Epid. ii 1. 7 (῾Ηραγόρεω (gen.)).

There are, however, dozens of names collected in LGPN online that are compounds of -αγορης, so Anaxagores and Hragores are certainly not the only possible restorations. They have been singled out exampli gratia because they are attested multiple times in Olbia-Borysthenes.