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Archaeological enigma: Roman dodecahedron discovered in Britain leaves experts with no answers about its origin and purpose. Find out more about this incredible historical discovery!
In the quiet rural area of Norton Disney, in England, a group of amateur archaeologists made an intriguing discovery: a Roman dodecahedron, object mysterious that has fascinated experts for decades.
This discovery, made by Norton Disney History and Archeology Group, adds a new chapter to the enigma of these ancient artifacts. Although more than 130 dodecahedrons have been found in Europe, only 33 have been discovered in Britain, making this discovery particularly notable.
Roman dodecahedrons, made of copper alloy and measuring about the size of a grapefruit, feature 12 pentagonal faces, each with circular openings of varying sizes and small pins at the corners.
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This particular artifact, found in an excellent state of preservation, is slightly larger than the others already unearthed, although they all fit in the palm of the hand. However, despite their unique physical characteristics, the exact purpose of these objects remains a mystery.
Unique discovery
Richard Parker, secretary of the Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group, described the find as “the discovery of a lifetime“The group, made up of volunteers using metal detectors to search for Roman coins, found the dodecahedron while exploring the local soil.
The object, dated to around 1.700 years ago, was intact and free from damage, something rare among dodecahedrons already discovered, many of which have been found fragmented or corroded by time.
The discovery, which is now on display at the National Civil War Centre in Newark, has already attracted more than 15.000 curious visitors. Jenny Gleadell, head of exhibitions at the Lincoln Museum, noted that the mystery surrounding the object is what captivates the public.People are puzzled because we just don't know what it is.,” Gleadell told the BBC. This mystery has been a major attraction for the dodecahedron, which has become one of the museum's most visited objects.
Theories on the use of the dodecahedron
Over the years, many theories have been proposed to explain the function of these dodecahedrons. Some suggest that they were used in religious rituals, perhaps connected to astrology or as talismans to ward off evil spirits.
Others believe that these objects served more practical purposes, such as knitting, weaving or even measuring distances. However, none of these hypotheses have been conclusively proven, and the lack of historical references makes the puzzle even more challenging.
Dodecahedrons are found throughout Europe, with most dating back to the first century CE, but the lack of documents or visual records from antiquity relating to them leaves experts perplexed.
The theory that the objects were used to measure distances has been largely rejected due to the lack of standardization among the dodecahedrons found, but this does not completely rule out the possibility that they had some unknown utilitarian use.
A ritual or decorative artifact?
In a blog post, the Norton Disney History and Archeology Group raised the hypothesis that the dodecahedron could have been used in religious practices.”An enormous amount of time, energy and skill went into creating our dodecahedron, so it was not used for mundane purposes, especially when alternative materials were available to achieve the same purpose. The most likely use we think of is for ritual and religious purposes.,” they wrote.
Roman society was deeply superstitious, and the theory that the dodecahedron was related to local religious practices is a possibility the group continues to investigate. However, with so few intact examples and no early documentation available, the mystery remains.
The discovery of the Roman dodecahedron at Norton Disney was featured on the popular television programme “Digging for Britain”. Professor Alice Roberts, the presenter of the programme, described the object as “one of the largest and most mysterious archaeological objects” that has already been examined. Media coverage further increased public interest, boosting the number of visitors to the museum.
