Experts are baffled about what a newly unearthed mysterious Roman object was used for.
The strange-looking dodecahedron was found during an archaeological dig in Norton Disney - the Lincolnshire home of Walt Disney's ancestors. It is a copper alloy, hollow, 12-sided object that seems to hail back to the third or fourth century.
It is one of only 33 such dodecahedrons found in Britain, the first to have been found in the Midlands, and it's in incredible condition compared to most of the others. Where most other examples are found damaged, or as fragments, the Norton Disney dodecahedron is complete after 1,700 years of being buried.
It is also one of the largest examples to be found, measuring around 8cm tall and weighing 245g. The object's purpose has been lost in the mists of time, as there are no references to them in Roman texts or any depictions of them. Those attempting to figure out what it is have suggested it's a dog treat dispenser, a spaghetti measure, a Christmas cracker puzzle, or a device used in childbirth to measure cervical dilation.
What do you think the object was designed for? Let us know in the comments below.
The best guess of experts is that the dodecahedrons were not practical items, but used in some way in Roman rituals and religious practice. What exactly those rituals would be, and what their role in them would be, is unknown.
The Norton Disney artefact featured in a recent episode of Digging for Britain. Presenter Prof Alice Roberts summed up the mystique of the dodecahedron: "It has to be one of the greatest, most mysterious, archaeological objects I've ever had the opportunity to look at up close."
Richard Parker, secretary of the Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group which found the dodecahedron, suggested the object raised more questions than it answered. He said: “Despite all the research that has gone into our dodecahedron, and others like it, we are no closer to finding out exactly what it is and what it might have been used for. The mystery that surrounds it has provoked quite a reaction.
"Our find received worldwide press attention earlier this year and many people have left us messages with varied and somewhat contradictory suggestions about its purpose. The dodecahedron is an extremely tactile object and, having been privileged to have handled it after its 1,700-year burial, the imagination races when thinking about what the Romans may have used it for.
"Magic, rituals or religion; we perhaps may never know. What we do know is the Norton Disney dodecahedron was found on the top of a hill in a former large pit of some kind. It seems it was deliberately placed there. Why would someone bury an object like this?
"Did it have religious or ritualistic significance? What else might we find nearby? We now have plans in place to return to the same area in June and more fully excavate where we found the dodecahedron. Last year we ran out of time and money, so we hope to discover more clues about why it was placed there and its possible purpose.”
The Norton Disney dodecahedron will be exhibited in its home county for the first time when it goes on display at Lincoln Museum from Saturday, May 4, until early September 2024. This coincides with Lincoln’s first Festival of History over the early May bank holiday weekend from May 4 to 6.
Andrea Martin, exhibitions and interpretations manager at Lincoln Museum said: “It’s a real pleasure to have the Norton Disney dodecahedron joining us, being on public display for the first time in Lincolnshire, just a stone’s throw from where it was found. And to have the opening of the display coincide with the Lincoln Festival of History is a real coup for local history fans and visitors to the city.
“The whole Festival of History is a chance for residents and visitors alike to discover more about Lincoln’s story and Lincoln Museum is the perfect place to start that journey of discovery.”