The discovered dodecahedron is about the size of a grapefruit, larger than the usual
Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group
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Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group
The discovered dodecahedron is about the size of a grapefruit, larger than the usual
Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group
A group of amateur archaeologists in England made an incredible discovery last June. They found an ancient artifact called a dodecahedron at a possible Roman site. The dodecahedron is a circular copper alloy object about the size of a grapefruit, with a distinctive 12-sided form, and various holes and knobs. However, its actual purpose remains a mystery.
The Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group, which made the discovery, considers the dodecahedron as one of “archaeology’s great enigmas,” mainly because there are no known visual or written descriptions of these objects in Roman literature. According to Lorena Hitchens, a doctoral student in the U.K. studying these Roman artifacts, there are numerous unproven theories about the dodecahedron’s function, such as a gauge, a rangefinder, a candlestick, a gambling or gaming die, or even for knitting gloves. However, none of these theories are backed by evidence.
The Norton Disney group believes that the dodecahedron was likely used for ritual and religious purposes, as it required a significant amount of time, energy, and skill to create. They state that “Roman society was full of superstition,” and they believe that there could be a potential link with local religious practices. The unique aspect of this discovery is that the dodecahedron was found fully intact and in excellent condition, unlike most found dodecahedra, which were discovered in fragments.
The dodecahedron was found fully intact and in excellent condition.
Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group
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Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group
The dodecahedron was found fully intact and in excellent condition.
Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group
This particular dodecahedron is the only one uncovered in the central region of England known as the Midlands, and it was deliberately placed 1,700 years ago, according to Richard Parker, secretary for Norton Disney. The artifact is currently on display at the National Civil War Centre at the Newark Museum in England.
The Norton Disney group plans to return to the excavation site to conduct further investigations and learn more about the circumstances surrounding this unique dodecahedron.
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