#step #closer #ancient #Romans #mysterious #dodecahedron
One of the great mysteries of archeology is what the ancient Romans could have used the occasional metal dodecahedrons, these 12-sided, open structures that could even be thought of as a dice. One of these rare items is now on display in Lincoln, England, but more importantly, its location may help reveal the secret.
Researchers are scratching their heads as to what the dodecahedrons could be good for, because no written documents about them have survived, and no pictorial representations are known. Since such objects were found in different sizes, the archaeologists rejected the idea that they were some kind of measuring device, and since there are no characteristic wears on them, the nature of the tool was also questioned. It is most likely that the dodecahedrons were used for religious and ritual purposes, the preparation of which required great expertise, a lot of time and energy. For that reason alone, they were highly regarded. About dodecahedrons and their mystery we wrote here before.
In the summer of 2023, the Norton Disney Historian and Archeology Group found a relatively large dodecahedron with a diameter of 8 centimeters near Lincoln. The object is made of 75 percent copper, 18 percent lead, and 7 percent tin.
Dodecahedron found near Lincoln, England – Photo: Norton Disney History and Archeology Group
The company wrote on its website, that this became the 33rd dodecahedron found in England in the former Roman Empire, and a total of about 130 such objects are known to exist. On the other hand, it can be revealing that they were found only in the territory of the northwestern Roman provinces.
The Lincoln object is one of the best worked and in the best condition, and may have been made about 1700 years ago. But more importantly, it was found in a place where it was deliberately placed. Along with it, the archaeologists also brought out a fourth-century Roman pottery from a pre-dug pit. In addition, there are only three known cases where the mystical object was found during archaeological excavations.
Norton Disney archaeologists hope that the next excavations will clarify why the dodecahedron ended up where it was found. The group may resume work this year, which it suspended last year due to time and financial constraints. According to their theory, the dodecahedron was connected to local religious practice, which would not be so strange, since Roman society was completely permeated with superstitions and beliefs.
