It is a hollow object with 12 sides, the size of a human fist, and made of a metal alloy. On each of its pentagonal faces there is a circular hole, the size of which may vary from one side to the other. This is the description Portable effects chart, a project associated with the British Museum that records small finds of archaeological interest in the United Kingdom, makes the Roman Dodecahedron. And why are we now talking about ancient solids with a rather unusual appearance?
The specimen, which was discovered last summer in Norton Disney, a small village in England, is one of the largest of about 130 specimens known throughout the Roman world and is on display at the Lincoln Museum in lincolnshire, Until September. Measuring about eight centimeters long and weighing 254 grams, it is part of a collection of 33 pieces found in Great Britain alone.
Like this one that was discovered in 2023 by the Norton Disney History and Archeology Group, made up of amateurs, the remaining dodecahedron remains one of the mysteries of archaeology.
According to one Statement issued in location From the groupThe distinctive aspect of the Norton Disney dodecahedron compared to previously found specimens lies in its conversational status: “The Norton Disney dodecahedron is the only specimen ever found in the Midlands. [Inglaterra central] And it’s particularly good. It is well cast, complete and in excellent condition. It is an example of highly sophisticated craftsmanship, with a high level of finishing.
Courtesy: Norton Disney History and Archeology Collection
This group of antiquities enthusiasts also highlights the importance of the discovery by identifying the object without losing its context: “It is an important discovery because it was found On siteThese volunteers believe that the dodecahedron was deliberately placed next to a group of Roman ceramics in a small pit in a quarry about 1,700 years ago, but this is just an assumption at the moment. What is already certain is the composition of the metal alloy from which it was made, of tin, lead and more. From 60% copper.
Generally, the Roman dodecahedron is found by amateurs using metal detectors, and is later handed over to specialists and institutions, far from the area in which it was found, which makes its study difficult.
in Statements to the BBCRichard Parker, secretary of the Norton Disney Historical and Archaeological Collection, admitted that “despite all the research” they were no closer to discovering exactly what it was and what it could be used for.
For the volunteer group, what makes the most sense is that the dodecahedron has ritual and religious purposes: “They don’t have a standard size, so they don’t measure things. They don’t show any signs of wear, so they’re not a tool. “The dodecahedron requires an enormous amount of time, energy and skill, so it has not been used for ordinary purposes, especially when there are alternative materials available that would serve the same purposes. The most likely use is for ritual and religious purposes.” location.
However, the mystery remains. The possibilities of the dodecahedron being candles, sweepstakes, or even polygonal dice are not excluded.
It has already been approved to return to excavation work next summer. The goal now is to find more information that explains the circumstances in which the piece was left.
Text edited by Lucinda Canellas
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