Mysterious Roman dodecahedron to go on display in Lincoln

[sl8]

The dodecahedron on display at the National Civil War Centre, Newark Museum
Picture from https://nortondisneyhag.org/?page_id=2406

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https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/29/mysterious-roman-dodecahedron-display-lincoln

Mysterious Roman dodecahedron to go on display in Lincoln

There are no known descriptions or drawings of object in Roman literature, making its purpose unclear

Jessica Murray, Midlands correspondent
Mon 29 Apr 2024 06.02 EDT

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They are known as one of archaeology’s great enigmas – hollow 12-sided objects from the Roman era with no known purpose or use.

Only 33 of these mysterious dodecahedrons have ever been found in Britain and now one, unearthed during an amateur archaeology dig after 1,700 years underground, is going on public display in Lincoln as part of a history festival.

Found in Norton Disney, near Lincoln, in the summer of 2023, the artefact is one of the largest of its kind ever found, measuring 8cm tall and weighing 254g.

Its excavation was particularly important as it was found where it was placed 1,700 years ago, meaning the site could hold clues as to its purpose. Only three other examples of dodecahedra have been found on archaeological excavations.

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[OldBaldy1701E]

1. I am betting it was for the first RPG.

One has to wonder what that would have been like.

"Okay, the Dinosaur is charging, what are you going to do?"

"I try to stab it with my sharpened stick!" *rolls his dodecahedron*

I suspect the different sized holes are the clue, but that is just me...

[sop]

2. If it was bigger than 8cm my cat would immediately climb inside that thing.

[viva la]

3. Incense burner?

That is what I'd use it for.

[werdna]

6. That was my first thought, but -

- on further research learned most of them have holes all around so no place to set the incense. Others were completely enclosed, no where for the aroma to escape

[viva la]

8. Hmm... it also looks like a cat toy.

My cat has a wooden ball like that. Now I know what the shape is!

[werdna]

4. One possible solution to the mystery -

-

[viva la]

5. It is amazing how they keep digging up

Treasures in Britain. That land has been cultivated and fought over for 2000 years, and yet there are still buried treasures.

[ChazInAz]

7. Roman version of the Pet Rock?

[Warpy]

9. Fiber artist agree

that it was a jig for making finger coverings, the gauntlets they wore were leather. Fingers would wear out a lot and the frontier was cold. The jigs are different sizes for fingers and thumbs of various sizes. Most of the nubs look like they were polished by wear.

It would be a good way to occupy a soldier's down time while cutting down on frostbite during bad weather.