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No-one seems to know but this is STW so we can all have an opinion at least. No, it's not a ringpull or TR7 headlamp part. 😉
It's about 8cm high and found near Lincoln. The best guess is apparently a religious object but no-one really knows.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-68908558
Lol, not bad answers. Unlikely but not bad.
I wondered if it was a gambling tool. The size of the hole being equivalent to a number. Two dodecahedrons, roll 'em and see whose shows the biggest hole? Hole sizes means that players do not need to be numerate. Although that is probably bad if you're gambling...
No wait.
Biggus Dickus gauge.
Joshvegas beat me too it. I had already posted the same on Facebook! They are Italian afterall?
EDIT: Haha, i also thought the same as that one too @joshvegas. Great minds think alike it seems lol
shape sorter
They are Italian afterall?
Exactly my thought process.
Dunno?, early form of frozen sausage?, but loads have been found all over Europe and beyond yet folk who’s entire existence is to dig stuff up don’t have any idea either so I don’t feel bad admitting I’m flummoxed.
Arachini standardaisation measure.
I mean i know i am joking but i recon it is a girth gauge of some description.
TroutWrestler
Free Member
I wondered if it was a gambling tool. The size of the hole being equivalent to a number. Two dodecahedrons, roll ’em and see whose shows the biggest hole? Hole sizes means that players do not need to be numerate. Although that is probably bad if you’re gambling…
Decent enough theory. 👍 I was wondering if different sized wooden balls were inserted (corresponding to hole size) and it was thrown till one came out to determine... I don't know what!
The feet are interesting. Could be purely decorative but could also be to keep it raised off a surface, whichever way it is placed, but why?
I mean i know i am joking but i recon it is a girth gauge of some description.
Well, hell, it could be!
They’re for making fingers for gloves.
Wow, that's got to be more than coincidence!
You should email that to the Beeb.👍
Eel trap ?
Apparently they come in different sizes so aren't much cop for measuring.
Agree with TroutWrestler - some sort of dice I reckon.
Apparently they come in different sizes so aren’t much cop for measuring.
And also dont generally show any sign of wear which goes against them being dice etc.
Personally I reckon someone managed to get a time travel device and sent them back to screw with archaeologists.
The definitive answer, as given by a practicing field archaeologist who specialises in Roman Britain (that is: my son), is:
There genuinely is no answer! No-one actually knows what they are, but there are a few of them knocking about - I think 20 of varying sizes in Britain?
There are quite a few suggestions, like loom weight and such, but I’ve no idea…
^^ Well, let the games recommence! It's either something do intrinsic to the times, whether it be a religion or practice, that it'll never be determined or one might be found in context one day.
I love this kind of thing though.
^^ My Catlike Leaf is great for that.
Spaghetti portion gauge
Nice idea but pasta came to Italy well after the Roman Empire.
roman objet d'art or an egg grader
These have been popping up on the internet and in the news over the last year or two, they’re only in the news again is because this one’s gone on display.
One was found on an episode of Digging for Britain and Prof. Alice Roberts was trying to figure out what the damn things are.
The fact they’re so well made indicates they must have been important whatever they were made for.
They are poll connectors for geodesic roman tents.
Apparently they come in different sizes so aren’t much cop for measuring.
You are thinking of standard units of measurement. Not relative measurement.
Nice idea but pasta came to Italy well after the Roman Empire.
Nah, Italians eat pasta ergo romans ate pasta.
stat ratione.
It's an Ocarina, sir.
... an early one.
Ocarina of time(team)
Model of the solar system for worship
It's a Thrull booster.
Filled with Thrull,they were placed at the top of Tors during thunder storms.
When the storm was at it's peak,the booster would attract lightning,this would then activate the Thrull and form a multi dimensional travel portal.
Sadly,all the Thrull was used up on exotic shopping trips.
Orchidometer
Twist and pull for an orchidectomy?
Tesseract obviously
The fact they’re so well made indicates they must have been important whatever they were made for.
Never done a house clearance? 😀
I can be in my own house for less than ten minutes before finding a random well-made object that I have no idea of what it is.
It seems that my worship idea was wrong, otherwise these dodecahedrons would have been seen in mosaics and art.
Most of the answers ^^ are more likely 🙂 https://theconversation.com/beautifully-crafted-roman-dodecahedron-discovered-in-lincoln-but-what-were-they-for-229131