Posted on 01/21/2013 11:34:48 PM PST by ApplegateRanch
The Roman artefacts, deliberately shaped into flat discs, have been in the collection at Fishbourne Roman Palace since the 1960s.
And up until now the museum thought the items were used for early games, such as draughts.
But, a British Medical Journal article has now proposed they have a very different function.
The broken pieces range in size from 1 inch to 4 inches in diameter and were excavated near to the museum in Chichester, West Sussex in 1960.
It is well publicised that Romans used sponges mounted on sticks and dipped in vinegar as an alternative to toilet paper.
Yet, the idea these ceramic discs might also have been used is a revelation.
[snip]
"The pieces had always been catalogued as broken gaming pieces but I was never particularly happy with that explanation.
"But when the article produced the theory they were used to wipe people's bums I thought it was hilarious and it just appealed to me.
"I love the idea we've had these in the museum for 50 years being largely ignored and now they are suddenly engaging items you can relate to."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
To bad the romans didn’t know about corn cobs.
There is a similar system in Las Vegas I do believe. There is more than one way of getting wiped out there.
You wipe them off with toilet paper of course. :=)
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| GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
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Thanks ApplegateRanch and a fool in paradise. |
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Sheryl Crowe decries the wasteful use of three seashells. Or sponges and vinegar. Or whatever.
Hygine is so mainstream.
As the bear inquired of the rabbit, “Does p**p stick to your fur?”
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And then he picked up the rabbit...
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