Roman dodecahedron uncovered by amateur archaeologists in the UK

Live Science ^ | January 19, 2024 | Tom Metcalfe

[SunkenCiv]

More than 100 dodecahedrons have now been found in northwestern Europe, but archaeologists still don't know what they were used for.

Amateur archaeologists in England have unearthed a stunning Roman dodecahedron — a mysterious class of objects that has baffled experts for centuries.

The dodecahedron — a 12-sided metal shell about the size of a grapefruit — was found this past summer during a dig in a farmer's field near the Lincolnshire village of Norton Disney, located about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southeast of Sheffield.

A previous geophysical survey, which had detected underground areas where the Earth's magnetic field had been disturbed, had revealed what looked like a buried pit at the site, and metal detectorists had already found Roman coins and broaches in the same field, said Richard Parker, the secretary of the Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group, an organization of local volunteers...

So far, archaeologists have found Iron Age artifacts near the village that predate Roman rule and hundreds of pieces of Roman pottery from the second and third centuries A.D.; and the remains of a Roman villa have also been found near the village, he said...

Roman rule continued until about A.D. 410, by which time most of the legions had left to defend continental Europe from barbarian invasions and the British were left to fend for themselves.

[lepton]

Th relative sizes of the holes seems important. There is always one larger hole - which does suggest something is put inside. The other picture shows that there are multiple sizes of holes specifically made in a given dodecahedron.

[lepton]

Look at the differences between the holes in that one. If a projectile, why would each hole be of a different, but precise, size? One hole might be larger to put something inside it, but other than that largest hole, look at the distances between the inner and middle rings.

[lepton]

The odd one has not only holes, but even more holes (80?). It is also a different shape, divided by triangles like a 20-sider rather than a pentagonal 12-sider.

[SunkenCiv]

lol, Best so far! :^)

[Labyrinthos]

Look at the differences between the holes in that one. If a projectile, why would each hole be of a different, but precise, size? One hole might be larger to put something inside it, but other than that largest hole, look at the distances between the inner and middle rings.

My guess is that it is a military projectile launched by sling short or catapult. The different sized holes would create a "whiffle-ball effect," which would make avoidance more difficult. The knobs would cause the projectile to take a crazy bounce upon impact to the ground, which would also make avoidance more difficult. (My young grandchildren have a "crazy ball" -- a rubber ball with spikes that cause the ball to bounce in random directions.)

[BradyLS]

A spaghetti serving measurer! Plausible!

[BradyLS]

I believe that more than my theories, anyway!

[Semper Vigilantis]

Surveyors, tool. Use the holes to line up posts in straight lines or at angles..?

[PLMerite]

When I saw "Roman," I envisioned something more like a Sphere:

[Diana in Wisconsin]

It's either a child's toy left behind by the Aliens, or it's a Knitting Spool.

[Red Badger]

The holes are different sizes, like they are used to gage something.
They have perfect concentric circles around them except for the largest one. That must mean something.

I’m guessing its a game piece, a gambling device or some sort of divination device...................

[Labyrinthos]

Wouldn’t it need a post of some sort to hold it steady?

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, maybe it’s a knitting spool left behind by the aliens, you don’t know. ;^)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

But all of the Aliens I’ve ever seen have been naked! ;)

[Beowulf9]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76AvV601yJ0

But as that one article said they have found no knitting needles in Roman finds, no indication of gloves made. I did once see a guy saying to make a glove with a dodecahedron made of metal, I think he said bronze, would be way too much money spent on such an item for gloves.

I really don’t think it was for that purpose.

[Robert DeLong]

It could be that what I posted was representative of what the Romans produced, and not an actual product of the Romans from that period. I was looking up what exactly a Roman dodecahedron looked like.

Based upon what I saw made me think it might have some sort of ammo application. I was not concerned about perfectly rounded holes, because I took it as more of a replica representation. 🙂

Had the article actually had a picture of what was found, it would have perhaps presented me with a different thought. Okay? 🤣 But I didn't think of a coke bottle. My bad 🤣

[dfwgator]

Alright, but apart from the dodecahedrons, what have the Romans ever done for us?

[Magnum44]

[nitzy]

Did they explain the purpose of the different sized holes?

[Red Badger]

It could have been a bell of some kind, with the clapper
missing, for some reason.

The clapper would have been made of copper.........