Carved bone stylusSoprintendenza per i Beni Culturali e Ambientali di Caltanissetta
Posted on 01/18/2026 6:50:46 AM PST by SunkenCiv
La Brújula Verde reports that a bone stylus dated to the fifth century B.C. was unearthed in southern Sicily during an archaeological investigation conducted in advance of a construction project. The five-inch stylus was recovered from an area with a paved surface and collapsed structures that are thought to have been used as workshops in the Greek colony. The top of the stylus is carved with a man’s head, perhaps representing Dionysus as a herm or a bust in a squared stone pillar. The central part of the pillar features a carving of a phallus. Archaeologist Gianluca Calà, excavation director for the Municipality of Gela, said that the fragility of the item, and the delicacy of the carvings, suggests that the stylus may have served a symbolic purpose. To read about a first-century A.D. iron stylus excavated along London's River Thames, go to "Provincial Pen Pal."
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...
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Carved bone stylusSoprintendenza per i Beni Culturali e Ambientali di Caltanissetta
The other GGG topics added since the previous digest ping, alpha:
Bone is the right word.
The weekly digest list of topics is up top.
That’s some intricate carving….
It’s too long to be an Italian Horn. No hole in the top anyway.🙂
Fred Flintstone boneagraph?
Of course, from the article, this week's My Ass award goes to, "may have served a symbolic purpose".
Has to be, cymbalic symbolism is only found at ancient musical sites. At least, that’s what it sez here in the notes. But wait, they said this was a stylus, and CDs have only been around since the mid-1970s...
Now if they can only find the bone phone that it goes to.
LOL!
Sicilians invented calcium waiting.
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