Unprecedented Find of a Roman Dodecahedron in the UK

Archaeology enthusiasts from England have found one of the famous Roman dodecahedra. Scientists suggest that this object may have been used for ritual or religious purposes.

The Roman dodecahedron, also known as a dodecahedron, is one of the most enigmatic objects from ancient Rome. It is a small, hollow object made of copper alloy, presenting a regular polyhedron with twelve pentagonal faces. Each face has a circular hole, but all have varying diameters.

What are Roman dodecahedra?

The first dodecahedron was discovered in 1739. Since then, over 116 similar artifacts have been found in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Their dimensions vary, but none exceed 11 cm. Roman dodecahedra are believed to date back to the period between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD.

Amateur treasure seekers from the UK have just found another Roman dodecahedron. They discovered it near the village of Norton Disney in Lincolnshire, 16 km southwest of Lincoln and 183 km north of London.

“We found a fantastic example of a Roman dodecahedron. It is one of the biggest mysteries in archaeology. About 32 dodecahedra have been found in Roman Britain so far, and the one from Norton Disney is the 33rd,” wrote the discoverers from the Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group, a community of archaeology enthusiasts.

The artifact is over 1700 years old

Researchers determined that all Roman dodecahedra were found in the northwestern provinces of Rome. The Norton Disney dodecahedron is the only example found in the Midlands, a geographical and historical region covering the central part of England. The artifact is finely crafted, complete, undamaged, and in excellent condition, according to the discoverers.

Studies revealed that the dodecahedron was made in the same way as other Roman dodecahedra, using a copper alloy containing 75% copper, 7% tin, and 18% lead. It stands at 8 cm tall, with a width of 8.6 cm and a weight of 254 g.

Scientists explain that the dodecahedron was found in the same location where it was likely intentionally placed around 1700 years ago, buried alongside Roman ceramics from the 4th century, in a dug pit or quarry. Further archaeological studies scheduled for this year will help clarify the context of this deposit.

What were the Roman dodecahedra used for?

The exact purpose of Roman dodecahedra is not known. They rarely show signs of use, lack inscriptions, signs, or numbers, and there are no written records or images from the time of their creation. Historians suggest that Romans may have used them to estimate distances to distant objects or determine their size.

Another hypothesis proposes that they were devices for determining the most favorable date for sowing crops. In the past, opinions also suggested that Roman dodecahedra were used as spools in glove manufacturing. Some dodecahedra have been found among various treasures, indicating that these artifacts were valuable to their owners.

Archaeologists also consider the enigmatic nature of these objects may indicate connections to religious cults or unknown deities. The fact that most of these dodecahedra were found in the Gallo-Roman region suggests they might have been used for divination.

“The creation of the Norton Disney dodecahedron required a tremendous amount of time, energy, and skill. Therefore, we believe it was not used for mundane purposes, especially when alternative materials were available that could achieve the same effect. We think it was most likely used for rituals,” argue the discoverers.

Interestingly, in 1989, near the location where the dodecahedron was found, a treasure hunter discovered a deity figurine resembling a horse rider, which is currently in the collection of the British Museum.

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