Written by the Treasureguide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches report.
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...
More than 100 dodecahedrons have been found throughout northwestern Europe over the past 200 years.
These objects date from between the first and the third centuries A.D. and they have only been found in former northern territories of the Roman Empire. They're sometimes called "Gallo-Roman" dodecahedrons, after the Gauls (or Celts) who lived in these areas.
Each dodecahedron is a 12-sided hollow shell of metal, usually bronze, with differently sized holes in each face; these holes are often surrounded by concentric rings imprinted in the metal, and there is a stud at each corner where the 12 faces meet.
But they bear no writing of any kind, and no description of the dodecahedrons has ever been found in Roman writings. As a result, modern archaeologists are at a loss to explain what they might have been used for. Some have proposed that the dodecahedrons were toys, dice, the heads of maces, sling stones, or range-finding devices for Roman artillery. Additional theories on the internet range from their being devices for calculating dates from the stars to serving as knitting patterns for Roman gloves....
Here is the link.Roman dodecahedron uncovered by amateur archaeologists in the UK | Live Science
Dodecahedron means twelve-sided. Fascinating objects leaving a lot of room for speculating on their use. A great mystery object, and an unanswered mystery.
---
Babylon's bright-blue Ishtar Gate was thought to have been built to celebrate the conquest of Jerusalem — but a new analysis finds that it may have been erected years later.
The iconic glazed-brick edifice, which King Nebuchadnezzar II ordered to be built and decorated with wild bulls and misshusshu dragons while ruling the Babylonian empire from 605 to 562 B.C., was constructed in three phases and served as the entrance to the ancient city of Babylon located in southern Mesopotamia. However, the exact dates of each construction phase have long been up for debate, according to a study published Wednesday (Jan. 17) in the journal PLOS One.
While it's known that Nebuchadnezzar II ordered the first phase, as these bricks are inscribed with his name, it was less clear if some time had passed before the second and third phases were completed, according to the study. Some researchers even wondered if Nebuchadnezzar II had died before the gate's completion.
To set the record straight, archaeologists collected tiny samples from five of the fired mud bricks from the Ishtar Gate (now reconstructed at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin) spread across the three phases and measured the geomagnetic fields of each one in a process known as archaeomagnetism...
Here is the link for more about that.
---
Concerning Shell's mystery object that I posted a couple days ago, these three are representative and pretty well summarize the general opinion. The fact that we are dealing with photos rather than handling the real thing is a handicap. I've commented on that kind of thing before.
The following three emails are typical of those I received on the mystery object.
I am no expert by any means, but I think I found enough seawall bits and dredge pipe bits to come to a reasonable conclusion that is what Shelly found. Thank you for all the wonderful reading and knowledge everyday Kurt
Initially, in the first pick, it didn't look like too much than a uniquely shaped rusty iron bit! But the next pics I noticed much more uniformity of shape (Outline reminds me of the space shuttle) and the one edge that is seen is beveled! I'm curious if the other side is similarly beveled! Being very small, I'm surprised it survived total destruction, if it is indeed solid iron! Wonder if it was protected from oxidation for a long time, before found! Definitely could have been used as an arrowhead! Joe D.
I agree, it should kept and studied. Many times finds are not identified until years later. In this blog, I've detailed how that has happened with quite a few finds.
Yesterday I provided a couple email contacts at the Florida Museum. I'd recommend photos being sent to their experts. Alternately, taking it to the McLarty Museum would be a good idea.
Like Joe, I noticed that one side looked beveled something like an arrowhead, but the other was blunt, possibly broken. At this point, I can't say one way or the other. It would not be precontact period though since it is iron. The beach where it was found is near St. Augustine, in case you didn't look that up. In my opinion, the mystery continues. It could go either way.
Send me any additional thoughts on the object you might have.
---
 |
| Surf chart from SurfGuru.com. |