Surely there is nothing more to learn from past civilizations. We’ve had many years to study objects found buried, so how come archaeological digs are still happening? Our world is so vast and full of mysteries we have yet to discover, some of which are buried in places that have never been excavated. It is no wonder that we are still finding new objects to make us question what exactly ancient civilisations were up to!
Archaeology is a beautiful yet sombre reality of any civilisation from the past. It’s unlikely anyone considered that their favourite hair comb would later be a museum exhibition whilst they brushed their hair. The baby’s cradle that lovingly held someone’s child? 1000 years later it’s now in a glass cabinet on display for thousands to see. Now, in the 21st Century, the Nintendo Switch may become something put on a shelf in 1000 years, for future generations to ponder over and laugh about now they have fully accessible VR gaming. Joking aside, archaeology is one of those studies that should hopefully never end, given the study of human activity can give us such a special and meaningful insight into the lives of humans from the past.
One such insightful archaeological finding occurred recently on March 5th, 2024. News came out that a 12-sided Roman object never seen before was excavated in Norton Disney, Lincolnshire. It has since baffled experts who are pondering its purpose, rightfully so given it is quite a strange looking doodad.
It has been suggested to be a dog treat dispenser, a measuring gauge for a slingshot, and, amusingly, a spaghetti measure. The idea that something has not only survived with very little wear, and baffles experts in the archaeological field, to me, is fantastic. Looking at the object myself, I can only speculate as to its purpose. It seems to best fit a puzzle piece, perhaps something someone would need to throw to land on a rod, a bit like a fairground hoop toss. But, in a field where even experts like architectural historian and broadcaster Dr Jonathan Foyle suggest it could be a pasta measurer, a fishing weight, a device to measure cervical dilation during childbirth, or simply an ornament suggests to me that archaeology is a field where guessing is key. And it is this guessing that brings people together to talk about people that are no longer with us.
Despite this lack of certainty, what is certain is archaeology keeps the study of human activity alive through the recovery and analysis of material culture, even when the material comes from a civilisation that is no longer alive. It is almost like giving a homage to people of the past, keeping a portion of their lives alive, and there is something beautiful about that. If you're interested in archaeology, or perhaps want to learn more about how to get into archaeology, why not give Digging for Britain a watch on BBC iPlayer? The 12-sided object displayed above appears in Series 11, Episode 4, if you want to see more of it!
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