Found a fragment of a mysterious artifact that was used in magical rituals

A metal detector in Belgium has discovered a fragment of a mysterious bronze artifact known as a Roman one.

dodecahedron.It is a baseball-sized hollow 12-sided geometric "shell" of die-cast metal, with large holes on each face and spikes at the corners. Preliminary research has shown that the object is over 1,600 years old.

Over the past 200 years, northern Europe has foundover a hundred mysterious objects. But no one knows how and why they were used. Scientists assumed that this was some kind of calendar, an instrument for measuring the earth, or a scepter. However, archaeologists believe that these objects were more likely to have a religious or magical significance.

A fragment found in a field near the city of Cortessem in Flanders is clearly part of a Roman dodecahedron. Image Credit: Chris Vandevorst/Flanders Heritage Agency

The artifact was identified by the staff of the Gallo-Romeins MuseumTongeren. It consists of only one corner of the object with one corner bar. However, scientists are sure that this is part of a dodecahedron, which was originally about 5 cm across.

Read more:

Earth's core will soon be spinning in a different direction

A giant sunspot is turning towards the Earth. It is visible to the naked eye

10 seconds closer to the end of the world: what will happen if the Doomsday Clock strikes

On the cover: a complete Roman dodecahedron found near the ancient Roman walls of the city of Tongeren in Belgium in 1939.
Image credit: Gallo-Romeins Museum Tongeren