Mysterious Roman Dodecahedron to Go on Display in Lincoln

The Norton Disney dodecahedron. Only 33 of these mysterious objects have been found in the UK. Photograph: Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group
The Norton Disney dodecahedron. Only 33 of these mysterious objects have been found in the UK. Photograph: Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group
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Mysterious Roman Dodecahedron to Go on Display in Lincoln

The Norton Disney dodecahedron. Only 33 of these mysterious objects have been found in the UK. Photograph: Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group
The Norton Disney dodecahedron. Only 33 of these mysterious objects have been found in the UK. Photograph: Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group

They are known as one of archaeology’s great enigmas – hollow 12-sided objects from the Roman era with no known purpose or use.

Only 33 of these mysterious dodecahedrons have ever been found in Britain and now one, unearthed during an amateur archaeology dig after 1,700 years underground, is going on public display in Lincoln as part of a history festival.

Found in Norton Disney, near Lincoln, in the summer of 2023, the artefact is one of the largest of its kind ever found, measuring 8cm tall and weighing 254g.

Its excavation was particularly important as it was found where it was placed 1,700 years ago, meaning the site could hold clues as to its purpose. Only three other examples of dodecahedra have been found on archaeological excavations.

Richard Parker, the secretary of the Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group, which found the item, said historians were no closer to finding out what these objects were despite extensive research.

“The imagination races when thinking about what the Romans may have used it for. Magic, rituals or religion – we perhaps may never know,” he told the BBC.

There are no known descriptions or drawings of dodecahedra in Roman literature, making their purpose unclear.

The Norton Disney group said the objects were not of a standard size so were not measuring devices, and they did not show signs of wear so they were not used as tools.

It added that “a huge amount of time, energy and skill was taken to create our dodecahedron, so it was not used for mundane purposes”.

The Norton Disney dodecahedron, made of a copper alloy, is the only example found in the Midlands. It is in excellent condition, with no damage, and finished to a high standard.

Parker said it was found on the top of a hill in a former large pit of some kind and seemed to be deliberately placed there.

The amateur archaeologists who uncovered the object plan to return to the site this summer to try to uncover more clues as to why it was there.

The group was able to only partly excavate the trench where it was found in 2023, along with some fourth-century Roman pottery, owing to time and financial constraints, with the dodecahedron found on the penultimate day of the dig.

They have secured permission to return in 2024 and resume excavation, relying entirely on donations to fund their work.

The Norton Disney dodecahedron has been on display in the National Civil War Centre at Newark Museum in Nottinghamshire, and from Saturday it will be at Lincoln Museum as part of the city’s Festival of History.



University of Jeddah Wins 1st Place at Harvard Health Hackathon

This achievement reflects the University of Jeddah’s vision to support its students and showcase their talents on the global stage - SPA
This achievement reflects the University of Jeddah’s vision to support its students and showcase their talents on the global stage - SPA
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University of Jeddah Wins 1st Place at Harvard Health Hackathon

This achievement reflects the University of Jeddah’s vision to support its students and showcase their talents on the global stage - SPA
This achievement reflects the University of Jeddah’s vision to support its students and showcase their talents on the global stage - SPA

The University of Jeddah achieved a new global milestone after its talented student Ahmed Bawazeer from the College of Computer Science and Engineering, and a member of the university’s Gifted Talent Recruitment and Care Program, won first place in the Innovative Health Hackathon.

The event was organized by Harvard University and hosted by Prince Mohammed bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship (MBSC) under the theme: “Building High-Value Health Systems: Harnessing Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence.”
The hackathon featured 160 innovative ideas, and Bawazeer stood out with an exceptional project based on AI technologies aimed at developing future solutions for health systems, SPA reported.
His achievement reflects the University of Jeddah’s vision to support its students and showcase their talents on the global stage, emphasizing the importance of investing in AI as a key element in advancing health systems and achieving societal progress.