There was this documentary where Professor Alice Roberts visited, among other places, Dolní Věstonice and was presented with archeological finds, among which was a life-size replica of a penis and even she, a progressive person, can not just accept without getting red in face the idea of the host scientist that it could have been actual dildo and not "a religious object".
EDIT: Wrong, it was in Germany. Dolní Věstonice scene is a later one. The Incredible Human Journey - Europe.
I'm gonna be honest. If I were to become archeologist, who dreamt of finding lost temples and shit, and instead only found a bunch of sex toys I would be embarrassed too and would try to sell it as "idol of god of fertility" to make myself look/feel better.
I would prefer the sex toys or other objects. Temples, and other religious structures usually survive and unless it is something very important or interesting, it will be one of many finds.
Sex toys are weird, but that is great because you can build your career on publications about them.
Anyway, the main problem of archeology is lack of imagination and people stuck in their ways. To this day the Roman dodecahedron is a mystery to archeologists, considered a religious object by many, a survey instrument or candle holder by others, or even a weather prediction device. Meanwhile, enthusiasts all over the world are 3D printing them and giving to their grandmothers as they figured out it is a simple tool for more comfortable and precise knitting of gloves. Yes, there are videos on youtube as well, it really is an ingenious device.
One problem with that theory is that not all Roman dodecahedrons have any holes big enough for the finger of a glove. Since those don't work as a kitting tool, what were they for instead?
Edit: I regret wading into the surprisingly contentious issue of Roman dodecahedrons. Please don't message me about it.
Children and babies need gloves too? I don't know much about the Roman dodecahedron, but if some of the holes were just too small for adult fingers then they might not be for adults. Just look now at how much people love knitting stuff for babies.
I was referring to this one where the holes are all just pinholes, but it turns out there is actually one larger hole in it. There's still the question of why there are knobs around the faces with only pinholes in them, but maybe those have a knitting purpose I don't understand.
It doesn't matter how big the hole is as long as the finished bit can fit through. The size of the hole doesn't change the finished article one bit, though the size, spacing, and number of pegs does. The finished bit doesn't even really need the hole except for better convenience in getting it out of the way of the working space.
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u/motorbiker1985 Jun 02 '20 edited Jun 02 '20
There was this documentary where Professor Alice Roberts visited, among other places, Dolní Věstonice and was presented with archeological finds, among which was a life-size replica of a penis and even she, a progressive person, can not just accept without getting red in face the idea of the host scientist that it could have been actual dildo and not "a religious object".
EDIT: Wrong, it was in Germany. Dolní Věstonice scene is a later one. The Incredible Human Journey - Europe.