4 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Unique Iron Age Divination Spoon Found on the Isle of Man

A unique bronze spoon, dating back 2,000 years and believed to have played a role in divination rituals, has been discovered on the Isle of Man, marking it as the first of its kind to surface on the island.

A metal detectorist, Rob Middleton found this object on David Anderson’s farm in Patrick. While similar items have been found in Britain, Ireland, and France, only 28 such spoons exist worldwide.

Allison Fox, the archaeology curator for Manx National Heritage, stated that the bronze spoon, dating to around 400-100 BCE, is one of the most intriguing objects ever discovered on the Isle of Man. She noted that Iron Age finds are relatively scarce, and bronze spoons from this period are particularly rare, making this discovery even more remarkable. The spoon was donated to the Manx National Collections at the Manx Museum by metal detectorist Rob Middleton and the landowner where the spoon was found.

The spoon features a broad, strawberry-shaped bowl and a circular handle adorned with spiral patterns. At the bottom of the bowl, two finely engraved lines intersect to form a cross, dividing the bowl into four quadrants. Although its exact purpose is still uncertain, researchers believe it may have been used in ritual ceremonies to foresee future events. Fox elaborated that it is thought a liquid would have been poured into the spoon marked with the cross, and the quadrant in which the liquid settled could provide insights about the future.

This discovery aligns with previous findings of similar spoons, which are often unearthed in pairs—one displaying an incised cross and the other featuring a small hole. Experts speculate that a liquid, possibly water, beer, or even blood, may have been dripped from the spoon with the hole into the one marked with a cross, suggesting an ancient method of fortune-telling or divination.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



According to the statement, during the Iron Age on the Isle of Man, the inhabitants generally lived in small communities within wooden or stone huts. While the statement does not associate the spoon with a particular ancient culture, it is likely that it was used by Celtic tribes, as they were among the island’s earliest residents.

The Iron Age on the Isle of Man spanned from approximately 500 BCE to 500 CE. During this time, the inhabitants lived in small communities throughout the island, typically in timber or stone structures known as roundhouses. While the Romans began their occupation of Britain during the middle of this period, there is currently no evidence to suggest that they settled on the Isle of Man. Nevertheless, some artifacts have been discovered that indicate possible connections between the island’s inhabitants and the Romans.

Manx National Heritage

Cover Image credit: Manx National Heritage

Related Articles

Kent Archaeological Society purchased an Anglo-Saxon hoard ahead of a London auction

1 November 2022

1 November 2022

The Kent Archaeological Society has bought a large collection of Anglo-Saxon artifacts from the sixth and seventh centuries known as...

Viking Ship Burials Shrouded in Mystery on Danish Island

25 May 2021

25 May 2021

Archaeologists studying the origins and makeup of the Kalvestene burial field, a famed place in Scandinavian legend, have undertaken new...

Evidence of textile manufacture dating back millennia was found in an area famous for the Witney Blanket

12 June 2023

12 June 2023

Archaeological excavations at the site of Oxfordshire County Council’s project to build the A40 Science Transit Park and Ride at...

4,000-year-old settlement found during Balasore town India

9 July 2021

9 July 2021

A 4,000-year-old settlement and ancient artifacts have been discovered in the Balasore district, India. The Odisha Institute for Maritime and...

Incredibly Rare Tyrian Purple Discovered at Carlisle Roman bathhouse

5 May 2024

5 May 2024

A rare archaeological object – thought to be the only one of its type in the former Roman Empire –...

Roman-era Mixers and Millstones Made with Geology in Mind

22 September 2021

22 September 2021

A study on stone tools from an outpost of the Roman Empire has found that for ancient bakers and millers,...

The 7th-Century Lombard Kings’ Tombs Found in Pavia, Italy

24 December 2024

24 December 2024

The excavations, conducted between September and October by the Catholic University, uncovered numerous burials attributed, on the one hand, to...

A Dice Game board from 5th century BC found in western Turkey’s Daskyleion

6 September 2023

6 September 2023

Archaeologists found a terracotta dice game tabla dating back to the fifth century B.C. during the excavations of the ancient...

Farmer Found an Ice Age Cave Under His Field

30 March 2021

30 March 2021

A naturally formed cave was found near the town of Kraśnik in southeastern Poland, used by humans during the Ice...

Archaeologists have pinpointed the location of a famous early Islamic battle using declassified spy satellite images

14 November 2024

14 November 2024

Archaeologists from Durham University in the UK and the University of Al-Qadisiyah have identified the site of the historic Battle...

Ancient Tomb of Korean Hostage Prince Found in China

21 July 2025

21 July 2025

Chinese archaeologists have uncovered the tomb of Kim Young, a hostage prince from the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla, in...

4000-year-old boat salvaged near the ancient city of Uruk one of the most important cities in ancient Mesopotamia

6 April 2022

6 April 2022

A team of archaeologists from the Iraqi German Mission of the State Board of Antiquities and the Orient Department of...

Largest ever Roman silver hoard in Germany found in Augsburg

12 November 2021

12 November 2021

Archaeologists in Augsburg, Germany, revealed unearthed a historical hoard including 15 kg of silver coins from the Roman Empire’s era....

6,000-Year-Old “Kołobrzeg Venus”: A Remarkable Neolithic Discovery on the Baltic Coast

20 June 2025

20 June 2025

A remarkable archaeological discovery has emerged from the sandy shores of Poland’s Baltic coast near Kołobrzeg—a 6,000-year-old female figurine now...

Research Uncovers the Parthenon’s Spectacular Lighting Effects for Athena in Antiquity

9 May 2025

9 May 2025

A four-year multidisciplinary study led by Oxford University Archaeologist Professor Juan de Lara has shed new light on a millennia-old...