11 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

Archaeologists found a 2,000-year-old Roman road in Cluj-Napoca in northwest Romania

23 January 2023

23 January 2023

Archaeologists from the National Museum of the History of Transylvania have discovered a well-preserved 2,000-year-old Roman road in the city...

2,000-Year-Old Roman Stele Decorated with an Eagle and Greek Inscriptions Found in Manbij, Syria

23 August 2025

23 August 2025

A striking Roman-era stele carved from black basalt, featuring a detailed eagle clutching a wreath and adorned with Greek inscriptions,...

Recent Excavations Unveil Five Remarkable Statues, Shedding Light on Perge’s Roman Heritage

12 February 2025

12 February 2025

During the excavations in the ancient city of Perge in Antalya, one of the most organized Roman cities of Anatolia,...

1,800-Year-Old Gold Ring with ‘Venus the Victorious’ Carving and Carolingian Coins Discovered in France

25 December 2024

25 December 2024

Archaeologists from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) have discovered a 1,800-year-old gold ring with a chiseled...

Grain Barns dating back 6,000 years unearthed in China

15 December 2022

15 December 2022

Chinese archaeologists have revealed a cluster of 16 ancient granaries that traced back to the mid-late period of the Yangshao...

A 42,000-year-old pendant found in northern Mongolia may be the earliest known phallic art

20 June 2023

20 June 2023

An international team of researchers has found a pendant in northern Mongolia that may be the earliest known example of...

After 1,300 years, water to again flow from monumental fountain in the City of Gladiators in Turkey

30 December 2022

30 December 2022

The approximately 2,000-year-old monumental fountain in the ancient city of Kibyra in Golhisar, Burdur in southwestern Turkey will start flowing...

Rare Egyptian-Iconography Relief Discovered at Sagalassos: Afyon Marble Panels Depict God Tutu

5 October 2025

5 October 2025

Archaeologists excavating the ancient site of Sagalassos in the Ağlasun district of Burdur have made a striking discovery: a relief...

An extraordinary archaeological discovery in Spain: A new decorated stela has been found in context, in the 3000-year-old funerary complex

15 October 2023

15 October 2023 2

Archaeologists have discovered a new decorated stela in the 3000-year-old burial complex of Las Capellanías in Cañaveral de León (Huelva,...

Derinkuyu: A Subterranean Marvel of Ancient Engineering with 18 Levels and Capacity for 20,000 Inhabitants

2 May 2025

2 May 2025

Beneath the sun-drenched plains of Cappadocia, where otherworldly “fairy chimney” rock formations pierce the sky, lies a secret world carved...

An Ancient Large Clay Vessel “Hum” 1.75 Meters High Unearthed in Kyrgyzstan

9 March 2024

9 March 2024

During recent archaeological excavations in the town of Uzgen in the Osh province of Kyrgyzstan, a 1.75-meter-high clay vessel known...

Malaysian rock art found to depict Ruling class and Indigenous tribes conflict

23 August 2023

23 August 2023

Researchers discovered that two anthropomorphic figures of indigenous warriors were created amid geopolitical tensions with the ruling class and other...

A 4000-Year-Old Trading Port was Discovered in Istanbul

4 May 2021

4 May 2021

Archaeological excavations carried out on a peninsula in the middle of Istanbul Küçükçekmece Lake unearthed a very important 4,000-year-old trade...

Archaeologists discover 1200-year-old Wari temple complex in Peru

24 February 2023

24 February 2023

Archaeologists from the University of Illinois Chicago have uncovered a temple complex constructed by the Wari Empire 1,200 years ago...

A Glorious Temple, inside which Sacrifices Were Performed, was Found in the Sanctuary of Artemis Amarysia on Greek Island of Euboea

13 January 2024

13 January 2024

Archaeologists excavating at the Artemis Amarysia sanctuary in Amarynthos on the Greek island of Euboea have revealed new insight into...