28 August 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.

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

2,000-year-old Roman pewter hoard discovered in Suffolk

4 July 2023

4 July 2023

A rare hoard of Roman pewter has been discovered in Euston, western Suffolk, in eastern England. The rare discovery includes...

Ancient Christian Mosaics Unearthed in İznik as Pope Leo XIV Prepares Historic Visit

18 May 2025

18 May 2025

A set of remarkably preserved mosaics, believed to date back to the early Christian era, have been discovered during foundation...

A marble slab with an inscription from the 2nd century was discovered during excavations in Bulgaria

18 October 2023

18 October 2023 3

Archaeologists discovered a 1,900-year-old marble slab bearing an ancient Greek inscription in the Roman Baths of Hisarya, a small resort...

Archaeologists have unearthed a stone chest containing the ritual deposit of 15 anthropomorphic figurines

1 September 2023

1 September 2023

Archaeologists have unearthed a stone chest containing the ritual deposit of 15 anthropomorphic figurines that were placed as votive offerings...

Romania’s 1.95 Million-Year-Old Hominin Evidence Pushes Back the Timeline of Human Presence in Europe

25 January 2025

25 January 2025

A recent study revealed evidence of “hominin activity” in Romania that dates back at least 1.95 million years, making it...

A relief of a man holding his Phallus was found in Sayburç, one of the Taş Tepeler

18 October 2021

18 October 2021

In Sayburç, one of the Taş Tepeler in Şanlıurfa, a five-figure scene consisting of humans, leopards, and a bull was...

Hornelund Brooches: Exquisite Viking Gold Ornaments with Norse and Christian Symbolism Unearthed in Denmark

5 August 2025

5 August 2025

The Hornelund Brooches are rare and captivating examples of Viking Age goldsmithing, discovered in southwestern Jutland, Denmark. These two intricately...

Iron Age stone altar and gold-plated ceremonial sword discovered in Kazakhstan

14 August 2021

14 August 2021

A stone altar and a gold-plated ceremonial sword used in the early Iron Age were discovered during excavations along the...

The ancient city of Karkamış “House of the Seal” brings a different perspective to the Hittite-Assyrian relations with its important finds

6 May 2022

6 May 2022

Historical artifacts discovered during excavations by Turkish and Italian teams in the ancient city of Karkamış (Carchemish) in southern Gaziantep...

In Germany, volunteers unearthed the largest hoard of Slavic coins to date and bronze-age seven swords

29 November 2023

29 November 2023

Volunteer archaeologists found bronze age seven swords and from the 11th century 6000 silver coins in the northeastern German state...

AI Unlocks Ancient Secrets: Dead Sea Scrolls May Be Centuries Older Than Previously Thought

8 June 2025

8 June 2025

New research blends cutting-edge artificial intelligence with advanced radiocarbon dating and offers a transformative perspective on the origins of the...

460-Year-Old Wooden Hunting Bow Found in Alaska’s Lake Clark

11 March 2022

11 March 2022

In late September 2021, National Park Service employees made an unlikely discovery in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in...

Beehives of Saudi Arabia’s Thought to be Over 1,000 Years Old

20 July 2024

20 July 2024

Located in the majestic Sarawat Mountain range in western Saudi Arabia, the ancient beehives in the Maysan Governorate constitute a...

A ‘very rare’ clay figurine of god Mercury and a previously unknown Roman settlement were discovered at the excavation site in Kent

23 February 2024

23 February 2024

At a previously unknown Roman settlement that was formerly next to a busy port but is now 10 miles from...

Famous Egyptologist Zahi Hawass Wants to See Hieroglyphs as an İntegral Part of The Curriculum

23 February 2021

23 February 2021

The Egyptian council of ministers is discussing the introduction of archaeological and tourist materials in the education curriculum to help...