28 May 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

A Mysterious Partially Submerged Structure in Ireland is a Prehistoric Tomb, archaeologist says

25 October 2022

25 October 2022

New research has revealed that a mysterious structure found many years ago on the eastern shore of Cork Harbor in...

A Second temple of the Second Temple period was discovered at Migdal

13 December 2021

13 December 2021

The University of Haifa reported on Sunday the discovery of a 2,000-year-old synagogue from the Second Temple era in Migdal,...

The remains of a very uncommon’ dinosaur species have been discovered in Brazil

20 November 2021

20 November 2021

Researchers have uncovered the remains of a toothless, two-legged dinosaur species that lived 70 million years ago in Brazil, calling...

The Discovery of a Bronze Age Game Board in Azerbaijan Challenges the Origin of One of the World’s Oldest Games

30 August 2024

30 August 2024

A new archaeological study revealed that an ancient board of a game, known as “Hounds and Jackals” or the “Game...

Vase for holy oil used by ‘hidden Christians’ in Japan

24 May 2023

24 May 2023

After the family that had passed it down through the generations permitted the artifact to be examined, a relic from...

A Lynx Buried with Four Big Dogs in an Ancient Roman Well in Hungary

17 April 2024

17 April 2024

Archaeologists have discovered the skeleton of an adult male lynx accompanied by four big dogs in a Roman-era pit in...

New discoveries found under demolished historic Tawfiq Pasha Andraos Palace in Egypt

31 October 2021

31 October 2021

An Egyptian archaeological mission excavating at the site of the recently demolished Tawfiq Pasha Andraos Palace discovered a number of...

Archaeologists discover bones of a woman who lived 14,000 years ago at a site in The Iberian Peninsula

13 August 2021

13 August 2021

Archaeologists have discovered the bones of a lady who lived 14,000 years ago, the earliest traces of a modern burial...

Undeciphered Rongorongo Script from Easter Island may Predate European Colonization

12 February 2024

12 February 2024

From the depths of history, a wooden tablet bearing the mysterious “rongorongo” script has been unearthed from the small, remote...

Water Cultu in Hittites and Eflatunpınar Hittite Water Monument

4 February 2021

4 February 2021

The Hittites, which left their mark on the Bronze Age period in Anatolia, is a society that draws attention with...

Egyptian archaeologists found 110 ancient tombs in the Nile Delta

28 April 2021

28 April 2021

The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry announced Tuesday that Egyptian archaeologists had discovered 110 burial tombs on the Nile Delta dating...

New study says earliest recorded kiss occurred 4500 years ago in Mesopotamia

18 May 2023

18 May 2023

The University of Copenhagen according to researchers, humanity’s earliest recorded kiss occurred around 4,500 years ago in the ancient Middle...

The Largest Ancient Floor Mosaic in Cappadocia and Central Anatolia Region Uncovered -600 square meters-

12 November 2023

12 November 2023

The structure with the largest floor mosaic in Cappadocia and Central Anatolia Region was unearthed during the excavations carried out...

Iron Age and Roman Skeletons Discovered on Alderney

19 May 2021

19 May 2021

Well-preserved skeletons from the late Iron Age and Roman periods were found in Alderney, one of the channel islands. The...

Oman discovers fort dating back to the 5th century in North Al Batinah

12 March 2022

12 March 2022

A fort dating back to the 5th century has been discovered at Oman’s Al Fulaij archaeological site in North Al...