Discovery! 1,000 Year Old Silver coin featuring famous Viking king unearthed in Hungary

 A Metal detectorist in Hungary unearthed a Viking coin that's almost 1,000 years old. It also presented a mystery about how it got there. Here's the story from LiveScience> 

(Photo: The small silver coin was found near the Hungarian village of Várdomb. It dates to between 1046 and 1066 and is inscribed with the name of the Norwegian king. (Image credit: Tamás Retkes)

Silver coin featuring famous Viking king unearthed in Hungary 

By Tom Metcalfe LIVE SCIENCE June 12, 2022

A metal detectorist has discovered a small silver coin marked with the name of a famous Viking king. However, it was unearthed not in Scandinavia, but in southern Hungary, where it was lost almost 1,000 years ago.

The find has baffled archaeologists, who have struggled to explain how the coin might have ended up there — it's even possible that it arrived with the traveling court of a medieval Hungarian king.

The early Norwegian coin, denominated as a "penning," was not especially valuable at the time, even though it's made from silver, and was worth the equivalent of around $20 in today's money.

Metal detectorist Zoltán Csikós found the silver coin earlier this year at an archaeological site on the outskirts of the village of Várdomb, and handed it over to archaeologist András Németh at the Wosinsky Mór County Museum in the nearby city of Szekszárd.

The Várdomb site holds the remains of the medieval settlement of Kesztölc, one of the most important trading towns in the region at that time. Archaeologists have made hundreds of finds there, including dress ornaments and coins, Varga said.

There is considerable evidence of contact between medieval Hungary and Scandinavia, including Scandinavian artifacts found in Hungary and Hungarian artifacts found in Scandinavia that could have been brought there by trade or traveling craftsmen, Varga said.

But this is the first time a Scandinavian coin has been found in Hungary, he said.

WHO WAS THE KING ON THE COIN?

The description of a similar coin notes that the front features the name of the king "HARALD REX NO" — meaning Harald, king of Norway — and is decorated with a "triquetra," a three-sided symbol representing Christianity's Holy Trinity.

The other side is marked with a Christian cross in double lines, two ornamental sets of dots, and another inscription naming the master of the mint at Nidarnes.

Harald Hardrada ("Hardrada" translates as "hard ruler" in Norwegian) was the son of a Norwegian chief and half-brother to the Norwegian king Olaf II, according to Britannica(opens in new tab). He lived at the end of the Viking Age, and is sometimes considered the last of the great Viking warrior-kings

Captain America Circus acrobat injured in human cannonball stunt

 Last month a Spiderman robot crashed during a show in Florida. Now, a live person, dressed as another Marvel Comics superhero, Captain America, also had a stunt accident. This one happened in Wales, U.K. on July 6, 2022. Here's the Story from BBC News:

IMAGE SOURCE,WALES NEWS SERVICE

Circus acrobat injured in human cannonball stunt in Caerphilly

July 7, 2022 BBC News

The accident happened during a daredevil stunt in Caerphilly county. A circus acrobat has suffered potentially life-changing injuries after missing a safety net during a "human cannonball" stunt.

The 28-year-old man was taken to hospital from an event in Llanbradach, Caerphilly county, at about 18:15 BST on 29 June, Gwent Police said. Uncle Sam's American Circus said he would "make a full recovery over time".

Phone footage shows the performer, dressed as Captain America, being shot out of a cannon, missing a safety net and crashing into a metal rail on the perimeter.

"He was out cold on the floor," said audience member Cherokee Jones. "The show went into an early interval stating they needed to seek medical attention." Footage showed him lying motionless on the floor as a circus colleague ran over to help.

"They put the guy onto a mat and carried him away behind stage, still no sign of him awake," Ms Jones said. "The ambulance arrived in probably about 10 minutes and by the time they drove on to [Llanbradach Showfield] the show was beginning back up."

Circus bosses said the performer was one of only six "daredevil human cannonballs" in the world to attempt "such a dangerous feat". The incident has been referred to Caerphilly council and the Health Safety Executive. The council said it was aware of the incident and was investigating.

Super Rude Idiot of the Week: Mass. Town Official Resigns after Using Memorial Day Services to Rudely Slam the President

 This idiotic Town Official in Milton, Mass. brought disrespect, dishonor and disgrace to Memorial day when he decided to use his "welcome" to people paying respects to fallen soldiers by saying the "F-U" to President Biden. Fortunately, this disrespectful pig has resigned and STILL in his resignation, he blamed the President for GAS PRICES- Which has ZERO to do with politics (clearly he is a SUPER Idiot).    Here's the story. 

Milton official resigns after using anti-Biden code during Memorial Day remarks

Steven Fruzzetti said "welcome, and let's go, Brandon," at Milton Cemetery.

Steven Fruzzetti in 2016. Handout

By Ross Cristantiello

June 6, 2022  Boston.com

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A Milton town official has resigned after he used a coded phrase intended to insult President Joe Biden during remarks at a Memorial Day Service last week. Steven Fruzzetti, who was serving as an elected member of the Milton Cemetery Commission, resigned June 2, The Patriot-Ledger reported. 

Fruzzetti welcomed a crowd to Milton Cemetery, thanked staff for maintaining the grounds, and thanked volunteers for placing American flags on the graves of veterans there, according to the Patriot-Ledger. 

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“Welcome, and let’s go, Brandon,” he said at the end of his remarks. They were recorded by Milton Access Television and are available for viewing online.  

The phrase originates from a Nascar event last year, where fans were recorded as they chanted “F— Joe Biden.” The chant was originally mistaken by a reporter at the race for support of driver Brandon Brown, according to the Associated Press.

The Milton Interfaith Clergy Association released a letter asking for an apology from Fruzzetti, calling on him to take a leave of absence from leadership positions in the town, The Boston Globe reported. 

“Mr. Fruzzetti brought disrespect, dishonor and disgrace to one of America’s most solemn civic holidays; a day where the sole focus is to remember and honor all Americans who put their lives on the line to defend our country,” the association said in the letter.

Fruzzetti, a member of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee, did offer an apology in his resignation letter, the Patriot-Ledger reported. 

“I regret making it on behalf of the cemetery trustees. I have resigned from the board so I can continue to advocate for Republican policies that will reduce inflation and bring gas prices back to where they were before this disastrous president,” Fruzzetti told the Patriot-Ledger in a text message.

Hero of the Week: Coach rescues American swimmer at World Championships

 This week's hero is a swim coach who didn't hesitate to dive in a pool to  save a swimmer at the World Championships! 

(Credit: CNN)

Coach dives into pool to rescue American swimmer Anita Alvarez at World Championships 

By Sana Noor Haq, CNN

Updated 5:06 PM ET, Thu June 23, 2022

CNN)American swimmer Anita Alvarez was rescued from the bottom of the pool by her coach at the FINA World Aquatic Championships in Budapest, Hungary, after she lost consciousness.

Coach Andrea Fuentes jumped into the pool after she saw the 25-year-old artistic swimmer sink to the bottom at the end of her routine in the women's solo free event on Wednesday.

Alvarez was doing "really good" Thursday and medical tests showed everything was "under control," Fuentes told CNN. Fuentes, a four-time Olympic medalist in synchronized swimming, lifted Alvarez to the surface before helping bring her to the edge of the pool.

Alvarez, who competed at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, received medical attention beside the pool and was subsequently carried off in a stretcher.

It was the second time Fuentes has had to rescue Alvarez. She leapt into the pool during an Olympic qualification event last year and pulled her to safety, along with the American's swim partner, Lindi Schroeder. 'I was not going to wait'

The coach told CNN that while the event might have seemed strange to the world, it's not all that uncommon in the sport, where swimmers regularly hold their breath for extended periods of time aiming to improve their lung capacity, but highlighted those practices never go against medical advice they're given.

Toward the end of Alvarez's routine on Wednesday, Fuentes noticed the swimmer's feet seemed to be more pale than normal, which caught her attention. And when she saw Alvarez going down instead of upward to breathe, she dove in.

"Ms. Alvarez was immediately treated by a medical team in the venue and is in good health," the statement read. Oli Scarff, who captured the stunning pictures of the rescue with the help of a remote robotic camera underwater, told CNN he was looking at his computer toward the end of Alvarez's routine when he heard some commotion. He looked at the screen of what the robotic camera was capturing and saw the swimmer at the bottom of the pool.

Proud Boys disrupt Pride event at Wilmington, NC library

 Hate groups have been empowered since 2016, and now they are attacking LGBTQ Pride Events around the country. 

   In Idaho last month, a group of fully armed right-wing Proud Boys showed up in tactical gear with the intent to cause harm or likely deaths at a Pride Event. Fortunately, the local police moved in and arrested them. 

    Now, at a Library in North Carolina, Proud Boys showed up at a Library Event for Pride Month, shouting obscenities and threatening. Of course, the North Carolina Sheriff's office said "There was no disturbance" - WHY? Because they're obviously right-wingers who agree with promoting hatred. All of them need to be held accountable. When is this going to be wrong again? Here's the story of the Library event

Proud Boys disrupt Pride event at Wilmington library 

Updated June 23, 2022 5:55 a.m. EDT WECT -TV

WILMINGTON, N.C. — A Wilmington library that was celebrating Pride month with a reading was disrupted by Proud Boy demonstrators Tuesday.

The Southern Poverty Law Group has designated the Proud Boys as far-right extremists and a hate group.

Some of the families in the library said they were frightened by the protest.

"I definitely felt very unsafe, though," said Emily Jones.

A Pride story-time event at Pine Valley Library on Tuesday started peacefully. But parents said it quickly turned chaotic and filled them with fear when a handful of Proud Boys showed up in the window of their event room.

"They're doing that on purpose, for sure, to intimidate people," said Jones.

Jones was inside with her 1-year-old daughter. She said she takes her daughter to the story-time events often and was especially excited for this one, but her excitement quickly turned to panic.

"When a group of known violent people ... at that point, when those people show up, and they're coming into the library and trying to disrupt the story time, that's when I felt unsafe," said Jones.

The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office had deputies at the event to prevent the Proud Boys from entering the room.

Angie Kahney was in the hallway when the demonstrators walked in. She said the group was loud and disruptive.

But in a statement, the sheriff's office said there was no disturbance.

"They were yelling obscenities about how their tax money was being spent on pornography and drag queens. There was shouting. It was loud — their attempt was to intimidate and create a disruption, and that's exactly what they did," said Kahney. "They definitely disturbed us," said Jones.

The sheriff's office said because it's a public place, there was no need for the Proud Boys to be removed. The sheriff's office declined an on-camera interview with WECT, but did release a statement from Sheriff Ed McMahon saying he "took an oath not to uphold opinions but to uphold the law, which is exactly what my supervisors and deputies did."

The Wilmington library said they were aware the Pride reading might create some controversy. Librarians coordinated with the sheriff's office in advance and brought additional staff and volunteers to help.

DISCOVERY- Ahead of Planned Rail Line, Archaeologists Uncover Early Medieval Cemetery

 Finding ancient burial places isn't uncommon when digging tunnels for transportation, and it happened again in England in the process of digging for a new rail line. This burial ground is from the 5th or 6th Century!!   Here's the story from the Smithsonian Magazine.

(Image: Researchers found the remains of more than 140 individuals, in addition to hundreds of artifacts. Courtesy of HS2 56)

Ahead of Planned Rail Line, Archaeologists Uncover Early Medieval Cemetery 

The team found 138 graves and a large assortment of artifacts and personal objects 

Jane Recker , Daily Correspondent Smithsonian Magazine

June 21, 2022

A team of British archaeologists has uncovered an early medieval burial ground—which they say is one of the largest ever discovered in England. Roughly 140 men, women and children are buried there with a range of objects dating from the fifth and sixth centuries.

“The significance of this site for our historical and archaeological understanding of Anglo-Saxon Britain is huge,” says Rachel Wood, the team’s lead archaeologist, in a statement. “It is not a site I would ever have anticipated finding—to have found one of these burials would have been astonishing, so to have found so many is quite unbelievable.”

The team, working ahead of the planned HS2 high-speed rail project, found the cemetery in Buckinghamshire, England. While they also found evidence of Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman activity, they say that the early medieval cemetery was the most notable discovery.

In total, the site holds 138 graves, with 141 regular burials and five cremation burials. Most of the individuals were buried with a range of objects, suggesting that they once formed a wealthy community. Among these graves, researchers found more than 2,000 amber beads, 51 knives, 15 spearheads, 40 buckles and 89 brooches.

(Image: Dan Snow with spearhead uncovered in HS2 excavations. Photograph: HS2/PA) 

The objects vary from grave to grave, giving researchers clues about how each person lived and died. One woman, likely a high status member of the community, was buried with ivory, jewelry and an ornate green glass bowl. Another grave contained the remains of a young man with a sharp iron item lodged in his spine. Researchers believe that the man may have died when someone attacked him with this object from the front.

That man also had a blue stain on his collarbone, which came from a brooch once used to hold up a cloak, reports the Guardian’s Harriet Sherwood. Researchers found many others with two such brooches, one on each side of the collarbone, which would have been used to hold up outer robes.

The team also found two glass beakers similar to ones made in northern France at the time, which may have been used to drink imported wine. Other finds were more mundane: Researchers uncovered a range of beauty and grooming supplies, including combs, tweezers, toothpicks and ear wax removers.

The excavation was one of many conducted along the route intended for a high-speed rail line, which is expected to open its first leg between 2029 and 2033. Over the past few years, some 1,000 archaeologists have excavated more than 60 sites along the HS2 route, BBC News reports. Other discoveries include a large Roman settlement and two “astonishing” Roman statues.

“The fifth [and] sixth centuries are not ones that we know a lot about,” Wood says in an HS2 video. “All the objects that we found here will really be able to tell us a lot about these people.”

A Fun Graphic Novel: Tales of the Super-Pets- I've waited for this for decades!

I have been waiting for a trade paperback collection of super-pets stories for decades: "Tales of the Super-Pets," by DC Comics - Just published in 2022. 

    Krypto, Superman's dog is one of my all-time favorite characters (he was introduced in the 1950s) and has appeared on and off in various Superman and Superboy comics. Other super animals that were developed over time include Streaky the Supercat (who got his powers from "X-Kryptonite," Beppo the Kryptonian chimpanzee, and Comet the Super Horse (who was actually a Satyr, turned into a full horse by Circe).   

    The paperback doesn't collect all the stories (there are a LOT more stories about Krypto, so maybe they will do a second volume). But this is AWESOME!!! ! 5 of 5 stars!!

ABOUT TAILS OF THE SUPER-PETS

Where would our heroes be without their Super Pets? Follow the adventures of Krypto the Super-Dog, Streaky the Super-Cat, and Ace the Bat-Hound in this incredible collection!

The Super Pets are icons in their own right! Collected together are the tales of  Krypto the Super-Dog, Streaky the Super-Cat, and Ace the Bat-Hound through a variety of classic comics! This collection includes stories from Action Comics #261-266, 277-293; Batman #125; Adventure Comics #210-256, 293-322, 364; Superman #176; Wonder Woman #23; and Superboy #76!

 

Fun Mystery in the "Elderhostel Series" - Killing Thyme by Peter Abrecht

 Peter Abrecht is a Maryland author whom passed in the last several years. He penned a nice cozy mystery series about two retirees named James Dandy and his girlfriend Dodee Swisher (who loves to draw) and together on various excursions with other retirees, they find themselves in a murder mystery. They are all light-hearted and well done. I love the main characters and this is the second book I've read in the series (the first I reviewed earlier called "Painted Lady.") - If you're retiring or retired, you'll really relate to these and enjoy them!  The latest is Killing Thyme and involves a trip to Baltimore to meet chefs- and some wind up dead during the visit. Really enjoyable book!

ABOUT THE BOOK: Senior citizen James P. Dandy and his lady friend, Dodee Swish, do not expect their second trip to a Baltimore, Maryland, elderhostel class to be filled with the murder and mayhem of their previous bonsai class, but they find they are quite wrong when chefs start dying all around them. 

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:Main Character: Jim Dandy, Ex-Physical Therapist, New Jersey

1. Bloody Bonsai   ’98
2. Killing Thyme   ’99
3. Tip a Canoe   ’01
4. Painted Lady   ’03
5. Name Games   ’08

SUMMARY: 7 takeaways 6th Hearing of Jan. 6th Committee

 In case you missed this bombshell testimony... Here are the 7 takeaways from Tuesday's shocking January 6 hearing.

7 takeaways 6th Hearing of Jan. 6th Committee

By Marshall Cohen, Zachary Cohen and Alex Rogers, CNN

CNN Updated 10:29 PM ET, Tue June 28, 2022 (CNN)The House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill insurrection reconvened Tuesday for a hastily scheduled hearing, featuring blockbuster testimony from Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson.

Hutchinson has cooperated extensively with the investigation, having sat for four closed-door depositions. She revealed how then-President Donald Trump and his inner circle were warned about the potential for violence on January 6, and how Trump wanted to join the throngs of his supporters at the US Capitol.

The testimony bolstered the narrative that the committee has been driving toward over the last few weeks: That Trump incited and supported the insurrection as part of a desperate power grab to steal a second term, and that many of his top advisers thought his schemes were illegal.

Here are takeaways from Hutchinson's key testimony.

1) Trump and his chief of staff were warned about violence -- including armed attendees of rally

2) Trump intended to go the Capitol and pushed to do so until the last minute

3) Aide recounts secondhand incident where Trump reached for steering wheel

4) Cipollone warned: 'People are going to die and the blood's gonna be on your f**king hands'

5) 'There was a large concern' in White House of the 25th Amendment being invoked after riot

6) Trump's conduct on January 6 was 'un-American' and 'unpatriotic,' Hutchinson says

7) Committee teases evidence of witness tampering

'I'M THE F-ING PRESIDENT': TRUMP GOT INTO PHYSICAL ALTERCATION ON JAN. 6 Former President Donald Trump got into a physical altercation after he tried to grab the wheel to turn the presidential motorcade around and go to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, testified Tuesday. Hutchinson said Trump was “irate” after Secret Service agents told him they were taking him back to the White House after he instructed his supporters to march on the Capitol building. [HuffPost]

TRUMP KNEW SUPPORTERS HAD WEAPONS ON JAN. 6 BUT DIDN'T CARE Cassidy Hutchinson said Trump had been informed by Secret Service that his supporters had brought weapons to his rally shortly before the attack on the Capitol. Trump, however, was apparently fixated on the crowd size and demanded more of his supporters be allowed to bypass metal detectors to watch him speak. Trump reacted to Hutchinson's testimony on his social media app, calling her "a total phony!" [HuffPost]

JAN. 6 'MIGHT GET REAL, REAL BAD,' TRUMP AIDES PREDICTED DAYS EARLIER Hutchinson testified that Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani and chief of staff Meadows understood on Jan. 2, four days prior to the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol, that “things might get real, real bad on Jan. 6.” Hutchinson also testified that both Giuliani and Meadows asked for presidential pardons after the Capitol riot. [HuffPost]

REP. LIZ CHENEY SAYS TRUMP ALLIES HAVE BEEN INTIMIDATING JAN. 6 WITNESSES Allies of Trump have tried to intimidate people with knowledge of what was going on inside the White House around the time of the Capitol attack, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said at the conclusion of Tuesday's shocking Jan. 6 hearing. Cheney said the committee is considering how to respond to the apparent intimidation.

Idiot of the Week: Ryan Kelley: FBI arrests Michigan gubernatorial candidate on 6 January charges

 This week's idiot is a guy who had the nerve to try and run for governor of Michigan knowing that he committed treason against the U.S. by partaking in the Jan 6th insurrection. Fortunately, the FBI caught up with the idiot and arrested him. Hopefully, he'll be barred from running because some stupid people would actually vote for him. Here's the story:

Ryan Kelley: FBI arrests Michigan gubernatorial candidate on 6 January charges 

BBC NEWS June 9, 2022

The FBI has arrested a Republican candidate for governor of Michigan and raided his home in connection with the 6 January Capitol riots.

Ryan Kelley is facing four misdemeanor charges related to the Capitol breach, including disorderly conduct.

His campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mr Kelley, 40, has confirmed he was in Washington DC on 6 January but denied engaging in illegal activity.

The real estate agent is one of five Republicans on the August primary ballot, competing to take on Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in November's general election.

His arrest on Thursday morning comes just hours before a congressional committee investigating the Capitol riots holds the first of at least six public hearings.

According to an affidavit filed in federal court, the FBI received at least four tips between January and February 2021 from people who said Mr Kelley was at the Capitol attack. All four tipsters provided photos of a man who appeared to be Mr Kelley at the Capitol that day.

The FBI then used publicly available photos and video from the event "to assemble a more complete record" of Mr Kelley's actions, the affidavit said.

According to the investigation, a man the FBI identifies as Mr Kelley is seen at points throughout the day. He is shown filming a crowd of people who are assaulting and pushing past police officers, and climbing and standing on an "architectural feature" of the Capitol building and waving the crowd behind him forward.

Court documents also include reports of Mr Kelley's attendance at a November "Stop the Steal" protest - a rallying cry for those who support the false claim that former President Donald Trump was the rightful winner of the 2020 election, not Joe Biden.

Last year, Mr Kelley addressed claims that he entered the Capitol complex and engaged in misconduct on 6 January, calling it an "absolutely inaccurate and slanderous accusation made by fascist Democrats".

"Kelley has publicly confirmed his presence in Washington DC on January 6, and has made it very clear that he did not engage in any illegal activity, nor did he enter the Capitol building," the statement said.

He is now facing charges of knowingly entering and remaining on restricted property, disorderly conduct on restricted property, engaging in violence on restricted property and wilfully injuring property of the United States.

Mr Kelley is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Thursday afternoon.

Hero of the week: Off-duty firefighter rescues 3-year-old girl from Brooklyn fire

 This week's hero is a firefighter who wasn't on duty- but firefighters, like police officers, always jump in to save people when needed, even if off-duty. Here's the story.

(Image: Off-duty firefighter Stefon Douglas, 33, saved a 3-year-old neighbor from her family’s burning home in Brooklyn. /Paul Martinka) 

Off-duty firefighter rescues 3-year-old girl from Brooklyn fire

WABC, New York June 20, 2022

FLATLANDS, Brooklyn (WABC) -- An off-duty FDNY firefighter saved a 3-year-old girl from a burning home in Brooklyn Sunday night.

Firefighter Stefon Douglas lives on the same street on Kings Highway in the Flatlands section and arrived home around 6 p.m. to see black smoke coming from the two-story home.

Douglas, of Engine Company 276, sprang into action, ultimately carrying the child from the fire.

"The stove to the right of me was all on fire," he said. "I couldn't see anything except smoke."

Luckily, Douglas happened to have his department-issued breathing apparatus in his car. He takes part in career day at schools.

"Being lazy, I just had it in my truck," he said. "There's no way I would have performed the duties I did without that."

Help was on the way, but while standing at the back of the house, he realized he couldn't wait.

"I'm hearing a little bit of a whimpering going on to the left of me," he said. "I was telling, 'Please make more noise, make more noise,' but they weren't. It was getting more faint."

Wearing just shorts, a T-shirt, Crocs, and that breathing device, he went inside.

"I feel the little girl, grab her, pick her up and walk straight back out the same way I came," he said.

 

Other firefighters pulled the girl's mother from the house, but sadly, she passed away at the hospital Monday evening.

Responding firefighters continued to fight the blaze until it was properly contained and searched for any additional victims.

The child was critically injured and remains at Staten Island University Hospital North, but she is expected to survive.

Her 31-year-old mother has not yet been identified.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

"There are definitely some times I sit back and think, why me, why was I picked for this?" Douglas said. "I really knew nothing about the job until I got here. I love it. It's the best decision of my life."

Discovery: Metal detectorist in UK finds ancient Roman penis pendant

 The ancient Romans certainly didn't have the puritan thoughts about the human body that are still shared in the U.S. You didn't have to look much farther than their choice in jewelry. Here's the story from Live Science: 

 (Photo:  This Roman pendant made of silver depicts a penis. (Image credit: Courtesy Portable Antiquities Scheme)

Metal detectorist in UK finds ancient Roman penis pendant

By Owen Jarus LIVE SCIENCE, June 9, 2022

A metal detectorist recently discovered a silver, penis-shaped pendant in Kent, England that was likely worn around the neck to protect a person from misfortune around 1,800 years ago.

Ancient Roman writers such as Marcus Terentius Varro (lived 116 B.C. to 27 B.C.) and Pliny the Elder (A.D. 23 to 79) mention how the phallus and representations of it are thought to have had the power to protect a person from evil. Many depictions of the phallus have been found throughout the Roman Empire and scholars often believe that they were created to avoid bad luck.

The pendant (also called an amulet) is about 1.2 inches (3.1 centimeters) long, with a tiny ring at the top for a string (necklace) to go through. It dates back to a time when the Romans controlled England, between A.D. 42 and 410.

While such amulets in the shape of a penis were frequently seen throughout Roman Britain, they are typically made of copper-alloy rather than silver like the one from Kent, Lori Rogerson, a finds liaison officer with the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), wrote in a report(opens in new tab) on the artifact.

"Being a higher-quality metal than copper-alloy, silver may have been thought to strengthen the phallus' protective abilities," Rogerson told Live Science in an email. "We know that children were protected by these apotropaic [having the power to stop evil] devices, and the archaeological evidence suggests their use in Britain was very popular within the Roman army."

Roman men, women, children and even animals wore pendants like this, in an effort to ward off the so-called evil eye, said Cyril Dumas, a scholar at Musée Yves Brayer who has researched and written about these artifacts. "This amulet is against the effects of 'the evil eye,' a personification of bad luck," Dumas told Live Science in an email.

As for the choice of metal, perhaps the person who commissioned or bought the piece of jewelry had enough money for a higher-quality metal. "The choice of silver as a material can be for many reasons, one of which is simply because the wearer could afford it and the pendant then also becomes an object of display," Rob Collins a project manager and research coordinator at Newcastle University's School of History, Classics and Archaeology, told Live Science in an email. "However, I suspect that silver also has magical properties or affiliations associated with it as a material," added Collins, who has studied and written about artifacts like this one.

Metal detectorist Wendy Thompson found the amulet on Dec. 31, 2020, and she reported her find to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a program run by the British Museum and National Museum Wales that tracks finds made by metal detectorists. The artifact is now going through the treasure process required by U.K. law, which may result in it entering a museum collection in Britain.