Metal Detectorist Discovers Potential 2,000-Year-Old Divination Spoon

If you had to imagine an object that could tell the future, you’d probably envision a crystal ball or a deck of Tarot cards—not a utensil. Nevertheless, experts on the Isle of Man have revealed an artifact that might be exactly that: a divination spoon. A metal detectorist has unearthed an ancient bronze spoon that Iron Age people may have used to forecast the future approximately 2,000 years ago. While this is the 28th potential “divination spoon” known to scholars worldwide, it’s the first to emerge on the Isle of Man, shedding light on ritual practices that may have taken place on the island. “Dating to around 400-100 [BCE], this bronze spoon is one of the most intriguing objects ever discovered on the Island. Iron Age finds are relatively scarce, with bronze spoons dating to this period rare, making this find all the more remarkable,” said Allison Fox, archaeology curator for Manx National Heritage, in a statement by the heritage management charity. Metal detectorist Rob Middleto ... Read full article.