Spectacular Ring with glass centre showing Neptune found in the Havant Roman well
Posted on 09/28/2013 11:56:01 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
It’s the most significant archaeological discovery in the Portsmouth area for many years.
Buried a few feet under a garden in the centre of Havant, archaeologists stumbled upon a Roman well filled with coins and a bronze ring with a carving of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea.
Perhaps most intriguing was the discovery of eight dog skeletons at the bottom of the well.
Experts believe the dogs, which were worshipped in some ancient religions, may have been dropped down the ‘sacred well’ as a sacrifice to the gods.
The excavation was done at Homewell House, a Georgian property behind St Faith’s Church that is undergoing renovation.
Dr Andy Russel, from Southampton Archaeology Unit, told The News: ‘I would say it’s a pretty amazing find.
‘We have done a few sites in Havant before and found Roman bits and pieces but nothing on this scale of a beautifully constructed well with coins, a ring and this strange deposit of dogs in it.
‘I’ve never come across a deposit of dogs down a Roman pit or well before -- it’s intriguing.’
The well, dated at between 250 and 280AD, is made of stone from the Isle of Wight.
Dr Russel added: ‘We have found post holes where people have put up buildings in the posts. There’s no sign of stone buildings. This is not a Fishbourne Roman Palace. Wooden buildings probably made up the settlement.’
The dogs showed wounds that had healed, indicating they may have been used for dog fighting.
Archaeologists believe the ring may have been dropped down the well by a Roman sailor, perhaps praying for safe passage home on the stormy seas.
(Excerpt) Read more at portsmouth.co.uk ...
Spectacular Ring with glass centre showing Neptune found in the Havant Roman well
Nice well, but sacred?
Ever notice how something automatically sounds WAY more interesting if u simply put the word, “sacred”, in front of it?
7 Pools, Maui —> 7 SACRED Pools, Maui
See...?
Dead critters in a well makes me think of a scorched earth conquest method of poisoning a well verses a ‘sacred well’ sacrifice.
“What’s that you say, Timmie? Lassie’s fallen down the well?”
Where? When? Who?
That's how they explain away OOPARTS - "a religious artifact".
Everything that’s discovered is always declared scared, belonged to a king or high priest and is always the most amazing thing they’ve dug up since the week before. Reminds me of that Readers’ Digest story of the sacred room they found in the future of a guy worshipping a big square thing which turned out to be a dude in a hotel room.
Dogs in a well sounds more like someone was ticked off and wanted to poison the well or he hated the neighbor’s dogs.
Asia, Central and South America, probably ten to twenty percent of the population of the Earth, just not so much around here, unless one counts gay men in Beverly Hills.
Yep, that definitely looks like Neptune!
lol
Okay. But I have never heard of dog worship. Cats yes. Dogs never.
But this is why FR rocks — it’s good for the mind.
Yep
I guess:
Artifacts and well belonging to poor villager
is not sexy enough
Ruining the well was my first thought also, but it could have been that there was an enclosing structure that was burned (perhaps by reavers), and the dogs jumped into the well at some point, and of course couldn’t get out.
It is Neptune, what’s the problem?
The dog deity was portrayed in a chariot, pulled by furrier and terrier.
Know him personally do you?
lol
don’t take me too seriously
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