UK metal detector enthusiast finds ancient Roman bronze artefacts

Re:UK metal detector enthusiast finds ancient Roman bronze a... by empath75 on Thursday September 28, 2017 @10:38AM (#15357395)

I don’t really understand why archeologists always assume every single statue from the ancient world is religious in nature. Why can’t people just buy a cute dog Knick-nack for their kitchen shelf?

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Re:UK metal detector enthusiast finds ancient Roman bronze a... by Isamu on Thursday September 28, 2017 @11:16AM (#15357670)

I don't disagree with you, but in this case they are identifying the type of statue:

> The licking dog is an example of a healing statue, and may be linked to a Roman healing temple at Lydney.

I have not heard of a "healing statue", so a bit of searching found this in Wikipedia:

> Some healing temples also used sacred dogs to lick the wounds of sick petitioners.

So it is an interpretation of the statue - not a bad interpretation, but some explanation would be nice.

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Re:UK metal detector enthusiast finds ancient Roman bronze a... by tpeo on Thursday September 28, 2017 @01:47PM (#15359258)

Not all artifacts are religious in nature, neither are they always assumed to be such. I think no one would assume a bust of Cicero or some random mosaic is a religious artifact.

But I sort of agree with the feeling, because it seems like it is that explanation which people fall back to in the absence of any other clue.

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Re:UK metal detector enthusiast finds ancient Roman bronze a... by jotato on Thursday September 28, 2017 @10:46AM (#15357451)

Or some kid made it for mother's day in shop class. :D

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