A six-inch stone discovery was found by Archaeologists during an excavation of a site in Spain, but what it is might raise some eyebrows.
When a team of archaeologists were digging around Tower of Meira in Ría de Vigo, Spain, they came across a familiar object but were stumped for why it was in the medieval grounds.
This six-inch stone penis is certainly something that many people could never hope to find when looking for historical artefacts. But, now they reckon the phallic object was used for something more nefarious than you’d think.
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The Archaeologist who found the object believe that the stone penis was used for violence some 500 years ago.
As it was dug up at some ancient Spanish ruin, they had to theorise all sorts of uses it could have had during the time of creation.
Now, they’ve settled that it had a violent use back in the day.
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Situated at The Tower of Meira in Ría de Vigo which has now been excavated nearly 550 years past the time it was demolished, the history of the phallic stone is quite extensive.
Theorised to have been brought down to the tower during the Irmandiño revolts in 1476, this was a time when peasants staged a coup and rallied against the rich and Spanish noblemen.
During the revolts, it is thought that around 130 castles and forts ended up in ruins.
But the strange stone wasn’t the only thing found during the dig, which is why they can work out the time period and history. There were also things such as pottery and stone spindles according to the group.
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Árbore Arqueoloxía e Restauración S. Coop. Galega, were the lucky people who lead the excavation and discovered the oddly shaped rock.
Clearly not expecting something like that to make its way into their hands, they said that it was the 'most surprising' thing they’d found.
As the archaeologists have been on the site for three years now, they noted that phallic shaped objects are not as uncommon to find as you’d think in ancient archaeology.
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This is particularly common in the Roman or Celtic sites searched, but don’t let your mind wander. It wasn’t used for what you think it was.
They were actually thought to be symbol of power.
As this was a mediaeval site, it was quite rare a find, but the archaeologists noted that the object holds the same meaning, regardless.
They said that it speaks to the "symbolic association between masculinity, violence, and weapons" and was likely to be used for sharpening tools during the revolts, as per expert opinion.
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This "striking and unusual artefact" was found on the 19th May inside of the tower's main building as the team had previously worked to restore the tower before focusing on the surrounding wall.
So, no foul play was afoot during the creation of this strange object. It was a symbol of strength for those fighting in a revolution against the nobility.
Britt Jones