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Archaeologists Find 1,800-Year-Old Wall Carving Of A Penis

Archaeologists Find 1,800-Year-Old Wall Carving Of A Penis

The ancient phallus symbol was found near Hadrian's Wall recently

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Historical researchers have a found 1,800-year-old wall carvings depicting a cock and balls, showing that, really, fellas never change.

Archaeologists from Newcastle University and Historic England discovered a number of carvings in a quarry near to Hadrian's Wall, Cumbria, believed to have been made by Roman soliders all the way back in 207AD.

A number of ancient carvings have been found.
Jon Allison, Newcastle University

According to Historic England the phallus is a Roman symbol for 'good luck', so you can tell your mate that next time you draw one on his face when he falls asleep at a house party.

It wasn't all willies, though, the team also found a number of other important carvings, including an inscription which read: 'APRO ET MAXIMO CONSVLIBVS OFICINA MERCATI', in reference to the consulate of Aper and Maximus and a Roman bust.

The inscriptions help to give historians an insight into the lives of Roman soldiers, who it turns out were pretty similar to a lot of men today.

To find such detail is rare, with just 'a handful of such sites in the whole of England', according to Historic England.

Mike Collins, who works as the Hadrian's Wall ancient monuments inspector for Historic England said in a statement: "These inscriptions at Gelt Forest are probably the most important on the Hadrian's Wall frontier.

"They provide insight into the organisation of the vast construction project that Hadrian's Wall was, as well as some very human and personal touches."

The team of experts will now use ropes to get into the quarry where they can utilise laser-scanning technology to get detailed recordings of the markings. Thanks to advancements in technology, they will then be able to create three-dimensional digital models meaning people can look at the carvings for years to come.

Professor of Archaeology at Newcastle University added: "These inscriptions are very vulnerable to further gradual decay. This is a great opportunity to record them as they are in 2019, using the best modern technology to safeguard the ability to study them into the future."


I don't know about you, but I think it's a bit mind-blowing to think that a team of hard-working, intelligent historians are studying what was probably done as a bit of laugh by one Roman dude almost 2,000 years ago. What a world we live in, eh?

Featured Image Credit: Historic England/University of Newcastle

Topics: UK News, Interesting, History