Guide
Where Have Roman Dodecahedrons Been Found?
Key points
Countries
| Country | Finds |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 33 in Roman Britain[LCC] |
| Belgium | Yes, e.g. Tongeren (1939) and Kortessem (2023 fragment)[LS] |
| France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Luxembourg | Yes; counts not given in our sources[W] |
| Serbia | Deonica, the south-easternmost findspot[W] |
| Slovakia | Fragments of two near Chotín and Hurbanovo, outside the empire's borders[W] |
| Italy | None[W] |
Timeline of notable finds
| Year | Find |
|---|---|
| 1739 | First recorded, presented to the Society of Antiquaries of London; from Aston, Hertfordshire[W] |
| 1939 | Complete bronze example found outside Tongeren's Roman walls[LS] |
| 2023 (Jan report) | Fragment found near Kortessem, Flanders[LS] |
| June 2023 | Complete example found at Norton Disney, Lincolnshire[NCWC] |
Where in the ground?
The archaeological context is often uncertain. Where known it is commonly military or funerary; other finds came from baths, a theatre, a coin hoard and a riverbed.[W] The Norton Disney piece was found about 1 m down in a quarry pit backfilled in the late 3rd to 4th centuries.[NCWC]
FAQ
How many Roman dodecahedra have been found?
About 130.
Why none in Italy?
Nobody knows; the finds cluster in the north-western provinces, mostly Gaul.
How many in Britain?
33, including the 2023 Norton Disney find.
Sources
- [W] Wikipedia, “Roman dodecahedron” (accessed Oct 2026)
- [NCWC] National Civil War Centre, Newark, “Norton Disney Dodecahedron”
- [LCC] Lincolnshire County Council, “Mysterious Roman dodecahedron found in Norton Disney to go on display in Lincolnshire for the first time”
- [LS] T. Metcalfe, “Mysterious 12-sided Roman object found in Belgium may have been used for magical rituals,” Live Science, 26 Jan 2023