A remarkable 2,000-year-old bronze spoon discovered on the Isle of Man provides rare evidence of ancient ritualistic practices in Europe. Found on private land by a local resident, the artifact is believed to have been used by an Iron Age shaman for divination.
A Rare and Significant Find
Shaped like a strawberry, the bronze spoon dates back to between 400 BCE and 100 BCE and is one of only 28 similar examples discovered across Europe. Experts suggest it may have played a role in interpreting the future through ritualistic means.
Allison Fox, Archaeology Curator at Manx National Heritage, emphasized the significance of the discovery: “Though referred to as a ‘spoon,’ this is an extraordinary find that indicates potential ritual activity on the Isle of Man.”
How Was the Spoon Used?
While its exact purpose remains uncertain, the spoon’s interior features two engraved lines forming a cross at the base, dividing the bowl into four distinct sections.
“It is believed that a liquid—potentially water, beer, or even blood—was poured into the cross-marked spoon,” Fox explained. “The way the liquid flowed into specific compartments may have been interpreted as a message about the future.”
Similar ritual spoons have been found in Britain, Ireland, and France. Several examples housed in the British Museum suggest these objects were often discovered in pairs. Typically, one spoon features a cross design, while the other has a small hole, likely used to drip liquid onto the marked spoon, further enhancing its divinatory function.
According to the British Museum, most of these spoons were found in graves, indicating they were personal possessions, though not necessarily used in burial rites.
The First of Its Kind on the Isle of Man
This discovery marks the first time such an artifact has been found on the Isle of Man, adding the island to the map of Iron Age ritual activity.
“The discovery firmly places the Isle of Man within the broader context of ritual practices in Iron Age Europe,” Fox noted.
The artifact has been generously donated to the Manx National Collections by the finder and landowner. It is now on display at the House of Manannan Museum on the island’s west coast, offering the public a rare glimpse into the mystical traditions of the past.
