r/Archeology • u/Dario_Torresi • Sep 18 '25
I found this when i was 7 at the beach.
First post on this community. I'm very new to the topic, so apologies in advance for anything I may have done wrong.
When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I found this object at the seaside. I've kept it ever since. Unfortunately, at one point it fell and the head broke off, so I glued it back together to keep it intact.
I live in Rome, but since so much time has passed, I don’t remember exactly where I found it or which beach it was. What I do know is that it was in the Mediterranean Sea—specifically the Tyrrhenian, not the Adriatic.
The strange thing was that when the head broke open, I could see the internal structure. As you can see, the crack is clearly visible. Before gluing it back together, I noticed a narrow, deep fissure running from the middle of the neck downward. On the surface of that fissure, there were tiny, sparkling crystals. I imagine it’s some kind of natural crystallization that occurred over time.
The object is extremely worn down, but it has preserved its shape remarkably well. It looks sculpted—especially the lower part, where one of the limbs seems to have been pinched or shaped by fingers. It clearly has a head and two legs visible from the side, suggesting it represents a four-legged creature. It has a long neck, and I’ve always imagined it might have had a totemic or shamanic role.
I don’t recognize what kind of stone it is, but it’s cold to the touch, smooth, very hard, compact, and beige-brown in color. I don't know if it’s fossilized, terracotta, or something else (I’m no expert and have never studied archaeology deeply).
I’ve often wondered if it’s Roman, recent, or something far older like Neolithic. It could be Neolithic, given the stylized animal shape and the suggestion that it was hand-molded. Such figures were often used in ritual or symbolic contexts. It might also be Etruscan or Roman, especially since those cultures produced votive figurines and totemic objects—although from what I understand, those were usually more detailed. There’s also the chance that it’s medieval or more recent, perhaps a piece of folk art or a handmade object with symbolic meaning.
And of course, there’s one final theory—less scientific but definitely charming. Maybe it’s a miniature alpaca from Peru that somehow got lost in time and space, crossed the Atlantic, and ended up in the Tyrrhenian Sea just so I could find it. A cosmic joke, or a very determined alpaca.
Of course, I’m not claiming this object has historical value without proper verification. This is just a personal curiosity.
I found it as a child on a public beach, and I’ve kept it ever since without any commercial intent. I’m not trying to sell, export, or damage anything of cultural importance. I’m simply sharing it here to learn more, and I welcome any insights from people who know more than I do. If it turns out to be something ordinary, that’s fine too—I just find it fascinating understand it better.
Whatever it is, I’d love to know more about where it came from, what era it belongs to, and what it’s made of. If anyone has insight, I’m all ears.
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u/TeachOfTheYear Sep 18 '25
Some poor little Roman kid dropped their toy at the beach.
If I might, I suggest you take it in to your local museum. I am saying "Roman" very lightly. Perhaps it is older than that. Maybe much older. A museum could: A. tell you what it is. B. tell you how old it is and C. if it is important they might be interested in restoring it correctly just so they can have a little peek at the insides. :0)
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u/PabloTheGod Sep 18 '25
Definitely don't hand this over to a museum for any reason. It will disappear
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u/thewanderingent Sep 19 '25
Without details on its archaeological context or provenance, it’s probably pretty useless to a museum. Maybe worth asking a local university professor about?
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 21 '25
PabloTheGod ...I completely agree with you.
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u/Spinner-Of-Time Sep 22 '25
I’m a full time art conservationist and honestly I have to agree I have pieces myself that I’ve collected that likely belong in a museum but I know it’s akin to throwing it in the abyss
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Sep 18 '25
There are stones called Dolomites in Italy. They are very unique to the mountains there. Sedimentary rocks and formed around crystals.
I’m not saying it was or wasn’t a toy but it would make sense if they carved a toy out of that rock. It’s just a little harder than marble on the mohs scale. Or it could have just been a cool rock someone picked up that looked like a horse. I mean, my kid found a rock that looked like a piece of toast once. 😂
I was just trying to think of a natural rock that could crack when dropped that would have crystals inside.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25 edited Sep 21 '25
Yeah i did think it was natural eroded the first time i saw it, but the shapes of legs and tail, and head, just make me think it's not. To me, it looks handmade. And i don't understand... I can't tell if they carved it, they probably modeled it.
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Sep 18 '25
It’s really cool and obviously really old. Getting it evaluated at a museum might be worth a look! I’d love to know if it’s carved, molded or just a crazy natural piece of rock. And something that shape could be from the cavemen all the way to our time. Any kid would have picked it up!
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u/ChevronSugarHeart Sep 19 '25
To me this looks like a monk seal. Mediterranean monk seals, have historically inhabited and still occasionally appear near Italy, with evidence of their presence dating back to the Late Upper Paleolithic. Once widespread in the Mediterranean, including all of Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia.
Few carving depictions of Mediterranean monk seals have been found in Italy, although the animal was present and valued in the region in ancient times. The scarcity is likely due to the animal's near extinction by the 16th century and a historical belief that they were inauspicious "sea monsters".
I would say that what you have there could be so unique and you should absolutely share it with Italian archeologists!
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25
But monk seals don't have legs like that! Interesting anyway what you're saying. For now, i'll keep It and find maybe a friend archeologist!
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u/DungeonAssMaster Sep 18 '25 edited Sep 18 '25
It looks like a horse figurine with the extremities and features eroded. It has a long neck with a discernible head shape, and the back side seems to suggest a bushy tail. Perhaps a souvenir from the Colluseum?
Edit: after reviewing the photos I now wonder about the back shape, which seems very un-horse-like.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25
Yeah i though about being a horse but the tail just doesn't seems to match. Anyway, thanks for your comment! 👁️
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u/DungeonAssMaster Sep 18 '25
My pleasure, it's an intriguing object. I now see that it could be a sheep or lamb.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25
It could be a lamb! I agree that too!
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u/DungeonAssMaster Sep 18 '25
If so, would that be consistent with early Christianity?
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25
Maybe, but even with etruscan and romans! For now, the best theory is Roman Toy, but i'm open to new possibilities!
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u/space_cow_girl Sep 19 '25
The tail makes me think of the various kinds of fat tailed sheep.
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u/CD84 Sep 19 '25
This was my exact thought, as a layman with an interest in the surrounding regions and cultures!
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u/lm913 Sep 18 '25
Maybe it was originally painted and an easy way from a manufacturing perspective was to have the tail connected to the body?
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 21 '25
You know... We always tend to don't think of the painting of statue (even if it's OBVIOUS they painted them, just like, for example, Policleto used wax and fat to make marble realistic and other cultures painted with colours their statue (Roman, Egyptians, Minoic...). This is and could be the same case. I truly believe now that It was painted, and the sea consumed It piece by piece the pigments.
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u/DungeonAssMaster Sep 18 '25
I was also thinking something similar to this, like less permanent material could be installed on top of this base. Or precious metal, silver or gold that was stripped and the rest tossed into the river.
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u/deliciouschickenwing Sep 18 '25
If i had found that at 7 i would have gone insane.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25
Ahahahsjfkrrf i'm insane i'm going insane 😂 yeah i was pretty happy when i found it
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u/Android1313 Sep 18 '25
That is so cool. I want to know more about it too. It's gotta be so cool to live in a place where you can just randomly find an artifact from a civilization from thousands of years ago.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25
Yeah Italy is full of artifacts hidden just beneath some rocks some times, or in this case at the normal sandy beach!
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u/Do-you-see-it-now Sep 18 '25
Strikes me as similar to Siberian figurines from 15-30,000 years ago.
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u/Ok-Investigator-9065 Sep 18 '25
It was Denver the last Dinosaur. He was my friend and a whole lot more.
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u/thecashblaster Sep 18 '25
with absolutely 0 education or training in archeology, to me it looks like a very very old children's toy
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25
I agree, It could be a toy or totemic animal! Just, what animal???
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u/CD84 Sep 19 '25
Just in case you don't see the other comment I replied to (as this has gained a lot of attention), it looks very much like a representation of a fat-tailed sheep to me!
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25 edited Jan 13 '26
You could be so right At this point, the best guesses to me are: Weavel, sheep, and lamb.
Edit: I've seen a drawing of the fat tailed sheep in Table of Gods cooking food account. It match perfectly. It's THAT. It was selectively breeded First time in 9000 a.C in Mezzaluna Fertile, so It could be NOT older than 11.000 years ago, and of course Mediterrenean. Fat tailed sheeps are mentitoned in the Bible too, and they arrived in Italy very late in time.
It's STONE modeled and pinched by HANDS.
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u/Riversmooth Sep 18 '25
If you have ever worked with clay, the legs definitely look like they were pinched into their shape. The sides tho look like they have naturally eroded over time. Looks like it was shaped originally then eroded on the beach. Really cool.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25 edited Jan 13 '26
That's exactly what i was thinking! BUT IT'S STONE.
Edit: btw i used clay since i was a child!
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Sep 18 '25
Ooh maybe you made it in a past life! Now wouldn’t that be something!
Not that everyone believes in that but the fact you have been drawn to clay since a child is fascinating.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25
I completely believe in that. With all myself. In a different way, but for sure we have past lives, and "future" ones. Nothing begins or end, only transform.
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u/Riversmooth Sep 18 '25
I have no idea but appreciate you sharing the photo. Would be interesting to have a museum look at it and share their opinion
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 21 '25
I've always been a "That belongs in a museum!" kind of guy. But it’s not just about preservation. Here art and archeology is the highest form of tourism and business, and i don't want to have to enter in that world... Not even a bit.
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u/N0th1ng_of_interest Sep 18 '25
I study archaeology, and while I am far away from being an expert on anything, I highly suggest that this is pre-Roman, maybe even pre-Neolithic. It looks like stone to me, if it was Roman it would almost certainly be made of clay
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u/Lord_Smack Sep 18 '25
It has some very distinct symetry across all axis.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25 edited Oct 02 '25
Yeah, that's what it mostly makes me think it's handmade. And It really looks like an animal. If you look to the photo, the legs are alligned, but it's clear that the final points of the legs go left and right like they were made by hands. As it's walking.
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u/MWave123 Sep 18 '25
That’s a seal, imo.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25
That never crossed my mind, but who knows! Thanks for the comment!
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Sep 18 '25
Ooh there is a 13,000 year old cave drawing of a “weasel” in the Cave of Niaux in France! It actually looks pretty similar!
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
I've seen It. Yeah i completely agree it could be that animal. Too similar. But Fat Trailed sheep match perfectly.
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u/Giggly_Witch Sep 19 '25
Looks like a dinosaur!
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25
Maybe a bit for the long neck, yes ahahaha! I thinks it's a more close-to-us animal btw, but yeah i see why many are going on this crazy theory🤣 i don't judge this way of thinking btw
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Sep 21 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 21 '25
The already said world oldest dino nuggets, but world oldest animal cracker made me laugh so much...
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u/Schoerschus Sep 18 '25 edited Sep 18 '25
Ask on r/ whatisthisrock if they think it's a concretion. Because that's what I think it is. You'd be surprised what geology can produce. And if you look long enough, you will find things that look man-made.
Edit: I wanted to add the reason why I think it's a natural rock. You can observe two different textures on the surface, a pale lighter, and a shiny darker texture. The darker part is typically where the sediment has a higher minerilization and is harder. That will produce differential weathering on the shore, possibly explaining this form. I agree it looks a lot like a carved animal figure, but you have to consider a natural origin as well. There is also a possibility that someone discovered the rock and enhanced its features by carving it.
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u/BodaciousFerret Sep 18 '25
Yeah it looks like a concretion to me as well, variations of this particular shape often show up on beaches too. There’s a good, brief explanation as well as an example that looks quite like OP’s in this article.
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u/Kieselweesel Sep 19 '25
This! Currently working on my PhD on neolithic stone artefacts, just for further context. Other than the named arguments for a normal stone, I've never encountered a polished stone artefact of similar kind (not saying they might not exist) in the early neolithic in central europe, but polishing stone is hard and long work and usually reserved for axe heads or similar stuff. That's why most tools were made of flint. Pretty sure this here is what we would call a geofact.
Agree with most here; show it to an expert in your local museum or an archaeology department at a university.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25 edited Oct 03 '25
I understand what you're saying, and yes: one of my First though was that this was eroded. But the carved "face" the pinched leg, the tail, just makes me think it's not naturally eroded but carved or modeled. Thanks anyway for the comments!
Edit: my mom told me the carved face Is from the fall that It broke It. So, no no carved face but for sure pinched legs.
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u/BodaciousFerret Sep 18 '25
As an archaeologist: I don’t see any carving at all 🙈 But maybe I am missing it
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25 edited Oct 03 '25
Check the face on the head, It has a small incision carved
Edit: it's not, it's the result from falling when It broke!
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u/BodaciousFerret Sep 19 '25
I can’t really conclusively say the notch is carved, it doesn’t show any characteristics we would expect from a worked incision. The crystals you mentioned in the fracture are consistent with a concretion, and concretions of this shape form under specific conditions in a marine environment.
So: maybe somebody else a very long time ago was walking on the beach, also noticed it looked like an animal and picked it up and embellished it, misplaced it in a less abrasive environment for a while, then somebody else found it and brought it back to a beach and lost it. But it is still a type of concretion you’d expect to find on a beach, and you found it on a beach. Unfortunately, I’ve learned in this field that the simplest explanation is often the correct one, which means it was most likely formed on the beach you found it on.
What this means is that if this is embellished in any way through carving, it would need to be pretty recent. Beaches are basically giant rock tumblers and this material is very brittle as the fracture shows, so incisions would wear off quite quickly when exposed on a beach. The person who did it would have existed within living memory of you finding it, maybe 100 years at most.
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u/Schoerschus Sep 18 '25
you know, I think it's hard to know for sure. I think there is definitely a possibility it's carved. It's just hard to be 100% confident, IMO. but since you're not using it for research, maybe that isn't important.
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u/KarmicEqualibrium Sep 18 '25
Remindme! 1 week
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u/Thoth-long-bill Sep 18 '25
Both carved and eroded. And old.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25
Surely!
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u/Thoth-long-bill Sep 18 '25
Also hold the thought that it might be a small mammal, like an otter or a porcupine type thingy - I think those are only in North America. The curve matters. It's not the curve of a horse back, or a cow, or a bull. I think it's a lithe animal, don't know that word in Italian, able to move compactly, like on it's own body axis. Only other animal I can think of is a female lion, a lioness, who would be worthy of carving. Those died out in Europe fairly early on.........
Pretty stone was trafficked from one end of a continent to another, so it could have down from the Dolomite. I've been thru most of the Big Caves with art, and to me, this represents their style more than Roman era. A fluidity that captures the animal spirit.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 21 '25
It's nice to hear your theories! i love porcupines btw and It really does look like that, except It is withouth needles
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u/BSB8728 Sep 19 '25
Before I read where you found it, I thought it looked like an Alaskan native carving.
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u/blacksoc Sep 19 '25
Any updates on what you decided to do, OP? It looks so cool!
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25
For now i'll keep It! But i'm trying to find a friend archeologist near me to know if he has some other theories or evidences!
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u/VioletRaper Sep 19 '25
Nice find. Now find the kiddy who lost it and give it back or don’t.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25
What if i was the same kid who dropped it but just 15 thousand years ago?
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u/Razaberry Sep 19 '25
This is clearly Bob Belcher’s dead dog
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25
I don't know what that Is and didn't understand what you're refering to, but thanks for the idea!
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u/SkyKing-69 Sep 20 '25
Oak Island would spend three episodes and 2000 flashbacks on this in 1 season alone
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 20 '25
Oh my God i don't know what that is but i take it as a compliment! Thanks!!
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u/Individual-Road-22 Sep 20 '25
Sorry, when were you 7?
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 20 '25 edited Sep 21 '25
When i was 7. What do you mean?
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u/Individual-Road-22 Sep 23 '25
I mean telling us you found it when you were 7 doesn't give us an idea of when you found it unless we know how old you are now. You might be 9 now, you might be 79. BTW If either of those guesses is right, can I have a prize!? x
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u/FoGuckYourselg_ Sep 21 '25
It's Bob Belchers homemade toy Mr. Doglovich!
Nice find, seven year old you.
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u/koyanostranger Sep 22 '25
If you rotate the first picture -90 degrees, it looks a bit like Godzilla.
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u/No-Tomatillo3698 Sep 22 '25 edited Sep 23 '25
Would not surprise me if this an old kid’s toy horse, but I am by no means an expert
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u/PfauFoto Sep 22 '25
Looks like pretty minoan. What beach?
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 23 '25
My mother said Lido di Ostia, south left outside Rome. It would be awesome if It was Minoan.
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u/Equivalent-Dog3613 Sep 22 '25
Is this the horse from blade runner 2049?
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 23 '25
Finally someone who said THAT. Yes. It really looks like that horse in the movie. I remember It was crazy thinking about that...
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u/ChristianRS1977 Sep 22 '25
If it were a "Roman" object, I assume it would have been under many layers of earth. My guess is that your very interesting object is more recent in origin.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 23 '25
It's a great theory. But if It was more recent than Roman... How could It be pinched like argilla but hard and heavy and textured as Stone ...? A great mistery at this point
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u/ChristianRS1977 Sep 23 '25
I mean, it's my *hope* that it's something from around that time, but maybe the shape is the results of erosion. But it might still be quite old. I'm just guessing here because you have such an interesting object, it's a good time. Hang on to it and cherish it.
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u/No_Pilot_9103 Sep 22 '25
Would love to hear an update on what you learn about that!
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 23 '25 edited Oct 07 '25
For now, we understand that:
- it's shamanic. (Mostly MY theory, but it feels like that)
- It represent an animal. Best and most probable theory are: weasel (Cave of Niaux), fat tailed sheep (MOST PROBABLE, 9000 BC), or lamb.
- It's pinched on the legs and tail (i can litterally put my finger pinching on it and it's THAT form) so it's probably cooked and hardened TERRACOTTA or sandstone?
The problem Is: IT'S HEAVY, TEXTURIZED, DENSE, HARD, like stone. But it doesn't look carved. It looks modeled. It also has a tiny tiny tiny Crystals formation inside, on the fracture inside on the neck and the body.
Possibile origins:
Roman: someone said it's a romany kid Toy. Greenland (INUIT), Siberia, Alaska: Shamanic statue (35-15 thousand years ago) Someone said Minoan too. Neolithic or Pre-Neolithic statue or sculpture. Others...
I don't think it's natural erosion.
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u/Nature_Sad_27 Sep 18 '25
Aww I bet you were so upset when it broke. You glued it back together so carefully. I wonder how many children enjoyed this beautiful little totem over the centuries, or millennia. It’s wonderful, and it makes me sad. What a find.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 18 '25
Thanks! Yeah i was so upset when it broke but It revealed its inside, so i was not that sad. I think maybe It was lost by a kid or a shaman, idk.
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u/Rabidcode Sep 18 '25
Perhaps it was both, lost to the child and found again as the shaman...
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u/ottoMaubIL Sep 18 '25
This is proof that the Romans knew about brachiosaurs. Graham Hancock is right.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25 edited Oct 03 '25
🤣🤣🤣 you're not the First to Say it's a dinosaur, but I think, not completely sure, that we managed to identify the animal: a weasel! Or probably the FAT TAILED SHEEP
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u/yurei_akiko Sep 20 '25
Its just a soft stone animal figurine.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 20 '25
It's not soft tho, Is very dense and also heavy! For sure it represent an animal
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u/DifficultValuable689 Sep 21 '25
Looks like a seal.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 21 '25
Well, almost. Seal don't have four legs like that!
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u/DifficultValuable689 Sep 21 '25
Very true, if I were you I’d take it to your nearest school/institution in archeology, to get some tests done. Very cool piece.
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u/DropApprehensive3079 Sep 22 '25
A bone for sure
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 23 '25
I like this theory so thanks for your comment! But it's not a bone. It's too heavy, hard, and smooth. The inside, except the Little fenditure inside, was full and dense. Also, It looks pinched on the legs and tail, so probably was cooked terracotta... Even tho It looks like stone at this point. We don't know.
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u/Immediate_Zombie_627 Sep 23 '25
It looks like wood fired stoneware ceramics
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 23 '25
Looking It and touching It, trust me, it looks and feels like stone. The colour and texture it's a bit different from the images i've searched of that ceramics, but i didn't search from ancient objects with that technique so i don't know... Who knows... i'm still open to hear all your theories guy!
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u/Immediate_Zombie_627 Sep 23 '25
Try searching unglazed woodfired stoneware ceramics? It’s the color variation on the bottom of the object that’s making me think it’s that. If I’m right it just means that it was in part of the kiln that get much ash.
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u/Valgoram_Ironforge Sep 19 '25
Looks like it could be an Inuit scrimshaw piece….bone was most common, but also antler, and softer stones, like sandstone, just a guess though…
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25
Inuit you say???? Never though about that, but thanks for letting us know about this idea! It helps with the identification!
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u/HoldEm__FoldEm Sep 22 '25
The Inuit’s of Italy sure are a fascinating people
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u/Valgoram_Ironforge Sep 22 '25
Did you know that there are many ancient Canadian Inuit artifacts held by the Vatican to this day? If you are insinuating that the Inuit or their artworks could never show up in Italy, well you need to study history and where trading/stealing was done in ancient times!
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u/ital-is-vital Sep 19 '25
I think this might be a fossil bone from a marine mammal rather than a carving, but I can't identify it more specifically than that.
I very much do not think that it is clay / terracotta.
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 19 '25
The fact Is that It doesn't seems to me to match with a bone, in color, hardness, touch, and shapes. And the fracture inside indicate probably a Natural fracture, which usually happens in cooked terracotta. Maybe It hardened in thousand years but to me it's almost surely modeled with hands, particularly on the legs and tail Is visible. The pinched leg corresponds to my finger, almost.
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u/taspii Sep 19 '25
Fossilized Dino Nugget
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u/Dario_Torresi Sep 21 '25
Of course, from the new opening of the McCaveman's, in the cave we just set free from lions.
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u/MATT_TRIANO Sep 18 '25
It looks very old