“Archaeologists believe they may have found the only known lifesize Roman dildo, discovered in a ditch in what were the farthest northern fringes of the empire. If it was not used as a sexual implement then the 2,000-year-old object may have been an erect penis-shaped pestle, or it could have been a feature from a statue that people touched for good luck. What it definitely is not is what it was catalogued as after its discovery at the Roman fort of Vindolanda in Northumberland in 1992: a darning tool. ‘I have to confess,’ said Newcastle University archaeology senior lecturer Rob Collins, ‘part of me thinks it’s kind of self-evident that it is a penis. I don’t know who entered it into the catalogue. Maybe it was somebody uncomfortable with it or didn’t think the Romans would do such silly things.'” “The Vindolanda phallus is 16cm long but, researchers say, was probably larger because archaeological wood is prone to shrinkage and warping.”—”It’s not a darning tool, it’s a very naughty toy: Roman dildo found. Two thousand-year-old object found at Roman fort in Northumberland in 1992 has been reassessed by archaeologists.”
I mean, “shrinkage and warping”. The struggle is real … ancient.
Also:
“Ancient Artifact Might Actually Be Only Known Roman Dildo, Experts Say. The wooden phallus was previously thought to be a darning tool.”
“Smooth wooden phallus found at a Roman fort was likely a sex toy. An ancient Roman wooden phallus found buried in a ditch was likely used for sexual purposes and is now on display at a museum in England.”
“Hadrian’s Wall: Wooden ‘Roman sex toy’ found in Northumberland. A wooden object found at a Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall initially thought to be a sewing tool may have been a 2nd Century sex toy.”
“‘Oldest Roman sex toy’ found at Hadrian’s Wall. The 6.2-inch long wooden phallus, which was found at a fort site 30 years ago, may have had a salacious use, say scientists”
“Veni, vidi, vici: Roman pestle found in ditch could be a dildo. It is either a sexual implement or, archaeologists, say, it could be a penis-shaped pestle.”
“Wooden object nearly 2,000 years old suggests Romans used sex toys, study says.”