Why did the ancient Romans need a dog penis? Scientists have discovered interesting facts

Hundreds of human and animal bones were discovered there, including a special exhibit: a dog penis bone (baculum) stained with red ochre.

Archaeologist Ellen Green described this amazing find in an article for the Oxford Journal of Archaeology.

Source: Ellen Green, "Life from death: multi-species fertility rituals within a Romano-British ritual shaft in southern England", Oxford Journal of Archaeology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/ojoa.12317

The excavation area is known as Nescot (near the modern town of Ewell). In 2015, a four metre long shaft in the rock base was stumbled upon here. Research showed that for about 50 years it was used as a kind of "graveyard": the remains of people and animals were periodically added and even extracted there. In total, more than 280 bones of domestic animals were found in the mine, of which about 70 per cent belonged to dogs. And there were no signs of disease or cutting for meat on the bones, which suggests that they could be either favourite pets or working dogs.

However, only one dog bone - a penis bone coloured with red ochre - was of particular interest. According to scholars, in ancient Roman times, phallic symbols had a wide range of ritual and magical meanings, including being used as good luck charms. Green suggests that the coloured bone may have been part of rituals associated with fertility or other sacred practices.

Curiously, along with the bones, other items were found in the mine that may indicate the ritual purpose of the site. The very fact that not all the bones were lying "indestructibly" (some of them were removed and then brought back) only strengthens the hypothesis of regular rites or ceremonies.

The exact purpose of using the unusual dog bone remains in question, but archaeologists call this find truly unique.