Archaeologists in Galicia, Spain, have uncovered a significant discovery: a trilobite fossil, millions of years old, transformed into a Roman-era amulet. The fossil, believed to have been used as a protective object, is an example of how ancient remains were repurposed by the Romans. Trilobites, now-extinct marine arthropods, lived long before the rise of the Roman Empire.
According to Popular Mechanics, this discovery is only one of the rare instances where such fossils were used in ancient cultures. This find, dating back to the first through third centuries A.D., reveals the ancient practice of using natural history as part of cultural and religious artifacts.
A Fossil Turned Sacred Artifact
In a Roman-era dump, scientists uncovered a fossil from a trilobite, an extinct species of marine arthropods that once dominated the seas. This is only the 11th known discovery of a trilobite fossil in an archaeological context, highlighting the rarity of such finds. The specimen, discovered in a site dating to the 1st to 3rd centuries A.D., represents the first confirmed trilobite from Roman times and the third trilobite in the global archaeological record to have been collected and used by people over a thousand years ago.
The trilobite, dating back 450 million years, was likely transformed into an amulet or bracelet, showing the Romans’ belief that ancient creatures carried magical or protective powers.
The reddish tone and iron oxide in the fossil suggest it originated from southern Spain, a prized fossil that would have been transported along Roman trade routes. It was no mere curiosity—it was a valuable artifact with a purpose.
The Romans’ Fascination with Fossils
Trilobites were more than just ancient fossils to the Romans. They were sacred relics, believed to possess special powers. The Romans, especially Emperor Augustus, had a deep interest in large fossils, which were often linked to protection and healing. In fact, Augustus is known for founding the first known paleontological museum, underscoring his fascination with ancient remains. The presence of a bronze coin bearing Augustus’s face alongside the trilobite reinforces this connection between ancient fossils and the belief in their magical qualities.
Adolfo Fernandez, an archaeologist on the team, explained that this very fossil could have inspired the famous Roman-era black glass jewelry pieces shaped like trilobites. These new creations would have been made to mimic the fossil’s revered qualities.
“Artisans sought to reproduce the thoracic metameres of a trilobite, endowing the new pieces with the qualities of the original material,” the archaeologists wrote in their study.
“The Armea trilobite reveals that the Romans were already aware of ancestral animals beneath the ground, and such objects, understood in this way, were highly valued as ‘sacred’ with strong protective qualities.”
Discovered in what is now considered a “dumping ground” alongside discarded Roman pottery, the trilobite amulet ended up far from its original revered status. Despite this, the find provides insight into how Romans viewed and used fossils.
“Usually, they ended up serving as offerings or votive deposits in religious places, temples, or simple places of veneration,” the study authors wrote.
“Unfortunately, there are only a few cases of invertebrate fossils recovered in Roman archaeological contexts, which limits our understanding of the phenomenon.”
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