Roman Love Spell or Curse?

[CRUSADER]

Well here is something you don't see everyday.

I collect all my lead & today I collected my visitors lead as well. It will get recycled one day. I have already saved the odd good find from the junk bucket & this is the best one so far.
I always pay attention to old folded lead in the hope one might turn out to be a Roman pray/wish (ie inscription to the gods).

This one looked good enough that I snapped a picture before I opened it. Well I opened it & saw what I thought was the usual grass roots until.....I realised it human (most likely) hair. To think that this hair was preserved for nearly 2000 years by the lead is

Now was it a love spell or is it a curse, I'm not sure at this point that I can't rule out a medieval witch spell as well. Not done enough research on these but read the wiki page:

Curse tablet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

''Curse tablets also included hair or pieces of clothing. This is especially the case in love spells, which calls for “hair from the head of the love target.” Some love spells have even been discovered “folded around some hair,” probably to bind the spell itself.''

 

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[Westfront]

Now that's really spooky...and you opened it! Let's see what happens next!
I never heard about these before. Thinking about a roman love spell is way better than a medieval witch....

 

[CRUSADER]

Now that's really spooky...and you opened it! Let's see what happens next!
I never heard about these before. Thinking about a roman love spell is way better than a medieval witch....

Yeah, I'm not so happy about the witch idea myself.

 

[dirtlooter]

the cool thing is it is just more proof of the things that happened back then, obviously someone believed in it and tried it for the good or bad. I would prefer to think that it was from some love sick person seeking another's love. it pays to be observant and you are. super cool find!

 

[DMN]

Cru, I think it wouldn't be bad to have it analyzed. They should be able to date it. You might even get DNA from it. How cool would that be? Might be able to determine race/ethnicity from it too!

It is just a wonderful find.

 

[Turbo21]

Wow is that a crazy find!! Anyone can dig old coins. But how often do you find something like this!! Great find

 

[landmagnet]

Cru, I think it wouldn't be bad to have it analyzed. They should be able to date it. You might even get DNA from it. How cool would that be? Might be able to determine race/ethnicity from it too!

It is just a wonderful find.

Suggest a sterile container, no skin contact and straight to FLO?

 

[UnderMiner]

Great, now the ancient evil has been released.
If frogs start raining from the sky over your house we'll know why.

 

[CRUSADER]

Suggest a sterile container, no skin contact and straight to FLO?

FLO is away, I contacted the BM direct for suggestions.

 

[CRUSADER]

Cru, I think it wouldn't be bad to have it analyzed. They should be able to date it. You might even get DNA from it. How cool would that be? Might be able to determine race/ethnicity from it too!

It is just a wonderful find.

Already looking into it.

 

[CRUSADER]

Wow is that a crazy find!! Anyone can dig old coins. But how often do you find something like this!! Great find

It's a first for me, pretty sure it would be a first for 99.9% of Archaeologists as well.

 

[Qball]

Would be interesting to do DNA on the hair. You find all the good swag.

 

[DMN]

Tricky business when it comes to DNA in the wild. But they should be able to do the mitochondrial DNA test I think. If you're lucky and one or two of those hairs has the root attached they may get good DNA samples for the standard DNA test, PCR I think.
Good luck and really keep us informed!

 

[HCW]

THAT IS COOL!
Spooky, but cool.

 

[Argentium]

OH My Goodness !!! What a unique find - I don't even know what else to say - All Romans please submit DNA samples immediately , OH,
and all descendants of medieval witches please submit your DNA as well - Amazing Find !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HCW]

BANNER all the way!

 

[MichiganMan]

Cleopatra casting a love spell on Antony?

 

[el remolino]

Very intriguing. No matter what, its part of history and you have brought it back. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Garrett424]

Wow. Human remains. I hope you're not the superstitious type.

That's an incredible find especially given the age. It's amazing that it's still intact.
Congrats.

 

[jeff of pa]

Awesome Relic !

Cool your researching it

Only thing I'd fear is someone telling me I can't keep it.

Of course you have the Option of getting Paid if you have to turn it over

I'd vote banner on that second pic.

But other then the 3rd. of the Hair The pics wouldn't work.
Wrong shape