That the item wasn’t found in a grave but on a sunken path makes me wonder just how it got there. Not something that you’d drop without noticing, surely? It’s somewhat important however, in terms of archaeology. To quote Stephanie Smith of the PAS (Portable Antiques Scheme) “This was a very exciting find because while it doesn’t have huge monetary value, it is such a rare, interesting and bizarre object that tells a funny story about life during that period. Dallying with prostitutes became a socially accepted aspect of a gentleman’s life, but unfortunately disfigurement from syphilis, for which there was then no cure, was one of the side-effects and a metal prosthetic was deemed a better alternative to a large hole in one’s face. Although it has a dark-
ROSETTA STONE er and green tinge now, then it would have looked rathWithout it we’d still be er more fleshy and been much more sub- scratching our heads hieroglyphics. tle when worn. We get over so used to seeing old The French found it in coins, but something as 1799 and it was libunusual as a false nose erated from them by keeps us excited about the British in 1801. It currently lives in the the job.” British Museum, just to I love her style and annoy the French. It’s enthusiasm. By the often blamed for beginway, the good news ning Egyptology but it’s is that the finder will just a bit of stone. We be allowed to keep his can blame the treasurehunters for Egyptology. treasure.
Source. The Telegraph. We can’t do a list of great archaeological treasures without including Egypt, surely? OK, they have the pyramids, the mummies and the sphinx. So well known that they don’t need covering yet again here. Moving on, we have the Rosetta Stone. 46