<p lang="en-US">In a new discovery, the archaeologists have now claimed that the bedbugs were brought to the United Kingdom by the Romans.<br />
<br />
Fresh evidence, which proved that the bedbugs were brought by the Romans, was unearthed by the archaeologists working at Vindolanda, which is a Roman garrison site located in the south of Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, reported&nbsp;The Guardian.<br />
<br />
In the study, the head of the Vindolanda archaeological team Dr Andrew Birley said, “It is incredibly rare to find them in any ancient context.”</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-government-to-ban-disposable-vapes-amid-concerns-for-childrens-health-684692">UK government to ban disposable vapes amid concerns over children’s health</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">The discovery was made by 24-year-old Katie Wyse Jackson, who is a student at University College Dublin (UCD). She was investigating the excavated material as part of her research in archaeoentomology (the study of insects present at archaeological sites).</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Two thoraces dating around AD100 discovered</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Jackson discovered two thoraces – which dated back to around AD100 – and was said to have come from the common bedbug, which is known as Cimex lectularius. The thoraces were found in the lowest layers of Vindolanda.<br />
<br />
“Finding this kind of thing helps humanise the people of the past,” said Wyse Jackson, in her research.<br />
<br />
Emphasising how Roman philosopher Pliny mentioned the bedbugs' medicinal value in the treatment of certain ailments like ear infections, she said, “People then had all sorts of notions of what insects could do.”</p>

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<p lang="en-US">Lecturer in environmental archaeology at UCD Dr Stephen Davis was part of the specialist team.<br />
<br />
He claimed that these thoraces were earlier found in Alcester in Warwickshire, another Roman site in England, and added that the ones found in Vindolanda would be “the earliest found in Britain so far”.<br />
<br />
While analysing soil samples, Wyse Jackson also found beetles can provide further insights: “I can learn about trade, food storage, hygiene, waste disposal from what species are present and in what numbers. At the moment, I’m finding a large amount of grain and dung beetles,” she said.<br />
<br />
“So we’re really not looking at a clean space here. Most importantly, a large proportion of the insects I’m finding are what we call synanthropic. They live in close proximity to humans. The Romans do have that reputation as being extremely clean and so it’s interesting to find all of these insects that are contrary to that,” she added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a new discovery, the archaeologists have now claimed that the bedbugs were brought to the United Kingdom by the Romans. Fresh evidence, which proved that the bedbugs were brought by the Romans, was unearthed by the archaeologists working at Vindolanda, which is a Roman garrison site located in the south of Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, reported The Guardian.

In a new discovery, the archaeologists have now claimed that the bedbugs were brought to the United Kingdom by the Romans. Fresh evidence, which proved that the bedbugs were brought by the Romans, was unearthed by the archaeologists working at Vindolanda, which is a Roman garrison site located in the south of Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, reported The Guardian. In the study, the head of the Vindolanda archaeological team Dr Andrew Birley said, “It is incredibly rare to find them in any ancient context.” Also read: UK government to ban disposable vapes amid concerns over children’s health The discovery was made by 24-year-old Katie Wyse Jackson, who is a student at University College Dublin (UCD). She was investigating the excavated material as part of her research in archaeoentomology (the study of insects present at archaeological sites). Two thoraces dating around AD100 discovered Jackson discovered two thoraces – which dated back to around AD100 – and was said to have come from the common bedbug, which is known as Cimex lectularius. The thoraces were found in the lowest layers of Vindolanda. “Finding this kind of thing helps humanise the people of the past,” said Wyse Jackson, in her research. Emphasising how Roman philosopher Pliny mentioned the bedbugs' medicinal value in the treatment of certain ailments like ear infections, she said, “People then had all sorts of notions of what insects could do.” Watch: UK household budgets will get worse, says union | Britons exposed to skyrocketing bills Lecturer in environmental archaeology at UCD Dr Stephen Davis was part of the specialist team. He claimed that these thoraces were earlier found in Alcester in Warwickshire, another Roman site in England, and added that the ones found in Vindolanda would be “the earliest found in Britain so far”. While analysing soil samples, Wyse Jackson also found beetles can provide further insights: “I can learn about trade, food storage, hygiene, waste disposal from what species are present and in what numbers. At the moment, I’m finding a large amount of grain and dung beetles,” she said. “So we’re really not looking at a clean space here. Most importantly, a large proportion of the insects I’m finding are what we call synanthropic. They live in close proximity to humans. The Romans do have that reputation as being extremely clean and so it’s interesting to find all of these insects that are contrary to that,” she added. (With inputs from agencies)

Archaeological team's 'rare' discovery blames Romans for bedbugs in UK

<p>Experts were previously wrong when they mistook an ancient object for a textile tool, which apparently was something else. They believed that the object found at a Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall was used for sewing but now new theories have emerged, suggesting that the object may have been a second-century sex toy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the study published in the journal Antiquity on Sunday, researchers unearthed the object in 1992 in a ditch at the Roman Fort of Vindolanda, near Hadrian’s Wall. The region was once marked the Roman Empire’s northwest frontier, in northern England.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The object was found alongside dozens of shoes and dress accessories. Several small tools and craft waste products were also found such as leather off-cuts and worked antler — probably the reason behind the misidentification.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest theory of this phallus-shaped tool being a sex toy is quite intriguing but the experts said they had not ruled out whether it could have been a good luck symbol or a grinding tool.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beijing-says-us-claims-of-china-on-brink-of-supplying-arms-to-russia-false-563861">Beijing says US claims of China on brink of supplying arms to Russia 'false'</a></strong></p>

<p>But now, the researchers at Newcastle University and University College Dublin researchers have reinterpreted the artefact as a disembodied phallus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They have examined it closely and have outlined some of its most likely possible functions. The report mentioned that the Vindolanda phallus is 16cm long. Both ends were quite smoother, which indicated that it was repeatedly used over time.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Carved wooden phallus found at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Roman?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Roman</a> fort was possible sex toy - 2,000-year-old object uncovered at Vindolanda in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Northumberland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Northumberland</a> in 1992 has been reassessed by archaeologists.<br />
<a href="https://t.co/A9qATAj70y">https://t.co/A9qATAj70y</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RomanBritain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RomanBritain</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HadriansWall?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HadriansWall</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RomanArchaeology?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RomanArchaeology</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Archaeology?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Archaeology</a> <a href="https://t.co/u4VWqYq7rE">pic.twitter.com/u4VWqYq7rE</a></p>
— Roman Britain News (@Roman_Britain) <a href="https://twitter.com/Roman_Britain/status/1627559229413367811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pegging: the Roman way<br />
A roman sex toy from 2000 years ago <a href="https://t.co/wqXH8zzNlu">pic.twitter.com/wqXH8zzNlu</a></p>
— Stevie 🍁❤️🌈♀ 😷💉 (@Stevie_Ca) <a href="https://twitter.com/Stevie_Ca/status/1627745186594885645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Newcastle University archaeology senior lecturer Rob Collins, said, "I have to confess. Part of me thinks it’s kind of self-evident that it is a penis."</p>

<p>"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," Collins added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Collins said, "What makes this a first is that it is not a small, miniature phallus. It's lifesize. It’s also important because wood just doesn’t normally survive … we couldn’t find any parallels."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The object being used for sexual reasons is one theory, but researchers have two more reasoning. They think the object can also be used as a pestle or it could be used to slot into a statue for good luck.&nbsp;</p>

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Experts were previously wrong when they mistook an ancient object for a textile tool, which apparently was something else. They believed that the object found at a Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall was used for sewing but now new theories have emerged, suggesting that the object may have been a second-century sex toy.

Experts were previously wrong when they mistook an ancient object for a textile tool, which apparently was something else. They believed that the object found at a Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall was used for sewing but now new theories have emerged, suggesting that the object may have been a second-century sex toy. According to the study published in the journal Antiquity on Sunday, researchers unearthed the object in 1992 in a ditch at the Roman Fort of Vindolanda, near Hadrian’s Wall. The region was once marked the Roman Empire’s northwest frontier, in northern England. The object was found alongside dozens of shoes and dress accessories. Several small tools and craft waste products were also found such as leather off-cuts and worked antler — probably the reason behind the misidentification. The latest theory of this phallus-shaped tool being a sex toy is quite intriguing but the experts said they had not ruled out whether it could have been a good luck symbol or a grinding tool. ALSO READ | Beijing says US claims of China on brink of supplying arms to Russia 'false' But now, the researchers at Newcastle University and University College Dublin researchers have reinterpreted the artefact as a disembodied phallus. They have examined it closely and have outlined some of its most likely possible functions. The report mentioned that the Vindolanda phallus is 16cm long. Both ends were quite smoother, which indicated that it was repeatedly used over time. Carved wooden phallus found at #Roman fort was possible sex toy - 2,000-year-old object uncovered at Vindolanda in #Northumberland in 1992 has been reassessed by archaeologists. https://t.co/A9qATAj70y#RomanBritain #HadriansWall #RomanArchaeology #Archaeology pic.twitter.com/u4VWqYq7rE — Roman Britain News (@Roman_Britain) February 20, 2023 × Pegging: the Roman way A roman sex toy from 2000 years ago pic.twitter.com/wqXH8zzNlu — Stevie 🍁❤️🌈♀ 😷💉 (@Stevie_Ca) February 20, 2023 × Newcastle University archaeology senior lecturer Rob Collins, said, "I have to confess. 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," Collins added. Collins said, "What makes this a first is that it is not a small, miniature phallus. It's lifesize. It’s also important because wood just doesn’t normally survive … we couldn’t find any parallels." The object being used for sexual reasons is one theory, but researchers have two more reasoning. They think the object can also be used as a pestle or it could be used to slot into a statue for good luck. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

What was once thought to be a textile tool may be a 2,000-year-old Roman 'sex toy'

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