Ancient Romans Likely Used Extinct Sea Creature Fossils as Amulets

Ancient Romans likely used extinct sea creature fossils as amulets

At the Roman settlement of A Cibdá de Armea in northwestern Spain, archaeologists uncovered evidence suggesting that ancient Romans adorned their amulets with fossils of extinct marine arthropods, like trilobites, possibly rooted in the belief that these specimens carried magical or protective powers.

Fossil of a trilobite extinct for 450,000 years turned into an amulet.

A trilobite fragment showing signs of human modification, dated between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, was identified during excavations at the archaeological site of A Cibdá de Armea, in Ourense, Galicia. This is the first trilobite confirmed to have been used during the Roman period and only the third specimen of this genus found in an archaeological context worldwide. The discovery surprised researchers due to the rarity and excellent state of…