On the BBC evening news tonight they showed a new archaeological discovery ...a Roman Dodecahedron found in Lincolnshire. They say that they dont know what these rare objects were...but the secretary of the group that found it made a point of saying that they weren't tools or used for measurement! Well its funny that the two things they "know" it isnt is exactly what it is namely a winding tool to obtain measurement lengths as Roman Cubits and Roman feet....if anyone is interested in knowing how this was achieved in practice see [www.decodingthepictishstones.com]
Paper 3 Stone Balls pages 56-73.
Here is one winding pattern used called a Hamiltonian Circuit
[ibb.co]
Another winding pattern produced five, five pointed stars
[ibb.co]
For measuring longer distances the dodecahedra could be used as dioptra or range finders by aligning the holes in opposite faces on the dodecahedron with a known length
[ibb.co]
This is a link to the object that was found
[www.bbc.co.uk]
Paper 3 Stone Balls pages 56-73.
Here is one winding pattern used called a Hamiltonian Circuit
[ibb.co]
Another winding pattern produced five, five pointed stars
[ibb.co]
For measuring longer distances the dodecahedra could be used as dioptra or range finders by aligning the holes in opposite faces on the dodecahedron with a known length
[ibb.co]
This is a link to the object that was found
[www.bbc.co.uk]