A 2,500-year-old animal bone found in Sicily reveals how ancient people wrote on clay
Archaeologists in Sicily have discovered a 2,500-year-old bone stylus featuring intricate carvings of a male head and an erect phallus. Experts believe the object was likely an offering to the god Dionysus rather than a standard writing tool.
Why it matters
This discovery provides unique insights into ancient craftsmanship and religious practices in 5th-century BCE Sicily.
In Gela, on Sicily's southern coast, archaeologists have uncovered a rare and remarkably well-preserved bone stylus dating to the 5th century BCE, decorated with imagery that appears to connect craftsmanship with the worship of Dionysus. The object measures 13.2 centimetres long and was found intact during preventive archaeological excavations at Orto Fontanelle, an area being investigated ahead of construction of a new cultural centre. Its upper section carries a finely carved male head that experts interpret as probably representing an erma, or herm, of Dionysus, while the central section depicts an erect phallus. Sicily's regional cultural heritage department described the stylus as an exceptional archaeological find, while Daniela Vullo, superintendent for cultural heritage in Caltanissetta, said its unusual craftsmanship and imagery make it unique for its period.
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