A heck of a find if it’s for real. I just couldn’t hold this for tomorrow.

 

1. The French made an important update, adding a white flag.

   Posted by Suidae       11/17/2010  at  10:00 AM  



2. Haha, nice try.

   History generally tells us that the use of a fork for dining did not occur until the mid 1600s. This is the first fork I have ever seen associated with Roman dining. They used their hands.

   The article identifies the flat footed little tool on the lower right as “a spatula, which is believed to have been used for poking sauce out of narrow-necked bottles.” Baloney. That is a pipe tamper, as anyone who has ever smoked a pipe can attest to. The Romans did have glass, so they could have had bottles. But they didn’t have corks. I doubt very much that they had narrow necked bottles. No, that’s a pipe tamper. Which means the device is at least 1400 years younger than they think it is. Could it be an ear wax remover? Sure, but that would be quite odd; it would be the only personal hygiene tool on a multi-purpose eating implement. And the flat part probably wouldn’t be bent at right angles to the shaft if it was one.

   Posted by Drew458       11/17/2010  at  10:16 AM  



3. Drew, That’s what I originally thought re. the fork. And that was I do believe, introduced by the Italians. Wasn’t it? But it does look odd to me and I thought it could be a gag.
   I’ll try an follow up on that if I can. Might call the Telegraph tomorrow morning and find someone to talk to. Or might simply write a letter. 
   On the other hand ..... ??
   Pipe tamper? Isn’t that a stretch though? We haven’t any evidence of pipes in those times. Do we?

   Posted by peiper       11/17/2010  at  11:08 AM  



4. Not unless they were doing bong hits. Tobacco is a New World plant. There was no smoking prior to Columbus.

   It certainly looks like a pipe tamper to me. Much more than a tool to get the last bit of ketchup out of the bottle. What other use could it have?

   Posted by Drew458       11/17/2010  at  03:32 PM  



5. At only 15cm long it would have fitted easily into the pocket of a discerning diner ...

   question: did the Romans have pockets? 500 years after the fall of Rome, people kept their stuff in little bags tucked into their belts, or held on with string.

   Posted by Drew458       11/17/2010  at  03:36 PM  

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