Stinky ‘intact’ chicken egg from ROMAN Britain found in ancient ‘wishing well’
ARCHAEOLOGISTS accidentally released the world's oldest stinkbombs when they discovered four Ancient Roman chicken eggs.
Three of the eggs broke open and released a "potent stench" – but one remains perfectly preserved after being lost for 1,700 years.
It's believed that the intact egg is the only complete sample from Roman Britain.
The chicken's egg was found in a pit possibly used as an early "wishing well".
Archaeologist Edward Biddulph described the egg as a "genuinely unique discovery", speaking to the .
All four eggs were part of a "remarkable collection", including leather shoes, tools made from wood and a basket.
The discoveries were made in a pit at Berryfields, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Experts say that people threw objects into it for good luck "much like a wishing well" from the late 3rd century onwards.
"The pit was still waterlogged and this has preserved a remarkable collection of organic objects," Edward explained.
"Most extraordinary of all was a basketry tray, made of woven oak bands and willow rods, and four chickens' eggs."
Three of the eggs uncovered were so fragile that they broke, releasing a "potent stench of rotten egg".
But the fourth remained intact, and may be "the only complete Roman egg known in Britain".
The eggs and bread basket may have been food offerings thrown into the pit by Roman Britons.
Edward says this may have been part of a religious ceremony during a funeral procession.
The Romans in Britain
Here's everything you need to know...
The Roman Empire conquered vast swathes of Europe, West Asia and North Africa.
A Roman force of 40,000 led by Aulus Plautius landed in Kent and took the south east in 43 AD.
Key tribal leaders surrendered, and within three years Britain was declared part of the Roman Empire.
Londinium (London) was founded in 47 AD and became the country's capital. Networks of roads were built across the country.
Over time, the Britons began to adopt Roman customs, such as towns, animals, a new religion and ways of reading and counting. The Romans even gave us the word "Britain".
The Romans largely remained in the south of Britain, famously never managing to take Scotland from the country's violent Barbarian forces.
By 410 AD, the Empire was falling apart, and Roman rule ended in Britain when soldiers were recalled to Rome to protect other parts of it.
The Romans occupied Britain from 43 AD right through until the early 5th century.
Britons began to adopt Roman customs over time, and many of Britain's modern towns date back to Roman foundations.
The dig itself took place between 2007 and 2016, at a site bordering the Roman road of Akeman Street.
It's under the A41, near to the Roman town at Fleet Martson – since abandoned.
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In other news, a Roman chariot buried with two horses 1,700 years ago was found in Croatia.
These Ancient Roman street maps of Britain reveal what your town looked like 1,900 years ago.
And ancient rude graffiti carved into a Hadrian's Wall quarry has been unearthed 1,800 years after it was scrawled.
What do you make of this egg-cellent discovery? Let us know in the comments!
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