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Wemyss Casts returned
Two plaster casts of a boat carving in Jonathan’s Cave, east Wemyss, have been returned to Scotland after 90 years. Dated to 1st millennium BC, the original carving is possibly the earliest depiction of a boat in Scotland. The casts were created in 1934 by nautical archaeologist Harold Brindley and local architect George Deas using wet blotting paper supported in a wooden frame. Originally held at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and Burlington House in London, the two casts went on to be stored at the National Maritime Museum before being transferred to the Save Wemyss Ancient Caves Society.
London Zoo calls for 200 years of memories and memorabilia
London Zoo is counting down to its 200-year anniversary with a call-out for objects and memories spanning its history as part of the London cultural map. History Hive, a public appeal for oral histories and memorabilia, has been launched two years ahead of the bicentenary. The objects will come together in an exhibition in 2026 detailing the history of the Zoo through the public lens, alongside pieces from ZSL’s existing archive. Those who have contributed stories and objects will be invited to the exhibition’s launch. Submissions to ZSL’s History Hive can be made via http://www.zsl.org/historyhive.
Mysterious Roman object on display in Lincoln
The enigmatic Norton Disney dodecahedron can now be viewed in Lincoln Museum, where it was put on display as part of the city’s Festival of History last month. The strange metal object is estimated to be around 1,700 years old and was unearthed during amateur excavations in 2023, one of only 33 examples known from Britain. The purpose of these hollow dodecahedrons has eluded archaeologists, with no known examples attested to in Roman written or visual culture. The Norton Disney dodecahedron will be on display in Lincoln Museum until the end of August.
Text: Rebecca Preedy
