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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Esther Addley

British Museum reveals bumper haul of treasures found by the public

A composite image showing the carved bone rosary bead featuring a face on one (left) side and a skull on the other (right)
The carved bone rosary bead found beside the Thames in London with a face on one side and a skull on the other. Composite: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Caroline Nunneley was mudlarking along the shore of the Thames in London – inching on her hands and knees while scanning the mud for archaeological finds – when she suddenly spotted a miniature human skull looking up at her.

She picked up the small, exquisitely carved object and showed it to a friend. “We turned it over and we went: ‘Whoa.’ Because we hadn’t realised that there was a face on the other side.”

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