What's this?

[zorkan]

https://www.popsci.com/science/ancient-mystery-object/

[zorkan]

Is it possible: https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=23312

[Dark Lightning]

It is an aid for knitting fingers for gloves.

[Recusant]

Used for an ancient precursor of Dungeons and Dragons, surely.

[Icarus]

 it is an errant space ship brought by tiny aliens who misplaced their balls.

In fact it is a superb piece of work by a highly skilled artisan. A bit too intricate for a sand cast mold. Probably a clay mold of some sort. The most difficult part of the mold was the cavities for the knobs. Aside from the method of production, the maker of the object knew more than a little about solid geometry and a helping of trig..

I spent a part of my professional life designing molds for various objects and various materials.  I'd have gotten a headache while doing that mold design work. 

Our casting/sculpting/artistic  Hermes might weigh in on the possible method that was used.

The object need not have a specific purpose. It could be an exercise in artful creation by a very clever person.     

[Dark Lightning]

That particular example in the link above is cast bronze. My wife has one that used nails for the knobs. The different size holes are for different size fingers.
Here is one in use-

[billy rubin]

yes!!!!

[Tank]

A pasta measure?

EDIT: They'll be some red faces in academia over that

[zorkan]

Skin massage tool perhaps.
Romans liked cleanliness.
Hold one side with fingers, then all over do it yourself body massage.
Might have been a big seller as many of these have been found.

[Tank]

Skin massage tool perhaps.
Romans liked cleanliness.
Hold one side with fingers, then all over do it yourself body massage.
Might have been a big seller as many of these have been found.

I think you missed the video like I did

[Recusant]

I don't think the "knitting tool" hypothesis is conclusive. Some of those dodecahedrons are only about 4 centimeters tall (1.5 inches). Seems unlikely that they were knitting gloves for infants (or toddlers for that matter). Some of them are made of stone and solid as well--would not work for the purpose. Then there are the smaller versions made of gold that were found in Asia.

Similarly enigmatic ancient objects: the carved stone balls from the British Isles.

[hermes2015]

I don't think the "knitting tool" hypothesis is conclusive. Some of those dodecahedrons are only about 4 centimeters tall (1.5 inches). Seems unlikely that they were knitting gloves for infants (or toddlers for that matter). Some of them are made of stone and solid as well--would not work for the purpose. Then there are the smaller versions made of gold that were found in Asia.

Similarly enigmatic ancient objects: the carved stone balls from the British Isles.

Thanks for the link; those stone balls are wonderful. They are quite inspiring and I shall look at more examples to use as seeds for my concrete spheres.

[hermes2015]

[Tank]

I don't think the "knitting tool" hypothesis is conclusive. Some of those dodecahedrons are only about 4 centimeters tall (1.5 inches). Seems unlikely that they were knitting gloves for infants (or toddlers for that matter). Some of them are made of stone and solid as well--would not work for the purpose. Then there are the smaller versions made of gold that were found in Asia.

Similarly enigmatic ancient objects: the carved stone balls from the British Isles.

Damn! Spoil sport!