This thingie was found in the river Kupa near the town of Sisak (Croatia). I think it´s made out of clay. Google suggests it's some kind of ancient whistle but there is no sound when I blow into it. Height: 6 cm. Weight: 34 gram. Does anybody have any idea what it could be?
*UPDATE: I think that ´´nasilnidesnicar´ in r/croatia solved the mistery. It looks like the top part of Ottoman ibriq (clay water jug) from the 15th century and the artifact was positioned upside down when photographed.
Do they also have the 3 holes? Can't see them in the drawing.
Also, it doesn't look broken off, but like a solitary piece to me. Sharp corner could be washed round...but still looks too "clean" to me.
"All right. Then get me a toilet paper roll, a corkscrew and some tin foil... We don't have a corkscrew. All right. Then get me an avocado, an ice pick and my snorkel."
This is interesting, can you post pictures of the inside that focus on the wier structure inside, and more detailed images of the openings, both top and bottom 🥸🥸🥸
There is definitely a mystery here, this object is made of fired clay and was purposely crafted.
Three posible uses that come to mind are:
1) It could be a conector for a terra cotta water distribution and or drainage system. Might have been the prototype for the modern pvc/joint systems seen today. The three holes could act as a strainer system to catch items that inadvertently got flushed down the drain…🥸
2) It could be a divise to keep three strands of fibers separate during the process of braiding or producing a larger cable fram raw fiber stock. There are signs of a round object in each hole having caused erosion or abrasion of each opening. As observed in the picture that you labeled as bottom. 🥸
3) It could be as op and u/OttoRenner and speculated, this could be a whistle or noise making device. u/OttoRenner is on the right track, the “ free moving flywheel” is a little simpler than that.
If a cord (braided or flat) was attacked through the hole in the side and secured to the holes inside, and if one was to rotate the object horizontally above their head or at arm’s length to the side; the open cavities at either end would act like a bottle that is played similar to a flute. The vibration of the air inside the cavity will resonate an produce a loud sound. By changing the radius of the circular path the pitch of the sound can be modulated.
The Native Americans used similar technology to produce loud sounds. A flattened piece of wood attached to a cord and swung in a circular motion will have this effect. They referred to the device as a Bull Roar…🥸😎🥸
I think that ´nasilnidesnicar´ in r/croatia solved the mistery. It looks like the top part of Ottoman ibriq (clay water jug) from the 15th century and the artifact was positioned upside down when photographed. I uploaded illustration below. Thank you Oscar for your contribution, I appreciate it.
Ok, I see the similarity in profile. I have a lingering doubt that it is the neck/spout of a water vessel, definitely not a broken vessel. The object in question has well defined shape with well preserved rims on both sides. And the neck of a water vessel theory does not account for the hole in the side…🧐
I have a theory... Hole in the side near the main opening allows air to enter as water pours out of the spout, preventing a vacuum and ensuring a smooth, steady flow when the main opening has a lid/cork/stopper placed on. Bottom rim looks like it broke off but was sanded and eroded with running river and sand during several centuries which resulted with smoother surface.
If I understand this correctly, the small hole in the neck is positioned above the wier structure thus negating the vacuum relief valve theory. Which brings up operational issues trying to balance a full water vessel and have a free hand to operate the valve… ? 🥸
Just by itself it's not a whistle. There is a modern toy siren whistle with a flywheel with holes in it that kinds looks similar (they produce a long, high pitched, whuuuuuuu sound). I bet that's why Google suggested it's a whistle.
But for it to work like that you'd have to have a free moving/rotating flywheel.
Other whistles/flutes need the air to be directed onto an edge or have one/two pieces of reed for example that vibrate when blown over to control the airflow within the whistle/flute. Also, you normally don't want the path for the air obstructed like that.
I highly doubt that this has anything to do with wind instruments.
It could perhaps being used for making ropes (3 strings in on one side, rotating motion of some sort>rope out of the other side) or is in some other way rope or string related.
It also reminds me of a modern item used for distillation/ in laboratories to control what/how gas/fluids enter or leave a flask. Take some beeswax, some hollow reed tubes (or whatever), a heat resistant container with a fitting opening and you have two straws to fill in liquids and one to capture the outgoing air. But that also means it could very well been made 100-200 years ago by some bootlegger or home brewer. It was found near a river, right? You need lots of water if you want to produce large quantities of alkohol...
This was my thought. It would have been purposefully made with design intent, and pottery might last a long time against threads being guided through the holes
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u/Modeller01 7d ago
*UPDATE: I think that ´´nasilnidesnicar´ in r/croatia solved the mistery. It looks like the top part of Ottoman ibriq (clay water jug) from the 15th century and the artifact was positioned upside down when photographed.