A Reddit user has sparked online debate after purchasing what she believes to be a 2,000-year-old Roman gladiator hand fragment from a Cancer Research UK charity shop for £35. The shopper, who posted under the title 'Charity shop find of the century,' shared images of the heavy marble piece, claiming it originated from the Thermal Baths of Caracalla in Rome, discovered in a well during the 1960s.
Details of the Purchase
The woman explained that the previous owner used the marble fragment as a doorstop and wanted to declutter. The shop manager knew the neighbor, who reportedly acquired the piece in the 1960s during small-scale archaeological excavations at the Baths of Caracalla. The buyer paid £35 for the item, which she described as a 'very heavy marble piece.'
Skepticism and Support
Reddit users were divided. One commented, 'I'm not sure about the authenticity... I'm just not sure it's worth £35.' Another bluntly stated, 'You bought a lump of marble with no provenance.' A third questioned, 'Who authenticated the thing? Anyone could attach a label with an odd description to anything.'
However, some defended the purchase. One user mused, 'The question is why would someone come up with something so specific... donating it to a charity shop with a random false story attached would be a weird thing to do.'
Buyer's Response
The purchaser acknowledged the skepticism, saying, 'Agreed - worst case scenario I've made a £35 donation to a lovely charity. Best case scenario - a very old piece to the bookshelf!' She later added, 'This is the thing, it's not been authenticated yet. But a strange story for someone to concoct to a charity shop for them to sell it for £35 quid after.' She plans to have the piece examined by an antiquarian out of curiosity.
According to the buyer, the shop manager confirmed the previous owner was a neighbor who obtained the piece in the 1960s when Rome conducted small-scale excavations at the Baths of Caracalla. 'I find this too specific to just be some made up story,' she concluded.
