Archaeologists have discovered an extinct species of animal in a Roman amulet in what's been dubbed a "world-first" find.
While digging through an ancient Roman rubbish dump, researchers found a 250 million-year-old trilobite fossil which had been turned into jewellery by ancient Romans.
The 2,000-year-old discovery at A Cibda de Armea in northwest Spain is the first ever trilobite found in a Roman artefact - and the third documented instance of prehistoric fossils being purposefully gathered by humans.
The marine arthropod had been extinct for millions of years before being fashioned into what researchers believe was an amulet.
Detailed analysis of the specimen revealed ancient jewellers had made deliberate alterations to the trilobite.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
|Artist's impressions of how the ancient Roman amulet may have looked
Seven facets were identified on its left and underside through microscopic study and high-contrast photography.
These modifications served to flatten the ancient arthropod, making it suitable to be turned into pendants or bracelets.
Researchers suggest it was probably set within precious metals like gold or silver.
Its reddish hue and fossilization in iron oxide suggest that the trilobite came from southern Spain - more than 430 kilometres from where it was found.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
|Its reddish hue and fossilization in iron oxide suggest that the trilobite came from southern Spain
These colours, common in trilobite fossils, may have made it more appealing to its ancient Roman wearers.
Trilobites inhabited ocean floors for nearly 270 million years before their extinction.
And researchers think that the Romans attributed supernatural qualities to their fossils, potentially viewing them as talismans with protective or mystical properties.
The trilobite was excavated alongside a bronze coin bearing Emperor Augustus's likeness, who ruled as Rome's first emperor from 27 BC to 14 AD.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
|The 2,000-year-old discovery at A Cibda de Armea (pictured) in northwest Spain is the first ever trilobite found in a Roman artefact
Augustus was an enthusiastic fossil collector, according to ancient historian Suetonius.
The emperor sourced specimens from Greece and personally conducted excavations on Capri, his private island retreat.
Augustus established what scholars consider among the earliest paleontological collections at his villa, where he exhibited remains of extinct creatures.
These specimens, now recognised as fossils, formed a primitive museum display which predated modern understanding of prehistoric life by nearly two millennia.