One theory (albeit contested) is that they were used as a jig to knit gloves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76AvV601yJ0
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spool_knitting for pictures
It's the original 'Swiss Army' multi-tool created by Gallic blacksmiths (ordered by Negotiatores/Roman arms merchants for trade w/ Roman Auxiliary troop arms officers) for measurement/procurement/maintenance of Auxiliary troop, polearm weapon shafts.
https://www.quora.com/What-was-the-use-of-the-Roman-dodecahe...
Haven’t watched the video but the evidence for knitting in England under Roman rule certainly isn’t there. There were other methods to make knitting-like garments though so maybe this is explained in the video but I doubt that Romans knitted with this
Any Roman male would use only woven wool clothes. Thinner fabrics, like linen or expensive imported silk or cotton were normally used only by women. Men who used them were derided as effeminate.
Moreover, knitted wool is mostly suitable only for undergarments, as it does not offer enough protection against water and wind.
Knitting provided more comfortable clothing, but it was not a necessity. There is no surprise in its late development.
Felting and weaving (or both) are also quite old.
Interestingly, the spinning wheel isn’t: woven textiles produced in europe before the 13th century would have been produced with yarn or thread made on drop spindles: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spindle_(textiles), and anything spinning-wheel-esque probably developed no earlier than c. 200-1000 globally.
Their distribution (northern Europe - where you might need gloves). The knobs (to loop the wool round). The differing sizes of the holes (to fit fingers of different sizes).
To say that the functions of these is unknown is just lazy journalism.
I am sure if one of these had been handed to my late grandmother, who was a keen knitter, she would have recognised what it was for immediately.
- It is not known that that the Romans used knitted clothing. Knitting was invented later.
- Knitting can be done with cheaper, easier to craft tools that are just as effective. Knitting doesn’t explain the cost and skill required to craft the dodecahedrons.
- There is no wear on these dodecahedrons that we’d normally expect from a well-used tool.