They may not have had the internet, but medieval people still liked to tell a joke – as the discovery of what archaeologists are calling the historic “meme” found in northern England suggests.
A “peculiar and unique” montage depicting a man emerging from a snail’s shell on the back of a goat was discovered in a field in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, last year.
Memes have become part of everyday life in the 21st century, as people around the world share pictures, videos or other fun or entertaining items online – especially through social media.
The artifact shows a knight wearing a Norman-style helmet with a long-sleeved tunic. He has one leg thrown forward, suggesting that he is coming out of the shell. His hands are joined as if in prayer, which implies religious overtones.
Armed knights fighting snails are common in manuscripts from that period, according to the museum. Snails were often used to symbolize cowardice with the victory of a knight suggesting a victory of good over evil.
These tongs were part of a collection of products from the Iron Age that are believed to be from a cremation cemetery. Credit: The British Museum
But that theory does not explain “the most comical fusion of the snail and man mount”, experts say.
“This may suggest that the original meaning of ‘good versus evil’ has changed to satirical overtones, a cultural phenomenon that means that we can see this montage as an old meme,” the museum said in a press release on Monday.
“The image of the knight praying emerging from a snail shell on top of a goat implies an element of parody or satire,” said Beverley Nenk, curator of the museum’s Late Middle Age Collections, in the statement.
“The mount can be a satirical reference to the cowardly or non-chivalrous behavior of opponents in battle, or as a parody of the upper or chivalrous classes. As such, it demonstrates the humor often found in medieval material culture,” added Nenk.
The silver holder, which measures 21.7 mm long and 16.8 mm wide, could have been used as an emblem or elsewhere on the owner’s clothing.
Among the other discoveries was a medieval gold seal matrix with a Roman engraving engraved with an elephant. Credit: Norfolk City Council
It features 1,094 examples of treasures reported in 2018, consisting of more than 20,906 individual artifacts – 96% of which were discovered by metal detectors.
Among the other findings detailed in the report are Iron Age goods, including an unusually decorated mirror and pincer, a Bronze Age treasure with an unusual foil and bracelet, and a medieval seal matrix depicting an elephant.
The findings detailed in the report are to be acquired by museums across Britain, many close to where they were found.