Weird News: Mysterious Ceramic Heads from the UK

This archaeological discovery in Scotland has a strange feel to it. It doesn't take much to imagine the bulging-eyed masks as relics from an ancient Cthulhu cult, or tokens left behind by whimsical Pan. Their uncertain origin only adds to the curiosity. The shady mysteries of Britain's past are not just a boon to archaeologists, but the weird genre. Perhaps the next Arthur Machen is out there somewhere, being inspired by this very tidbit of weird ephemera?

-Grim Blogger

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"Mystery Over Ceramic Head Finds"

Archaeologists are trying to solve the riddle of three mysterious ceramic heads that have been uncovered in Edinburgh and Dumfriesshire.

A bodiless male head was found after St Margaret's Loch in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, was partially drained.

A smaller female head was later discovered on grassland in the nearby Spring gardens.

A third disembodied head said to resemble The Scream painting by Edvard Munch was then found near Dumfries.

The ceramic head with bulging eyes and a scar was found on the river bank close to the New Abbey Corn Mill.

An initial examination suggested it may have belonged to a puppet or toy and could be up to 300 years old.

Mason's yard

Historic Scotland experts believe that the male head found in Holyrood Park could be up to 200 years old and perhaps belonged to a garden statue at a large Edinburgh house.

Another theory is that the heavy statue, which may have taken two people to get it into the water, could have been an apprentice piece, possibly even having been created in a mason's yard at the castle.

The female head could be from a garden ornament.

The public are now being asked if they can solve the mystery of where the three heads came from.

Peter Yeoman, Historic Scotland senior archaeologist, said: "The male carving has distinctive rustic tooling and may be from a statue of a faun or similar mythical creature.

"But we don't know where it came from and are not yet certain of its age.

"While the style of the second carving is quite different, it is certainly an unusual coincidence for two stone heads to turn up in the park.

"If anyone has any ideas we would be fascinated to hear from them."