Swedish scientists have found a huge penis-shaped stone structure that they believe may have been used for sacrificial fertility rituals. The 21-inch stone penis is said to have been associated with the bronze age. Discovered in during an excavation in Rollsbo near Gothenburg, the giant stone penis was later linked to a fertility cult. The scientists believe that phallic stones aren't an unusual thing to find during excavations, however, to find something so closely resembling a real penis is rare. The experts initially believed that it has something to do with a graveyard but since they found animal bones and stones along with the stone phallus, they dropped the theory. However, the evidence hints that animals may have been slaughtered there as part of a fertility ritual. The researchers believe it may have been a sacrificial site from the later part of the Bronze Age, between 1800 and 500 BC.

Talking about the unusual find, archaeologist Gisela Ängeby told a local paper: "It has a distinct phallus shape. I thought when I came across it that 'oh my god it can't be true.' I showed the picture to colleagues and there is no discussion, it has a very penis-like shape." She further said: "I believe that in connection with the erection, it was used to offer sacrifices, for example within the framework of a fertility cult," as per Daily Mail.

Earlier this year, a human skeleton dating back to about 5000-years ago in the Harappan civilization was found in Dholavira, India. The massive burial site with more than 250 graves was located about 360 km in Kutch district of Gujarat. On excavating 26 graves, the team found a human skeleton.

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Last year, some archaeologists made a horrific discovery of skulls, which they believed to be of child sacrifice victims, at the foot of an ancient Aztec temple in Mexico. The startling discovery of the victims' remains was made at the site of the Temple Mayor in the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, which is now the centre of the Mexican capital, Mexico City.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2019 01:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).