Oh, this is just so satisfying; a mystery I’ve been reading about for years — I’d personally come down on the side of extremely advanced Roman adult implement — solved. I’m sure there’s some academics and some alien enthusiasts that will dispute this for, likely, decades, but once I saw the progressive shrinking of diameter they had me convinced.
I don't think that anyone before, in or after Roman times would run gold wire like that through the holes. Why scratch up the work? Why abrade away gold flakes? Is there gold residue on the artifacts? It would've been noted.
And, on this day, I needed a win, cheers!