Enter into the world of ancient wonders, where artifacts tell stories that history books often overlook.
These relics, ranging from ingenious tools to exquisite artworks, reveal the timeless ingenuity of humankind.
While ancient civilizations may seem distant, their creations echo through time, offering glimpses into their daily lives and remarkable achievements.
Whether you’re fascinated by the grandeur of Egyptian pyramids or the resourcefulness of Mesopotamian craftsmen, these artifacts provide a window into the past.
From 3.3 million-year-old stone tools in Kenya to the opulent tombs of ancient Egypt, each artifact is a silent witness to a bygone era.
These objects, shaped by human hands and minds, offer clues to ancient cultures’ customs, beliefs, and daily routines.
More than mere objects, these artifacts are gateways to the past, allowing us to connect with ancient peoples in ways that written records cannot match.
Join us on a journey to uncover some of the most intriguing ancient artifacts from around the world.
Ancient game from Mohenjo Daro, Indus Valley, 2600 BC.
Often referred to as “the world’s first computer,” the 2,000-year-old Antikythera mechanism was a remarkable tool used in astronomy, demonstrating the advanced knowledge and technology of ancient civilizations.
The Antikythera mechanism is an Ancient Greek hand-powered orrery (model of the Solar System), described as the oldest known example of an analog computer used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance.
It could also be used to track the four-year cycle of athletic games similar to an Olympiad, the cycle of the ancient Olympic Games.
This artifact was among wreckage retrieved from a shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island Antikythera in 1901. In 1902, it was identified by archaeologist Valerios Stais as containing a gear.
The device, housed in the remains of a wooden-framed case of (uncertain) overall size 34 cm × 18 cm × 9 cm (13.4 in × 7.1 in × 3.5 in), was found as one lump, later separated into three main fragments which are now divided into 82 separate fragments after conservation efforts.
Four of these fragments contain gears, while inscriptions are found on many others. The largest gear is about 13 cm (5 in) in diameter and originally had 223 teeth.
The world’s oldest cosmetic face cream, dating back 2,000 years to ancient Roman times, still bears the finger marks of its ancient users on the lid, offering a fascinating glimpse into ancient beauty practices.
The Baghdad Battery is a 5.5-inch clay vessel containing a copper cylinder held in place by asphalt. Inside the cylinder was an oxidized iron rod, leading scientists to speculate that it may have functioned as a battery. Believed to be around 2,000 years old, it was discovered in Khujut Rabu, outside of Baghdad.
Ancient Romans employed tourniquets to manage bleeding, particularly during surgical procedures such as amputations. This bronze example was specifically designed for use on the thigh.
The Lycurgus cup, an ancient Roman cage cup depicting the mythical King Lycurgus, is renowned for its unique property of changing color based on the light’s angle. This exceptional artifact, the only complete Roman object of its kind, dates back to the 4th century A.D.
This 2,000-year-old sapphire ring is believed to have been owned by Caligula, the infamous ancient Roman emperor who ruled in 37 A.D. The portrait carved into the sapphire is believed to depict Caligula’s last wife, Caesonia.
This 3,500-year-old bronze cast and gold foil prosthetic hand has puzzled researchers. While it seems too small to have functioned as an actual prosthetic, the hand might have been part of a statue, mounted on a stick like a scepter, or worn as part of a ritual. It was discovered in 2017 near Lake Biel in Bern, Switzerland.
The Oseberg ship is a highly decorated Viking vessel crafted from oak, designed for both sailing and rowing. It was constructed in Norway around the year 820.
The Oseberg ship is a well-preserved Viking ship discovered in a large burial mound at the Oseberg farm near Tønsberg in Vestfold county, Norway.
This ship is commonly acknowledged to be among the finest artifacts to have survived from the Viking Age. The ship and some of its contents are displayed at the Viking Ship Museum at Bygdøy on the western side of Oslo, Norway.
Excavation of the ship from the Oseberg burial mound was undertaken by Swedish archaeologist Gabriel Gustafson and Norwegian archaeologist Haakon Shetelig in 1904–1905.
The grave also contained two female human skeletons as well as a considerable number of grave goods.
Scientific dating of the ship suggests it was buried no earlier than 834, although certain parts of its structure date from as early as 800, while other parts may be even older.
This bronze incense burner from southwestern Arabia consists of a short cylindrical cup set on a conical support base. It likely held Frankincense and myrrh, gum resins that were widely valued in the ancient world in the use of incense, perfumes, cosmetics, and medicines.
A carved funerary boat model depicting rowers, dating back to circa 1981 to 1975 B.C. from the Egyptian Middle Kingdom, is a striking example of ancient artistry. This detailed model, crafted from wood, paint, plaster, linen twine, and cloth, is larger than one might imagine, measuring approximately 53 inches long and 21 inches tall.
A horse blinker (also known as blinders) carved in relief with a seated sphinx, dating back to circa 8th century B.C. from Mesopotamia. Elaborate horse trappings like this were sometimes crafted from ivory and often represented on Assyrian reliefs.
Corinthian helmet from the Battle of Marathon with the wearer’s skull still inside. From 490 B.C., found in 1834 in Greece.
This remarkable Corinthian-style helmet from the Battle of Marathon was reputedly found in 1834 with a human skull still inside.
It now forms part of the Royal Ontario Museum’s collections, but originally it was discovered by George Nugent-Grenville, who was the British High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands between 1832-35.
The oldest known liquid Roman wine, dating back to the 4th century A.D., was discovered in a 1.5-liter bottle in the tomb of a Roman nobleman in present-day Germany. Remarkably, the wine was still in liquid form due to the addition of olive oil and a wax seal, offering a tantalizing glimpse into ancient Roman winemaking and preservation techniques.
The “Fasting Siddhartha” sculpture, also known as The Fasting Buddha, was unearthed in the Gandhara region of present-day Pakistan. Dating back to the 2nd century B.C., this statue is regarded not only as the finest example of Gandhara Art but also as one of the rarest antiquities from the ancient world.
Four young dogs huddled together, carved in marble. From the House of the Faun, Rome, 1st century B.C.
Intricately detailed 2,000-year-old glass portraiture mosaics were recently uncovered in the ancient city of Zeugma, located in present-day Turkey.
The seal to King Tut’s shrine. The Boy King was buried in a series of four sarcophagi, which were kept inside a series of five shrines. This seal (on the second shrine door) remained intact for 3,245 years — until Egyptologist Howard Carter opened it in the early 1920s. More information here.
Aerial photograph of one of the Nazca lines, Peru.
The Nazca Lines are a group of geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru.
They were created between 500 BC and 500 AD by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving different-colored dirt exposed.
There are two major phases of the Nazca lines, Paracas phase, from 400 to 200 BC, and Nazca phase, from 200 BC to 500 AD.
In the years leading up to 2020, between 80 and 100 new figures had been found with the use of drones, and archaeologists believe that there are more to be found.
A Neo-Assyrian amethyst vase, dating back to circa 8th century B.C., Mesopotamia. These were usually put into stands, hence the rounded bottom.
This Roman folding stool, originating from the Eastern Empire and dating back to the 2nd century A.D., serves as a testament to the timeless appeal of simple and classic design.
This 2,000-year-old Roman dagger found by a teenage archaeologist in Germany was originally so corroded that it looked like a breaded chicken finger. Months of sandblasting revealed the beautifully crafted dagger, sheath, and belt.
Archaeologists in South Africa unearthed a collection of 100,000-year-old abalone shells, bones, and stones, which were utilized as toolkits for producing an ocher-based compound, possibly for paint or glue. This discovery represents the earliest evidence of humans creating such a complex compound, as well as the earliest evidence of humans utilizing containers.
A twenty-sided die with faces inscribed with Greek letters. Nothing specific about their use is preserved, but researchers think they were used for games or possibly divination — seeking advice about the unknown from supernatural forces. Dated back to 2nd century B.C. – 4th century A.D.
This ancient Babylonian cuneiform tablet, sent to the merchant Ea-Nasir, is a fascinating glimpse into early commerce. The letter, dating back to 1750 B.C., expresses a complaint about the delivery of the wrong grade of copper, making it possibly the oldest known customer complaint letter.
A 2,300-year-old Scythian woman’s boot was found preserved in the frozen ground of the Altai Mountains.
In ancient buildings inside Pompeii, inscriptions equivalent to electoral slogans have been preserved. This one encourages us to vote for Helvius Sabinus for public office. Circa 600 B.C.- 79 A.D.
The Ubaidian culture, a prehistoric civilization in Mesopotamia, thrived between 4500 and 4000 B.C. Recent excavations at the Al Ubaid archaeological site have revealed a fascinating array of artifacts dating back 7,000 years. These artifacts depict humanoid figures with lizard-like characteristics, although their exact meaning or significance remains a mystery.
This seemingly unremarkable Czech wooden water well, despite its weathered appearance, has a remarkable secret. Through tree-ring dating, researchers have determined that the oak used to construct it is an astounding 7,275 years old. If confirmed, this would make it the oldest known wooden structure in the world using this dating method.
A newly restored Hittite jug suggests that the ancient Turkish and Syrian people weren’t just grim-faced warriors. This 3,700-year-old ceramic jug has what is believed to be a smiley face painted on it. “The smiling face is undoubtedly there. There are no other traces of painting on the flask,” Nicolo Marchetti, an archaeology professor at the University of Bologna in Italy, said. “As for the interpretation, you may certainly choose your own.”
Carved out of mammoth ivory, this 40,000-year-old figurine clearly represents a woman with ballooning breasts and elaborately carved genitalia. The head, arms, and legs are merely suggested.
The Sword of Goujian, found in 1965, Hubei, China. This sword is mainly made of bronze with blue crystals and turquoise decoration. From the period 771–403 B.C.
The Rosetta Stone is a tablet of black rock discovered in Egypt in 1799. It is inscribed with a decree written in 196 B.C. using ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, Demotic scripts, and ancient Greek.
The Rosetta Stone is a stele of granodiorite inscribed with three versions of a decree issued in 196 BC during the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt, on behalf of King Ptolemy V Epiphanes.
The top and middle texts are in Ancient Egyptian using hieroglyphic and Demotic scripts, respectively, while the bottom is in Ancient Greek.
The decree has only minor differences across the three versions, making the Rosetta Stone key to deciphering the Egyptian scripts.
The stone was carved during the Hellenistic period and is believed to have originally been displayed within a temple, possibly at Sais.
It was found there in July 1799 by French officer Pierre-François Bouchard during the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt.
It was the first Ancient Egyptian bilingual text recovered in modern times, and it aroused widespread public interest with its potential to decipher this previously untranslated hieroglyphic script.
Jean-François Champollion announced the transliteration of the Egyptian scripts in Paris in 1822; it took longer still before scholars were able to read Ancient Egyptian inscriptions and literature confidently.
In 1974, Chinese workers digging a well stumbled upon a remarkable find: thousands of life-size terracotta figures of an ancient army, poised for battle. This incredible discovery, now known as the Terracotta Army, is housed in three pits near the city of Xi’an in China’s Shaanxi province.
The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.
It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE with the purpose of protecting him in his afterlife.
The figures, dating from approximately the late 200s BCE, were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong County, outside Xi’an, Shaanxi, China.
The figures vary in height according to their rank, the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses.
Estimates from 2007 were that the three pits containing the Terracotta Army hold more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which remain in situ in the pits near Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum.
This 10th-century Viking artifact, resembling the Hammer of Thor, provides compelling evidence of the deep influence of Norse mythology on Viking jewelry. To dispel any uncertainty about its symbolic significance, another pendant bearing a striking resemblance was discovered, complete with a runic inscription that translates to “This is a hammer.”
This Gallo-Roman bronze statuette, discovered in Picardy, France, portrays Priapus, the minor god of fertility and protector of gardens. The sculpture, dating back to the 1st century A.D., is composed of two parts, with one layer featuring a prominent phallus, symbolizing Priapus’s role in fertility rites.
A standing ballplayer ceramic statue from the 1st century B.C.– 3rd century A.D. Found in Mexico.
This 2,000-year-old shoe, discovered in a well at the Saalburg ancient Roman fort in Germany, reveals an intricately designed style that was remarkably fashionable for its time.
(Photo credit: Met Museum / Wikimedia Commons / Flickr / Pinterest / Britannica).
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