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Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ

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Ancient Technology

Dating back thousands of years are numerous examples of ancient technology that leave us awe-struck at the knowledge and wisdom held by people of our past. They were the result of incredible advances in engineering and innovation as new, powerful civilizations emerged and came to dominate the ancient world. These advances stimulated societies to adopt new ways of living and governance, as well as new ways of understanding their world. However, many ancient technology mysteries were forgotten, lost to the pages of history, only to be re-invented millennia later. Here we feature ancient technology history and dozens of amazing artifacts that reflect the brilliance of ancient minds.

Traditional Korean printing press. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Great Big Story.

The Hidden History of Korea's Printing Innovation (Video)

Situated just 30 miles northwest of Seoul, a narrative unfolds that underscores Korea's devotion to the written word. Even before Johannes Gutenberg introduced movable type to Europe in 1440 , Korea...
(a) Photograph of the cauldron and what is left today. (b) artistic reconstruction of the cauldron as it would have looked when in use. Source: Wilkin et al. / iScience

Savoring the Past: Bronze Age Cauldrons' Residues Unveil Caucasus Cuisine

An analysis of protein residues from the Caucasus region (the transcontinental region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea) from the Maykop period (3700-2900 BC), has revealed a menu of deer,...
Ceramic drainage pipe. Source: Yanpeng Cao./Nature

Archaeologists Find 4,000-Year-Old Ceramic Pipe Drainage System in China

A team of archaeologists from China who specialize in the study of ancient water management systems discovered the earliest ceramic pipe drainage system ever found on Chinese soil. This marvel of...
Dimitrios Katsikis pictured with one of his Greek armor creations. Credit: Dimitrios Karvountzis / Dimitrios Katsikis / Hellenic Armors.

Forging Forgotten Ancient Greek Armor (Video)

Dimitrios Katsikis, a self-taught master of the forgotten art of forging ancient Greek armor, is a time-keeper for the relics of yore. With his handcrafted tools and keen understanding of history, he...
An ancient automata replica, Switzerland. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Great Big Story.

Building Ancient Robot Automata in Switzerland (Video)

Dwelling in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland, François Junod has dedicated his life to crafting animated sculptures, or automata . His fascination with mechanics started during his childhood and grew...
Blacksmith forging weapon. Source: helivideo / Adobe Stock.

Bronze Age Blacksmithing: From Liquid Fire to Sword in Minutes (Video)

In a fascinating video, the BBC’s Neil Oliver skillfully recreates the ancient art of fashioning a Bronze Age sword , using techniques and materials identical to those employed by our ancestors. The...
Overview of the Mörigen arrowhead. Source: Thomas Schüpbach/Science Direct

Swiss Scientists Identify Bronze Age Iron Arrowhead Made from a Meteorite!

A team of scientists recently completed a study of prehistoric metal artifacts collected in Switzerland over the past couple of centuries, with a very clear purpose in mind. They were looking to see...
Glass artifacts are evidence of Iron Age glass production from Němčice, Czech Republic. Source: I. Čižmář/Antiquity Publications Ltd

2300-year-old Glass Workshop and Ritual Sanctuary Uncovered in Czech Republic!

Němčice in the Czech Republic was a seemingly inconspicuous place with a remarkable history. Now it holds the proud distinction of being the earliest and oldest glass workshop north of the Alps!...
The Hunt-Lenox Globe (Public Domain)

Here Be Dragons: Exploring the Hunt-Lenox Globe (Video)

The Hunt-Lenox globe is a remarkable historical artifact that holds a significant place in cartographic history. As the second-oldest surviving terrestrial globe , it offers invaluable insights into...
The ancient Chinese compass, one of the great inventions in history. Source: hong/Adobe Stock

How the Chinese Compass Revolutionized Navigation

We all know that the compass is an invaluable tool for navigation and orientation. Without it, we’d pretty much be “lost at sea”. That’s why it ranks as one of the most important inventions of...
The Siberian charioteer was discovered with a long metal rod with curved hooks on each end laying across the body’s waist area. Archaeologists believe this was once attached to a belt to help the charioteer tie the reins and free up their hands. Source: IAET SB RAS

3,000-Year-Old Grave of Charioteer Could Rewrite Siberian History

In the remote hinterlands of southern Siberia, Russian archaeologists recently unearthed something unprecedented. While performing excavations as part of a railway expansion project, they discovered...
Artistic reconstruction showing how throwing sticks like the Schöningen Spears would have been thrown.	Source: Benoit Clarys, Universität Tübingen/CC0

300,000-Year-Old Schöningen Spears Reveal Prehistoric Advanced Woodworking

Excavated in the 1990s, the legendary Schöningen spears from Germany, the oldest weapons in human history, have consistently provided fascinating insights into the behavior of our early human...
Antique Chinese matchlock gun. Source: W.Scott McGill / Adobe Stock.

From Matchlocks to Bolt-Actions: The Evolution of Firearms (Video)

The evolution of firearms technology from the 16th century to World War II witnessed significant advancements in design, efficiency, and firepower. One of the earliest firearms, the 16th-century...
Ancient helmet. Source: Lukas Juszczak / Adobe Stock.

The Art of Ancient Helmet Making (Video)

Ancient helmet making involved intricate craftsmanship. The Montefortino helmet , a Roman military helmet from the third century BC, consisted of a bowl shape, complemented by cheek pieces with...
Libraries of ancient wisdom that helped shape our understanding of the world. Source:  tilialucida/Adobe Stock

Halls of Ancient Wisdom: 7 Remarkable Ancient Libraries

Throughout history, some of the world’s most powerful rulers have acknowledged one simple fact, knowledge is power. This fact led them to build monumental testaments to the pursuit of knowledge and...
The rare Neolithic polishing stone which was discovered in Dorset. Source: Historic England

Rare 5,000-Year-Old Axe Polishing Stone Found in England

A “vanishingly rare” polishing stone called a polissoir has been uncovered by a team of volunteers in the Valley of Stones national nature reserve in Dorset, England. This extraordinary 5,000-year-...
Medieval armored gauntlets. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Tracing the Evolution of Armored Gauntlets (Video)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Armor Conservation Lab houses an intriguing collection of armored gauntlets . Among them is an early 16th-century German mitten-style gauntlet, impressively weighty...
HMS Victory in a storm. Source: Josephine / Adobe Stock.

How an 18th Century Sailing Battleship Worked (Video)

An 18th-century sailing battleship like Lord Nelson’s HMS Victory was a marvel of naval engineering , representing the pinnacle of naval warfare technology during that era. At its core was a robust...
Image of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, representation of how it would have appeared. Source: Civilization. Wiki /CC BY-SA )

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus: What Made the First Mausoleum a Wonder?

The word mausoleum is nowadays defined as “a special building made to hold the dead body of an important person or the deceased bodies of a family”. This word is derived from the name Mausolus, for...
Schöningen Spears. Source: Forschungs Museum Schoningen.

The Schöningen Spears: The Oldest Weapons in Human History (Video)

The Schöningen Spears , excavated in Germany in the 1990s, provide remarkable insights into the lives of Neanderthals, challenging the notion of them being unintelligent scavengers. These wooden...
Ancient hunting bow. Source: serikbaib / Adobe Stock.

How to Make a Neolithic Longbow (Video)

In this YouTube video, the host takes viewers on a journey to create an English longbow using primitive technology. Starting with a big chunk of flint, the host carefully chips off a tool to craft...
The largest giant handaxe found at the Maritime Academy School site in Frindsbury, Kent, UK.	Source: Ingrey et al/Internet Archaeology

Giant Handaxes Are Among Largest Prehistoric Stone Tools Ever Unearthed in Britain

Researchers from the UCL Institute of Archaeology have discovered some of the largest ever prehistoric stone tools unearthed in Britain. A thorough excavation conducted in Kent unveiled ancient...
Basket weaving. Source: pinzonoob / Adobe Stock.

Early Humans Were Weaving Baskets in the Philippines 40,000 Years Ago!

Recent examination of ancient stone tools reveals that as early as 40,000 years ago, the early inhabitants of the Philippines were crafting ropes and baskets from plant fibers. This discovery pushes...
Stone armor from the tomb of Qin Shi Huang. Source: CC BY 2.0

2,200-Year-Old Stone Armor Reveals Qin Shi Huang's Legacy

Excavations in 1998 and 2019 unearthed hoards of ancient stone armor in and around the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, offering insights into the emperor's military achievements and life. Now, a new...

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