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.

Antique Chinese matchlock gun. Source: W.Scott McGill / Adobe Stock.

19 July, 2023 - 01:50 Robbie Mitchell

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.

17 July, 2023 - 16:54 Robbie Mitchell

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

16 July, 2023 - 14:58 Robbie Mitchell

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

15 July, 2023 - 18:49 Sahir

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.

13 July, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

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.

10 July, 2023 - 20:57 Robbie Mitchell

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 )

10 July, 2023 - 14:55 dhwty

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.

9 July, 2023 - 20:54 Robbie Mitchell

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.

7 July, 2023 - 01:48 Joanna Gillan

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

6 July, 2023 - 14:59 Sahir

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.

3 July, 2023 - 14:52 Sahir

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

1 July, 2023 - 14:53 ashley cowie

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...

Left is the original photo of the Khafre statue; right is the photo cut in half and flipped. Source: Author provided.

28 June, 2023 - 18:51 Cliff Dunning

The Brilliance of ‘Pre-diluvian’ Sculpture - Cannot Be Hand Made!

I'm still digesting our recent tour to Egypt; the temple and the pyramids - just the atmosphere of the ancients was a lot to take in. Each time I visit, I’m stunned at the beauty, sophistication, and...

Teotihuacan, Mexico. Source: ARTURO / Adobe Stock.

27 June, 2023 - 20:50 Robbie Mitchell

Teotihuacán: The Ancient City Designed to Track Time (Video)

The enigmatic people of Teotihuacán in Mexico inhabited a city that prioritized timekeeping . This abandoned city, spanning 20 kilometers, offers insights into their unique approach to tracking time...

A samurai warrior with sword. Source: ImagineDesign / Adobe Stock.

24 June, 2023 - 01:57 Robbie Mitchell

Deadly Weapons of the Ancients: Unleashing History's Fury (Video)

Across the sands of time, the echoes of ancient warfare resound, revealing a captivating glimpse into the evolution of human conflict. In the realm of battle, the ingenuity of our ancestors gave...

Charles Hanson, the owner of Hansons Auctioneers, holding the 600-year-old medieval hand cannon. Source: Hansons Auctioneers

19 June, 2023 - 18:55 Sahir

Garden Rockery Decorative Piece Turns Out to Be Rare 600-Year-Old Hand Cannon!

A seemingly ordinary cannon purchased for a mere £20 ($25) from a flea market in Hertfordshire, England, and repurposed as a decorative piece for a garden rockery has turned out to be a valuable...

Khufu ship, Egypt. Source: Olaf Tausch / CC by SA 3.0.

17 June, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

Ancient Egypt's Colossal Super Ships (Video)

The ancient Egyptians were renowned for their impressive super ships, known as " sekhets ," or “solar barges”. These colossal vessels were remarkable feats of maritime engineering and played a...

A diver examines the wreck in Zambratija, Croatia. Source: Philippe Groscaux/AMU-CNRS

16 June, 2023 - 23:01 Joanna Gillan

The Oldest Hand-sewn Boat Wreck in the Mediterranean to Resurface

An ancient marvel is set to emerge from the depths of Croatia's waters in the Mediterranean. Meet the Zambratija boat, a remarkable testament to maritime history that has defied the ravages of time...

Perfectly preserved Bronze Age sword found in Nördlingen, Germany. Source: Dr. Woidich/Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments

16 June, 2023 - 14:57 Sahir

Exceptionally Preserved “Still Shining” Bronze Age Sword Unearthed in Bavaria

So well preserved “it almost still shines” is what archaeologists have termed the incredible find of a 3,000-year-old Bronze Age sword found in the town of Nördlingen, Bavaria in Germany. This...

Screenshot of recently discovered traditional waka canoe. Source: Screenshot/1 News

15 June, 2023 - 22:53 Nathan Falde

Delighted Maori Recover ‘Hidden’ Waka Canoe in New Zealand River

A long-abandoned waka , the traditional canoe of the Maori people, was recently discovered in the shallow waters of the Patea River in the Taranaki region of western New Zealand. Current estimates...

Bone ‘aerophones’ or flutes from Eynan-Mallaha. Source: Laurent Davin et al/ Nature

10 June, 2023 - 14:54 ashley cowie

Using These 12,000-Year-Old Flutes, Did Humans Speak With Raptors?

An archaeological site in Israel was excavated in the 1950’s, but somehow, a collection of 12,000-year-old bone flutes didn’t surface. Last year a team of researchers returned to excavate the site...

Roman soldier with hairless body, now found to be achieved using tweezers. Source: Gabi Moisa/Adobe Stock

1 June, 2023 - 14:51 Sahir

Caesars Loved Tweezers! Plucking Romans Were Obsessed With Hair Removal

More than 50 pairs of tweezers have been found at one of Roman Britain’s largest settlements, providing a link into the deep-rooted history of hair removal practices! Wroxeter City Shropshire is the...

Left, ancient alchemy painting. Right, The artifact known as the ‘Nanjing Belt’ seems to be proof of the existence of aluminum in early China. Source: Left; primopiano/Adobe Stock Right; Soul-guidance

31 May, 2023 - 14:53 Aleksa Vučković

The Enigma of the Nanjing Belt: How Could this Out of Place Artifact Exist?

Some important archaeological discoveries simply don’t fit the mold. Seeing the light of day after many centuries, they bring us so much confusion and redefine the modern narratives, leaving us...

Yanghai leather saddle upper side. (P. Wertmann et al, 2023/Archaeological Research in Asia)

27 May, 2023 - 14:56 ashley cowie

2,700-Year-Old Horse Saddle in Chinese Tomb May Be World’s Oldest!

Archaeologists in China have discovered a 2,700-year-old leather horse saddle. Not only is this maybe the oldest saddle ever discovered, but having been found in a woman’s tomb it contradicts...

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