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.

Sketch of Medieval shield and throwing darts. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Tod’s Workshop.

12 September, 2023 - 01:58 Robbie Mitchell

Strange Medieval Weapons: Throwing Darts (Video)

In this fascinating exploration of unconventional medieval weaponry , we delve into a unique find: a shield adorned with throwing darts. These weapons, as Tod from YouTube’s Tod's Workshop and Matt...

Medieval toilet. Source: Mikhail / Adobe Stock.

10 September, 2023 - 17:02 Robbie Mitchell

From Pits to Flushes: The Strange History of Toilets (Video)

Throughout history, human waste disposal has undergone a remarkable transformation. In ancient India, as early as 2500 BC, the Indus Valley showcased a rudimentary toilet and sewer system that was...

The reconstructed Sweet Track is a walkway aged 5830 years, situated in England's Somerset Levels. Source: International Journal of Heritage Studies/CC BY 4.0

10 September, 2023 - 14:46 Aleksa Vučković

Sweet Track, a 6,000-year-old Testament of Prehistoric Ingenuity

Ancient history, before the major civilizations emerged, is a world full of secrets and hidden knowledge. People often have a skewed view of these periods of humanity, thinking that the people of the...

Spiked versions of long-handled peasant flails. From Paulus Hector Mair's combat manual ‘Arte De Athletica’. Public Domain

8 September, 2023 - 17:04 Robbie Mitchell

Deadly Medieval Weapons: The Spiked Flail (Video)

The spiked flail, one of the more unconventional medieval weapons , boasts a unique design with a swinging head attached to a handle. Historical accounts place its use primarily between the 14th and...

Mysterious copper “cauldron” is now believed to be a 17th-century diving bell Source: Melvin Fisher Abt

7 September, 2023 - 22:53 ashley cowie

Unidentified Object Off U.S. Coast: A 17th-Century Submersible?

For centuries, an unidentified disc-shaped object recovered off the Florida coast was presumed to be a 17th-century cauldron. Now, it appears that experts may have finally discovered its true nature...

Archaeologists Oriya Amichay and Hagay Hamer removing one of the Roman swords from the crevice where they were hidden. Source: Amir Ganor/Israel Antiquities Authority

6 September, 2023 - 22:55 Gary Manners

Four 1,900-Year-Old Roman Swords Found in Dead Sea Cave

Archaeologists working with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) have uncovered a remarkable cache in the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea: four Roman swords in "almost perfect condition," believed...

Medieval archer. Source: HN Works / Adobe Stock.

5 September, 2023 - 16:31 Robbie Mitchell

How a Medieval Archer Could Take Down an Armored Knight (Video)

Medieval archers faced a daunting challenge when attempting to defeat knights clad in full plate armor . They turned to a combination of weaponry, strategy, and ingenuity to surmount this formidable...

Medieval arrow fletchings. Source: David Pimborough / Adobe Stock.

2 September, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

The Exceptional Craftmanship Behind Medieval Arrows (Video)

Discovering the craftsmanship behind medieval arrows is a journey into the precision and dedication of ancient fletchers and arrow smiths. These arrows , such as the one modeled after a 1545 Mary...

King Henry V arrow removal surgery recreation. Source: YouTube Screenshot / thehistorysquad.

2 September, 2023 - 02:00 Robbie Mitchell

Recreating Henry V’s Gruesome Arrow Removal Surgery (Video)

Revisiting history, we're drawn to a pivotal moment in Henry V's life. Amidst the chaos of the 1403 Battle of Shrewsbury, a fateful arrow struck the young royal. The arrowhead found its mark...

Harput Castle, Elazig, Turkey. Source: CC BY-SA 3.0

29 August, 2023 - 14:53 Gary Manners

2500-Year-Old Technology and an Ancient Kitchen Unearthed at Harput Castle

Harput Castle has long stood as an emblem of Anatolia's rich tapestry of history. A gem nestled in Turkey's landscape, its enigmatic walls and remnants have many tales to tell, and recent excavations...

Forbes pigment collection. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Great Big Story.

22 August, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

Forbes Pigment Collection: The World's Rarest and Most Ancient Colors (Video)

Amid the vast palette of colors that grace our world, some hues have more intriguing origins than others. Nestled within Harvard University lies the Forbes pigment collection, a treasury of...

Scythian gold plaque depicting a Scythian rider with a spear. Source: Public domain

20 August, 2023 - 14:53 Robbie Mitchell

Scythian Gold: The Rich Legacy of an Ancient Culture

Scythian gold is a treasure trove of ancient history and cultural heritage, shrouded in mystery and awe. This remarkable collection of gold artifacts, jewelry and other precious items stands for the...

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

19 August, 2023 - 16:56 Robbie Mitchell

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

18 August, 2023 - 18:50 Sahir

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

14 August, 2023 - 22:56 Nathan Falde

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.

8 August, 2023 - 16:58 Joanna Gillan

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.

7 August, 2023 - 16:55 Joanna Gillan

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.

4 August, 2023 - 20:55 Robbie Mitchell

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

1 August, 2023 - 14:59 Nathan Falde

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

25 July, 2023 - 14:54 Sahir

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)

23 July, 2023 - 20:56 Robbie Mitchell

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

23 July, 2023 - 19:00 Aleksa Vučković

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

20 July, 2023 - 14:59 Nathan Falde

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

19 July, 2023 - 19:01 Sahir

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...

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