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Artifacts

There are undoubtedly millions of ancient artifacts from the past that have served to shed light on the lives of our ancestors from many millennia ago. But some ancient mystical artifacts stand out for their uniqueness, their intrigue, or their ability to expand our knowledge about previously unknown aspects of our history. Here we feature many such ancient history artifacts, from amazing examples of ancient technology, to artistic masterpieces, unexplained objects, ancient texts, and mysterious artifacts that shed light on the daily lives of our ancestors.

The meteorite that crashed through a car in Benld, Illinois. (GNU Free Documentation License).

The Tiny Meteorite That Crashed Through a Car (Video)

In a small town in Benld, Illinois , an extraordinary event took place on September 29th, 1938. Ed McCain made a fascinating discovery when he found a hole in the seat of his parked Pontiac. Assuming...
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 Colossal Statue of Avukana Buddha in Kekirawa, Sri Lanka. Source: homocosmicos/Adobe Stock

Avukana Buddha - Sri Lanka’s Most Important Buddhist Pilgrimage Site

Relics of Buddhism are always magnificent to behold. They dot the East Asian world, and are the testament to the devotion and ancient history of its peoples. One such relic is the magnificent statue...
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...
Illicitly traded cuneiform tablet seized by the US Department of Homeland Security HSI. Source: US Homeland Security Investigations/Antiquity Publications Ltd

Illicit Artifact Trading Falls From Top Three Dark Economies

For at least half a century it has been believed, and repeated, that the buying and selling of illegal artifacts was in the top three most illicit trades in the modern world. However, new research...
The Helmet of Henry VIII. Source: Geni / CC by SA 4.0.

The Legendary Helmet of King Henry VIII (Video)

The Horned Helmet of King Henry VIII is a truly enigmatic and iconic artifact that continues to intrigue historians and scholars alike. Crafted as a ceremonial gift of great status by the court...
The excavation site at Sem where the large Viking Longhouse has been detected. Source: Frank Rødberg / County Municipality

Remarkably Massive Viking Longhouse Discovered in Norway

While excavating near the ruins of a 17th century royal estate near the village of Sem in the Eiker district of southeastern Norway, archaeologists unearthed dozens of ancient postholes spread around...
Image 111 of On the Fabric of the Human Body by Andreas Vesalius (Library of Congress)

The Most Influential Medical Book of the 16th Century (Video)

In the 16th century, a groundbreaking medical book emerged, now revered as one of the most influential of its time. Andreas Vesalius's De humani corporis fabrica (‘On the Fabric of the Human Body’)...
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...
Gold sandals and toe covers discovered in King Tut’s tomb, part of “The Discovery of King Tut" exhibition in New York City. (Mary Harrsch / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 )

These Objects Reveal Intimate Details of Tutankhamun's Life (Video)

Renowned Egyptologist Professor Joanne Fletcher curated a captivating exhibition in Barnsley, exploring the life of the famous pharaoh Tutankhamun. The exhibition not only celebrated Tutankhamun's...
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...
Gates of Paradise. Baptistery of Saint John (1128). Florence. Source: dbrnjhrj/Adobe Stock

The Gates of Paradise in Florence - A Masterpiece of Renaissance Art

Florence, called by many the cradle of the Renaissance, is home to many architectural masterpieces that embody the artistic and intellectual glory of that era. Among these treasures, one stands out...
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-...
The Burton Agnes drum. Source: Chris Trebble / CC by SA 4.0.

The Burton Agnes Drum Changed our Understanding of Prehistoric Britain (Video)

The recent discovery of a 5,000-year-old chalk drum in the UK has transformed our understanding of prehistoric Britain . Unearthed during an excavation near Burton Agnes in East Yorkshire, the drum...
Location of bilingual inscription, which helped linguists crack the ancient Kushan language, in Tajikistan. Source: Bobomullo Bobomulloev / CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

2,000-Year-Old Unknown Kushan Language Is Finally Deciphered

Since the 1960s, archaeologists in Central Asia have found rocks carved with a mysterious unknown language. Now, a team from the University of Cologne has deciphered the unknown script, revealing it...
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...
Carved giant sloth bones indicate humans in South America. Source: ©Mirian Pacheco/The Royal Society Publishing

Historical Timeline Shook: Human Arrival in South America Pushed Back to 25,000 Years Ago

Human arrival in the Americas has a long-disputed timeline, and new evidence supports pushing back the date for human arrival in South America to at least 25,000 years ago. The evidence? Remains of...
Restoration work at Kulubà in Mexico, the Maya site where a sacrificial altar has now been uncovered. Source: Mauricio Marat / INAH

Chilling Maya Murder Tools Unearthed Near Kulubá Sacrificial Altar

Mexican archaeologists excavating in the central square of the ancient Maya city of Kulubá identified a curious cubic stone with all the hallmarks of having served as a sacrificial altar. Cementing...
Entrance to Te’omim Cave, or Twins cave, near Jerusalem which has produced evidence of a necromancy cult. Source: Yair Aronshtam/CC BY-SA 2.0

Human Skulls from Roman Necromancy Cult Found in Cave Near Jerusalem

In Te’omim Cave in the Jerusalem Hills of central Israel, excavations that took place between 2010 and 2016 recovered a huge collection of Roman oil lamps, weapons, pieces of pottery and actual human...
Representational image of gold coins in the ground. Source: QuietWord / Adobe Stock

Civil War Surprise as Kentucky Farmer Unearths Valuable Coin Hoard

A Kentucky farmer was digging in his corn field earlier this year when he discovered over 700 coins. About 95% of the unexpected stash dated back to the American Civil War. This chance finding of a...

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