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Other Artifacts

Other Artifacts covers many items which have been recovered from the past and give us insights into ancient human worlds. From loaded Roman dice to the Shroud of Turin, these items help tell the stories of the varied culture and everyday lives of our ancestors. 

Representative image of a round wooden shield similar to the Viking shields found at Gokstad. Source: Aleksandrs/Adobe Stock

Ceremonial Viking Shields Re-identified as Actual Battle-Worn Armor

A reexamination of 1,100-year-old wooden Viking shields excavated in Norway in 1880 have been used to assert that these round protective devices could very well have been used in hand-to-hand combat...
The oldest piece of tartan ever found in Scotland was created in the 16th century. Source: Alan Richardson / V&A Dundee

Peat Bog Yields Oldest Known Scottish Tartan Fabric

A thin but intact square of old fabric removed from a Highland peat bog four decades ago is likely the oldest tartan ever found in Scotland, a new battery of tests has revealed. It is estimated that...
Opening the Medieval Stone Coffin at Richard III Burial Site. Source: YouTube Screenshot / University of Leicester.

Opening the Medieval Stone Coffin at the Richard III Burial Site? (Video)

In 2012, archaeologists made a stunning discovery in a parking lot in Leicester, England - the remains of King Richard III , one of the most infamous and controversial figures in British history ...
Amazing African elephant with dust and sand and large ivory tusks. Source: byrdyak/Adobe Stock

Blood-Stained Ivory: The Dark History of the Trade in Elephant Tusks

The ivory trade is a story as old as human civilization, filled with tales of adventure, greed, and exploitation. For millennia, ivory has been prized for its beauty, rarity, and versatility, making...
Left, The Castle Eden Claw beaker, courtesy of the British Museum. Right, The atrium roof at Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum & Distillery. Source: Ad Gefrin

Ad Gefrin Museum: A Must-Visit Destination for History Buffs and Whisky Lovers

The little-known history of a Northumbrian Anglo-Saxon royal court is to be unveiled with the opening of Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery in Wooler, Northumberland, England on March...
Home owner Luke Budworth posing with the frescoes in York and the life-size reproduction produced by Historic England. Source: Luke Budworth

Kitchen Remodel Reveals Rare 400-Year-Old Frescoes in York

In what has been dubbed an “exciting discovery,” workers revamping a kitchen and installing new cabinets in York unexpectedly stumbled across 17th century frescoes on the walls. The home was owned by...
The flower mosaic at Horvat El-Bira being excavated. Source: Emil Algam/IAA

Restoration of Ancient Rest Stop with Mosaic To Host Travelers in Israel Again

Weary travelers have always needed a place to rest and recuperate, from the harsh conditions and terrains of the Silk Route, to the more plush comforts that accompany modern travel. In Israel, an...
Remains of the Roman mosaic discovered at Olney, England. Source: Oxford Archaeology

Roman Mosaic Discovered At Proposed Aldi Supermarket

Archaeologists in England have announced the remains of an ancient Roman villa and bath house buried beneath what will become a new supermarket. The rare mosaic brickwork was discovered in Warrington...
A close-up of one of the Nomoli figures at the British Museum. Source: John Atherton / CC BY-SA 2.0

Tracing the Unknown Origins of the Enigmatic Nomoli Figures

Legend has it that the people of Sierra Leone in Africa first uncovered hundreds of extraordinary stone figures while working their land or hunting for diamonds. Discovered underground or within...
Male figure, 14th-17th century and female figure, 13th-–15th century. Source: Sailko/CC BY 3.0 /Musée du quai Branly/CC BY-SA 3.0

Clay Wonders: The Handmade Figurines of Djenne-Djenno

Amidst the vast expanses of the Malian region, there once flourished a remarkable civilization. How do we know? The unique terracotta figurines of Djenne-Djenno give historians a glimpse into the...
Silver Coffin of Psusennes I, a.k.a. the Silver Pharaoh. Source: Aidan McRae Thomson / CC BY-SA 2.0

Psusennes: The Silver Pharaoh with Treasures to Rival Tutankhamun's

Amidst the chaos of the Second World War in Western Europe, a French archaeologist named Pierre Montet unearthed a stunning treasure in 1940 in Tanis, Egypt. The find was on par with the legendary...
Creation of Adam, fresco painted by Michelangelo (1475-1564), Sistine Chapel Ceiling (1508-1512) Rome, Vatican (Jörg Bittner Unna / CC by SA 3.0)

10 Great Mysteries Hidden in Famous Paintings (Video)

Art has always been a fascinating form of expression, not just for its aesthetic beauty but also for the hidden messages and secrets it holds. From the ghostly silhouette behind the man in The Old...
The complete Hoogwoud hoard: four gold pendants, two pieces of gold leaf and 39 silver medals. Source: © Archeology West-Friesland/Fleur Schinning

Medieval Hoard of Gold and Silver Unearthed in the Netherlands

An astonishing collection of gold and silver jewelry and coins, some of which are at least 1,000 years old, has just gone on display at the Rijksmuseum Van Oudheden (RMO) museum in the city of Leiden...
The Baby Buddha statue found in Shark Bay Australia.	Source: Finn Films

Ming Dynasty Baby Buddha Statue Questions Australian History

Two filmmakers detected a rare Ming Dynasty Buddha in Australia, which could “rewrite history.” Some thought it an elaborate hoax, but experts have now verified the honesty of the finders. Back in...
Two gladiators bear-baiting also depicted on the Colchester vase. (Carole Raddato / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Colchester Vase is First Proof of Gladiator Tournaments in Roman Britain

New research has revealed evidence that gladiatorial combat took place in Roman Britain in the late second century AD. The evidence of these bloody battles was found on a vase discovered in a Roman...
Detail of the Meroë head, now housed at the British Museum in London. Source: Paul Hudson / CC BY 2.0

Cracking the Mystery of the Decapitated Meroë Head

Sometimes, modern archaeology reveals something that simply baffles us. Whether it is an item with inexplicable origins, or an out of place artifact, archaeology and history combined often leave us...
Various photos of the statue of a man holding a large phallus. Source: Noonans

For Sale In Britain: A Small Ancient Man With A Colossal Penis

While metal detecting in a field, a British couple thought they found an ancient cart wheel piece, but it turned out to be a small human figure with a large bronze, hinged penis. Noonans auction...
The 3,500-year-old bone ice skate were discovered in Xinjiang in a high-society tomb. Source: Xinhua/ Global Times

Ancient Animal Bone Ice Skates Found in China’s “Birthplace of Skiing”

During a recent archaeological press conference in Xinjiang, known as the birthplace of skiing, experts announced the discovery of ice skates made of animal bone that are believed to be 3,500 years...
Stylized AI generated graphic of a Moai statue.         Source: artefacti/Adobe Stock

New Moai Statue Found on Chile’s Easter Island Excites Researchers

In the news last October for the damage inflicted by a forest fire over 100 hectares, Easter Island is now in the news again – for the discovery and addition of a new Moai statue on the Chilean...
The Bronze Age shoe, in situ where it was found on the river edge in Kent, England.    Source: Steve Tomlinson

Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old!

A man exploring along a riverbank in northern Kent recently discovered the oldest shoe ever found on United Kingdom soil. Carbon dating tests proved the decayed but still recognizable leather...
In Medieval burial ground, a rare embroidered Deisis depicting Jesus Christ was discovered. Source: Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Mongol-Era Christian Headdress Reveals A Complex Medieval Russia

Archaeologists in Russia have discovered a rare embroidered Deisis depicting Jesus Christ in a Christian medieval burial ground containing 46 graves from the Mongol period. One of the graves...
Left; Replica of the Koh-i-Noor diamond. Right; The Hope Diamond, one of the largest of all blue diamonds. Source: Left; Public Domain, Right; Public Domain

The Dark yet Glittering History of the Cursed Golconda Diamonds

The history of the Golconda diamonds is steeped in rich tradition and legend. Dating back to the 16th century, the region of Golconda, located in present-day Andhra Pradesh, India, was renowned for...
A crown from the Khmer Crown jewel collection that has been returned to Cambodia.	Source: Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts

Centuries-Old Stolen Khmer Jewel Collection Returned to Cambodia

A huge cache of stolen crown jewels dating back to Cambodia’s legendary Khmer (Angkorian) Empire resurfaced in London last summer, and have now been returned to Cambodia, the BBC has announced . Some...
The mussel shell arrowheads have been found together with shafts and lashings. The scale in the lower edge of the image is millimeters.	Source: Cultural History Museum

Curious Mussel Shell Arrowheads in Norway’s Mountains Confound Archaeologists

It’s not the first time archaeologists in Norway have discovered ancient arrows melting out of mountainsides. But it is the first time arrows made from mussel shells have been found. Another Treasure...

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