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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.

Childs gown found in the Cave of Letters, Israel. Source: Israel Antiquities Authority
6 October, 2023 - 22:56 ashley cowie

1,900-year-old Knot-Frilled Child’s Gown Discovered in Israel's Cave of Letters

The Cave of Letters in Israel has yielded many artifacts from the famous Bar Kokhba revolt, offering deep insights into Jewish history. Recently, a 1,900-year-old child's nightgown with intriguing "...
The King Arthur Tapestry. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
6 October, 2023 - 17:04 Robbie Mitchell

Watch the Restoration of the 500-Year-Old King Arthur Tapestry (Video)

Experts at The Met recently took on the task of revitalizing the King Arthur tapestry . Part of the “Nine Heroes Tapestries”, the King Arthur piece hadn’t been touched since it joined the Met’s...
Erechtheion with Original Paintwork Reconstruction. Source: Mark Cartwright / CC by NC-SA.
4 October, 2023 - 16:59 Robbie Mitchell

Why Ancient Marble Statues Aren’t Meant to Be Seen As “White” (Video)

In the world of classical art, a recent discussion emerged that thrust classicist Sarah Bond into unexpected controversy. Her focus? Ancient statues and the concept of "polychromy." Unlike the serene...
Electoral inscriptions have been found in an ancient house at Pompeii, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Source: Pompeii Sites
3 October, 2023 - 18:54 Sahir

Electoral Inscriptions Found in Pompeii Suggest Indoor Political Campaigning

Mount Vesuvius truly keeps on giving, historically speaking. A fresh round of excavations have revealed political graffiti and a fascinating array of election inscriptions along the Via de Nola, one...
Mayan codex with hieroglyphic alphabet script writing system, Mexico City, Mexico. Source: SL-Photography / Adobe Stock.
3 October, 2023 - 14:49 Joanna Gillan

9 Mysterious Undeciphered Codes and Inscriptions in History

From Neolithic tablets containing the oldest known system of writing, to a series of letters scrawled on the back of a dead man’s book, some of the most legendary undeciphered codes and texts remain...
Lapis lazuli cult image of the God Ptah. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
2 October, 2023 - 16:57 Robbie Mitchell

This Egyptian Statue Was Created to Hold the Spirit of a God (Video)

In ancient Egypt, amid the grandeur of pyramids , obelisks, and temples , there exists a small yet captivating marvel—an exquisite lapis lazuli statue designed not for burial but for divine...
Roman silver spoon and fork. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
1 October, 2023 - 16:59 Robbie Mitchell

This Roman Gadget Was Clearly Designed to Impress (Video)

In the realm of the Roman era, renowned for its grand architecture and sculptures, it's the everyday artifacts that resonate on a personal level. Amidst lavish dinner parties that characterized Roman...
Limestone bust from a Palmyrene funerary relief; double bust of man and his wife; she is veiled with the fillet; wears drop ear-rings and two long curls of hair; holds in left hand distaff and spindle; he wears a toga and holds a strip of writing material in his right hand; inscription; 2 ll. Inscription: OYIPIA ( ) OIBH () AIOCOYIIOC () KIMOC - Viria Phoebe and Gaius Vurus. Left: Bust of a noblewoman nicknamed "Beauty of Palmyra” Copenhagen, Denmark. Source: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany/CC BY-SA
1 October, 2023 - 14:57 Aleksa Vučković

Palmyra Busts - A Window into the Ancient Palmyra’s Customs

Throughout history, many ethnicities and civilizations were often distinguished by their funerary beliefs and burial customs. From the Egyptian pyramids to the Neolithic Passage tombs, burial always...
Detail of one of the Jelling Stones. Source: National Museum Denmark
29 September, 2023 - 22:52 Nathan Falde

Carvers of the Jelling Stones Identified by Danish Archaeologists

A new study has solved an intriguing historical mystery involving treasured Danish artifacts that are now more than 1,000 years old, having been made during Scandinavia’s Viking Age in the 10th...
The perfectly preserved bronze mirror found in a shallow grave alongside the Hellenistic escort. Source: Yoli Schwartz / Israel Antiquities Authority
29 September, 2023 - 14:51 ashley cowie

High-Class Hellenistic Escort Remains Found At Roadside

The body of a Greek Hellenistic woman has been discovered in a shallow grave beside the highway to Jerusalem. Laid to rest with a rare box mirror, this was no ordinary female, as she was a highly-...
Goa Stone in Gold Case. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
28 September, 2023 - 01:57 Robbie Mitchell

Why is This Gallstone in Such an Extravagant Case? (Video)

This ornate casing, currently held by the New York Met, holds a mysterious secret, a captivating enigma in the world of art. Crafted from solid 22-karat gold , it exudes opulence with its intricate...
Photo of the Frankish warrior's grave and his weapons. Source: City of Ingelheim (Christoph Bassler)
27 September, 2023 - 14:55 ancient-origins

‘Armed to the Teeth’ Frankish Warrior's Untouched Grave Found

In a discovery that has left historians and archaeologists astonished, a completely untouched grave from the Merovingian period was uncovered in Germany. Hidden among other graves that were plundered...
Head of Tutankhamun. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
27 September, 2023 - 02:00 Robbie Mitchell

Face of the Boy King: The Deeply Human Story Behind Tutankhamun's Head (Video)

This exquisite limestone sculpture, currently an exhibit at the New York Met, captures the youthful innocence of Tutankhamun , the boy king, at the tender age of six. Crafted with meticulous detail,...
Costume armor of German mercenary infantry troops. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
26 September, 2023 - 20:54 Robbie Mitchell

The Armor That Broke Away from All Established Standards (Video)

This exceptional piece of armor at the New York Met defies conventional expectations. Rather than a tool for battle, it takes on the role of ceremonial attire, drawing inspiration from the fashion...
A view of the The Dahshur necropolis in Egypt, from the Saqqara necropolis. Source: Blumesser/Adobe Stock
26 September, 2023 - 15:02 Khadija Tauseef

Exposing Egypt's Military Zone Protected Dahshur Necropolis

The cult of death played a crucial role in the history of ancient Egypt - they believed that their souls would continue to exist in the afterlife after they died. The concept of the afterlife was...
Filippo Negroli helmet. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
26 September, 2023 - 02:01 Robbie Mitchell

What Makes This Helmet a Masterpiece of Renaissance Metalwork? (Video)

This Renaissance helmet , currently an exhibit at the New York Met, serves as an intriguing example of metal craftsmanship. In the refined circles of the Renaissance, connoisseurs examined such...
Archaeologists discovering roman era makeup and jewelry at the Aizanoi archaeological site and, right, an example of the makeup. Source: Anadolu Agency
25 September, 2023 - 22:53 Sahir

2,000-Year-Old Roman Era Makeup & Jewelry Unearthed in Ancient City of Aizanoi

In the ancient city of Aizanoi, located in Turkey's Kutahya province, archaeologists have unearthed remnants of cosmetic products, which include jewelry items and makeup materials, dating back over 2...
Relief carving of Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II (r. ca. 883-859 BC). Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
25 September, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

Realism in Ancient Mesopotamian Relief Carvings (Video)

In the domain of ancient Mesopotamian art, the reliefs from Ashurnasirpal II's palace reign supreme. These monumental creations , though dispersed far and wide by Henry Austen Layard, possess a...
Medieval thief. Source: nyothep / Adobe Stock.
24 September, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

Thieves’ Cant: The Secret Language Used by History’s Criminals (Video)

For centuries, an enigmatic underworld thrived, its inhabitants conversing in a secret tongue that veiled their intentions. This clandestine dialect, known as thieves’ cant , existed from the 16th to...
Obelisk at Amun Temple, Karnak, Luxor. Source: Andrej / Adobe Stock.
24 September, 2023 - 14:55 Jacinto De La R...

How Did They Do it? New Insights on the Ancient Obelisk Transportation Mystery

In the golden sands of ancient Egypt, behemoth stone structures known as obelisks have stood the test of time, narrating tales of a civilization's grandeur and prowess. These magnificent structures...
Marble capital and finial in the form of a sphinx. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
23 September, 2023 - 19:14 Robbie Mitchell

Why is the Sphinx Considered a Guardian Figure? (Video)

The Sphinx , an intriguing creature with the body of a lioness, avian wings, and a serpentine tail, is most commonly associated with the Egyptians but could also be found in Greek mythology . In fact...
Tibetan horse saddle. Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
23 September, 2023 - 02:00 Robbie Mitchell

How This Ornate Saddle Reflects Traditional Tibetan Culture (Video)

This intricate saddle serves as a remarkable embodiment of traditional Tibetan culture , transcending the Western stereotype of Tibet as solely defined by Buddhism . Rooted in a rich historical...
Crossbow of Count Ulrich von Wurttemberg. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
22 September, 2023 - 16:54 Robbie Mitchell

Is the Hebrew Inscription on This Crossbow a Secret Code? (Video)

Art history resembles detective work , often concealing mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Among the array of crossbows at the New York Met, one stands out as truly exceptional. Its ivory panels bear...
Guédelon Castle, France. Source: Atlantis / Adobe Stock.
22 September, 2023 - 01:53 Robbie Mitchell

Building a Medieval Replica Castle Using Ancient Techniques (Video)

In the realm of modern carpentry , where power tools often reign supreme, Christophe, a skilled French-Canadian Carpenter, embarks on a unique challenge. He's part of a team constructing Guédelon...

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