Astonishing artifacts: A glimpse into how people lived in the past

Latest about astonishing artifacts

Croesus stater: The 2,500-year-old coin that introduced the gold standard

By Kristina Killgrove published

These 2,500-year-old coins are the origin of our monetary system.

Archaeology
Close-up of a wooden diorama showing five human figurines. Two are facing away from the camera, and three face the camera. They are carrying sacks of grain.

Ancient Egyptian 'granary with scribes' diorama: A miniature workplace found buried in a tomb from the Middle Kingdom

By Kristina Killgrove published

A small, wooden diorama found in an ancient Egyptian tomb reflects the importance of grain in an agricultural society.

Ancient Egyptians
A carved piece of walrus bone in the shape of goggles with narrow slits at the eyes and incised decorations sits on a thin cylindrical stand against a grey background

Thule snow goggles: 1,000-year-old Arctic eyewear carved from walrus tusks

By Kristina Killgrove published

These carved snow goggles were a necessary accessory for Arctic existence centuries ago.

Archaeology
Ivory portrait head of a Stone Age woman against a black background

Dolní Věstonice Portrait Head: The oldest known human portrait in the world

By Kristina Killgrove published

A tiny head carved from mammoth ivory looks back at us from the Stone Age.

Archaeology
A colorful embroidered scene from the Bayeux Tapestry depicts the death of King Harold

Bayeux Tapestry: A 1,000-year-old embroidery depicting William the Conqueror's victory and King Harold's grisly death

By Kristina Killgrove published

A long roll of cloth embroidered with key scenes from British history is a unique medieval chronicle.

Archaeology
Reconstruction of an animal-themed headdress worn by a Mesolithic woman

Bad Dürrenberg headdress: An elaborate 9,000-year-old headpiece worn by a female shaman in Europe

By Kristina Killgrove published

A lavish 9,000-year-old grave in central Germany revealed the burial of a powerful female shaman.

Archaeology
Anthropomorphic light brown clay tablet shaped like a domino with circular depressions scattered across it

Doban-kun: A 'cute' human-shaped counting tool from prehistoric Japan

By Kristina Killgrove published

This anthropomorphic clay tablet was likely used in an ancient ritual by the Jōmon culture in Japan.

Archaeology
Six-frame animated gif of a small white marble statuette of a dwarf; his arms, legs, and part of his head are missing

Dancing dwarf: A 2,300-year-old ancient Egyptian statue of a godlike man with a muscular 6-pack

By Kristina Killgrove published

This marble statuette is emblematic of Ptolemaic-era art: a mishmash of styles with a decidedly Egyptian twist.

Ancient Egyptians
A fragmented wooden tablet with Latin writing on it in charcoal ink on display against a neutral background

2,000-year-old RSVP: A birthday invitation from the Roman frontier that has the earliest known Latin written by a woman

By Kristina Killgrove published

This wafer-thin wooden tablet from a first-century Roman fort in the U.K. includes a heartfelt birthday party invitation.

Archaeology
Two people look at an ancient wooden lyre on display at a museum

Queen Puabi's lyre: A bull-headed music maker played for Mesopotamian royalty 4,500 years ago

By Kristina Killgrove published

A lyre in a treasure-laden royal tomb discovered in Mesopotamia is the earliest stringed instrument ever found.

Archaeology
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