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

Pfyn culture flint tool: World's oldest known 'Swiss Army' knife
By Kristina Killgrove published
Over five millennia ago, Stone Age people in Central Europe crafted wooden handles for their stone tools.

Hohle Fels water bird: The oldest depiction of a bird in the world
By Kristina Killgrove published
This tiny bird sculpture was created 40,000 years ago by early humans in Europe who carved the key animals in their lives.

Tumaco-Tolita gold figurine: A 2,000-year-old statue with a 'fancy nose ornament' from a vanished South American culture
By Kristina Killgrove published
The Tumaco-Tolita people, who lived in an area rich in natural gold, crafted intricate and delicate metal objects until the group disappeared 1,500 years ago.

Mechanical Dog: A 'good boy' from ancient Egypt that has a red tongue and 'barks'
By Kristina Killgrove published
This small, carved dog epitomizes ancient Egyptians' love of pets.

Onfim's doodle: A 13th-century kid's self-portrait on horseback, slaying an enemy
By Kristina Killgrove published
More than 800 years ago, a Russian boy named Onfim sketched himself on his schoolwork.

Yup'ik masks: Carvings depicting distorted spirits' faces dreamed up by shamans in Alaska
By Kristina Killgrove published
These masks, known for their distortion and asymmetry, are one of the oldest kinds of art in southwest Alaska.

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.

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.
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