Astonishing artifacts: A glimpse into how people lived in the past
Artifacts offer a window into the past, giving us information about people and cultures that existed centuries to millennia ago. From hoards of gold coins found hidden beneath floorboards to handmade pottery buried in caves, these intriguing objects are often the only physical evidence that remains. In some cases, the purpose or meaning of an artifact is lost to time, but its presence still reveals hints of what cultures valued or ritualized.
Each week, we showcase a different astonishing artifact that gives us new insight into how our ancestors lived.
Explore more amazing artifacts
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—32 haunting shipwrecks from the ancient world
—32 stunning centuries-old hoards unearthed by metal detectorists
Latest about astonishing artifacts
Pazyryk Swan: A 2,400-year-old plush swan from Siberia tied to the 'creation of the universe'
By Tom Metcalfe published
Archaeologists think the felt figurine was used as a symbol of life by the Iron Age people of the region.
Mask of Agamemnon: A gold death mask once thought to be evidence of the Trojan War
By Tom Metcalfe published
The archaeologist who discovered the mask believed it showed the Trojan War was real.
Phaistos Disk: 3,000-year-old inscriptions from Crete that have never been deciphered
By Tom Metcalfe published
None of the many interpretations of the Phaistos Disk's inscriptions are universally accepted.
Nabta Playa: A mysterious stone circle that may be the world's oldest astronomical observatory
By Tom Metcalfe published
Nabta Playa in Egypt is an ancient stone circle that researchers suspect was used to determine the summer solstice, which signaled rain was on the way.
Scythian on horseback: A 2,400-year-old gold sculpture of a warrior heading into battle
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
The Scythians were a nomadic group known for creating elaborate gilded artworks.
Cave of Swimmers: 9,000-year-old rock art of people swimming in what's now the arid Sahara
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
This series of paintings, found inside a cave in the Sahara, shows a pair of swimmers.
Jade burial suit: 2,000-year-old 'immortality' armor worn by Chinese royalty
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
The jade burial suit was made using thousands of pieces of jade held together with gold thread.
Babylonian Map of the World: The oldest known map of the ancient world
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
The ancient map offers a glimpse of how the Babylonians viewed the world thousands of years ago.
Ancient Egyptian head cones: Mysterious headgear that could be related to sensuality and fertility rituals
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Archaeologists remain uncertain about the purpose of these head cones, but it appears that ancient Egyptians associated them with "sensuality, sexuality and related notions."
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