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#2

Built Between 1712 And 1732, The Long Room At Trinity College's Old Library Holds The Collection's 200,000 Oldest Books

Final score:

197points

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Angela B 2 months ago

*Pulls up comfy chair* Let's. Go.

81points

Archaeologists excavate areas in which ancient cultures lived and use the artifacts found there to learn about the past because many ancient cultures did not have a written language or did not actively record their history, so these finds sometimes provide the only clues about a particular group or site.

For example, artifacts have provided essential information about life in ancient Egypt. There, people believed in an afterlife and buried the dead with things they would need after they left their bodies behind.

As a result, the tombs of ancient Egypt provide a wealth of artifacts that give insight into the culture.

#3

Remains Of The Ancient Roman City Under The Modern Road In Verona, Close To Porta Leoni, Italy

Final score:

193points

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Will Cable 2 months ago

I love stuff like this.

91points

#4

An Ancient Mesolithic Amber Bear, From About 10,000 Years Ago, Washed Up On The Coast Of Fano In Denmark

Final score:

187points

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Auntriarch 2 months ago

That's lovely, I'm assuming it must have had even more detail before the sea got hold of it

67points

#5

The Oldest Known Mirror In The World Was Found In Anatolia, Turkey. Made Of Obsidian, (Volcanic Glass) It Has A Convex Surface And A Remarkably Good Optical Quality

Final score:

180points

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Piwakawaka 2 months ago

Approx 8000 years old. The description in the title is a general onez applied to all mirrors found in the area from this time period.

37points

The tomb of King Tut is perhaps the most famous. In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter came upon the tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun, more commonly known as King Tut.

His tomb had been undisturbed since he was buried around 1323 B.C.E. Murals on the wall of the tomb told of King Tut’s funeral and journey to the afterworld. The tomb also included more than 5,000 artifacts, including perfumes and oils, jewelry, statues, and toys from Tut’s childhood.

Carter led a team of archaeologists in cataloging the items from King Tut’s tomb. This took them over a decade, but the artifacts continue to help historians better understand life in Egypt.

#6

A Pair Of Victorian Reverse Painted Crystal Intaglio Earrings, 1870

Final score:

176points

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Ace 2 months ago (edited)

"Reverse painting" is when the image is painted on the inside of the glass,. So called because you're applying the paint on the reverse side of where the image will be seen.

76points

#7

Faience Beadnet Dress. Egyptian, Old Kingdom, Dynasty 4, Reign Of Khufu. 2551–2528 B.c

Final score:

170points

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The Scout 2 months ago

See-through was all the rage in ancient Egypt, as lots of paintings show. Egyptians had a very different approach to everything concering the human body, but bead dresses like this are explicitely mentioned as seductive in texts. And yes, they were worn without anything under it. A royal poem from the 18th dynasty actually starts "Take some young women, and give them nets of beads instead of clothes, then let us make a (pleasure) cruise on the beautiful nile...". As sexuality was seen as a pleasure as well as sacred, even godesses were sometimes depicted in outfits like this.

97points

#8

Neolithic Pig-Shaped Pot, C. 6.000 Years Old. Collection: Jiangsu Provincial Museum, Nanjing, Pottery And Porcelain Gallery

Final score:

163points

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troufaki13 2 months ago

Cute! 🥰

46points

Even though specialists have a good grasp of what most historical objects were created for, every now and then they unearth a few exceptions.

Take the neolithic stone balls for example. They were found predominantly in Scotland and date back to the later Neolithic period (circa BC 3,200-2,500).

So far, more than 425 of these balls have been discovered. They are generally the size of a cricket ball and made from a wide variety of stones. Their surfaces are sculpted, sometimes into raised circular discs and sometimes with deep incisions defining knobs and lobes in high relief. Decoration takes the form of spirals or concentric shapes, echoing those found in pottery and monumental stones of the era.

#9

One Of The Most Fascinating Aspects Of Timgad Is The Visible Tracks Left By Roman Chariots. These Grooves, Worn Into The Stone Streets Over Centuries Of Use, Provide Tangible Evidence Of The City’s Vibrant Past

One Of The Most Fascinating Aspects Of Timgad Is The Visible Tracks Left By Roman Chariots. These Grooves, Worn Into The Stone Streets Over Centuries Of Use, Provide Tangible Evidence Of The City’s Vibrant Past

Final score:

160points

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Fabian Bernard 2 months ago

On certain via Romana, these tracks where done on purpose

41points

#10

Golden Cicada On A Jade Leaf, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). This Sculpture Was Discovered In A Tomb In 1954. It Is The Top Of A Hairpin, Belonging To A Woman Of High Rank

Final score:

157points

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Kira Okah 2 months ago (edited)

The 1950s date on the item's discovery makes me immediately think that it came from Dingling; the tomb of Emperor Wanli, Empress Xiaoduanxian, and Empress Dowager Xiaojing, which was ransacked in the Cultural Revolution (and the bodies of the Emperor and at least one Empress were destroyed). However, I can't find what tomb it came from, so it might not be Dingling. Close excavation date though.

36points

#11

The Neanderthal Flute, Discovered In Slovenia, Is The Oldest Known Musical Instrument, Dating Back Approximately 50,000 Years. Crafted From The Bone Of A Cave Bear

Final score:

155points

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StumblingThroughLife 2 months ago

The last 2 words brought to mind a book I read once, decades ago: The Clan of the Cave Bear (1980). A novel by Jean M. Auel, set in prehistoric times. theclanoft...734de0.jpg

49points

Some have been found in burials, others in settlements, and they are rarely, if ever, identical. Most are also found alone, so don’t seem to have been part of a set. Some appear to have been heavily handled during their lifetime.

The original use of these stone balls has been a source of much debate, right back to their earliest discovery in the 19th century. It doesn't help that many were chance finds or circulated with little provenance in art collections and have rarely showed up in an archaeological context.

#12

Ancient Glazed Tiles From The The Processional Way Of The Isthar Gate Leading To The City Of Babylon, Built By King Nebuchadnezzar In 575 Bc. The Roadway Had 60 Lions On Both Of Its Sides, Each Lion Made Of Forty-Six Molded Bricks In Eleven Rows

Ancient Glazed Tiles From The The Processional Way Of The Isthar Gate Leading To The City Of Babylon, Built By King Nebuchadnezzar In 575 Bc. The Roadway Had 60 Lions On Both Of Its Sides, Each Lion Made Of Forty-Six Molded Bricks In Eleven Rows

Final score:

151points

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Marie Clear 2 months ago

Liberated by the Germans, as it's in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. But I actually have mixed feelings about this one, since I'm not sure it would have been preserved at all if it remained in Iraq. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar_Gate

9points

#13

Roman Mosaic At The House Of The Tetrastyle In Pula Archaeological Park In Nora, Sardinia, Italy. 2nd C. Ad

Final score:

150points

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Auntriarch 2 months ago

What a beauty!

37points

#14

A 1st Century Ad, Roman Mosaic With Parrots And Dove Drinking From A Fountain And A Lurking Cat, Found In Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Italy

Final score:

144points

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Mia C 2 months ago

Beautiful colors are still intact. Love this

18points

"Were these stones missiles for deterring predators and pests?" asks Natasha Harlow, an honorary research fellow at the Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Nottingham. "Weapons of war? Toys? Or perhaps measuring weights, household ornaments, mnemonic devices, and ball bearings to move megaliths or holders for yarn? The answer still escapes us."

#15

Grafarkirkja - The Oldest Turf Church In Iceland

Final score:

141points

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Megan Fair 2 months ago

I'd live here

23points

#16

The Medieval Architectural Complex Of Dargavs In The Republic Of North Ossetia Definitely Deserves To Be Better Known

Final score:

140points

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Comment Deleted 2 months ago

Maybe not better known. Too many historic places have been destroyed by tourists. Once obscure until people stated posting. Now over run and destroyed.

71points

#17

This Miniature Book With The Poem "Wanderstab" - "Travel Staff" - Was Given By Queen Elizabeth Of Romania To Princess Maria Of Edinburgh

Final score:

135points

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Piwakawaka 2 months ago

Banana needed

59points

Another mysterious example is the bronze age "lock-rings." The period was a time of exceptional craftsmanship, and highly decorative personal ornaments were made from gold sheets and wire.

These small penannular (open) rings date from the late bronze age (circa BC 1,000-800) and are found in Ireland, Britain, and parts of France.

They are frequently unearthed in matching pairs and can be plain or have delicate, geometric engravings.

#18

The Stone Bridge Of Manolis Over Agrafiotis River In Greece. The Bridge Is Almost All Year Underwater And Only Part Of Its Arch May Be Visible, Except The Summer Months When The Water Level Drop

Final score:

134points

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Lewis KR 2 months ago

Wonder how many outboard motors it has claimed

25points

#19

This Exquisite Miniature Chariot, Crafted From Gold With Remarkable Intricacy, Is A Testament To The Artistry Of The Achaemenid Persian Empire

Final score:

131points

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Pollywog 2 months ago

Beautiful craftsmanship!

16points

#20

The Roman Ship Named De Meern 1 Was Discovered In Veldhuizen, The Netherlands, In 1997

Final score:

130points

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Karina 2 months ago

It looked like it was coming out of the water.

24points

"Recent interpretations have suggested they could have been nose rings, earrings, or hair ornaments," Harlow explains. But, "none of these explanations is terribly satisfactory, as various elements of their design would make the rings difficult or uncomfortable to wear.

What we lack is context – like the recent discoveries at Boncuklu Tarla, in Turkey, of burials with facial jewelry found close to skulls.

#21

5,000-Year-Old Rock Crystal Dagger From Spain

Final score:

127points

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Ben 2 months ago

Looks like it might kill white walkers

41points

#22

Intricate Floor Mosaic In The Cathedral Of Santa Maria Del Fiore In Florence, Italy

Final score:

123points

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Angela B 2 months ago

Three dimensional.

30points

#23

The Munich Residenz, The Former Royal Palace Of The Bavarian Monarchs, Houses The Magnificent Hall Of Antiquities (Antiquarium), Built In 1568

Final score:

122points

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Angela B 2 months ago

😯 So beautiful.

28points

Not to mention looting — some people dig up artifacts from sites and they end up in private collections before they are able to be excavated and analyzed using formal scientific principles.

Hopefully, we'll grow more aware of the need to protect our history, and we'll see more cool discoveries on 'Ancient Marvels Of Mankind.'

#24

The Village Of Kandovan, An Ancient Troglodyte Site Occupied For At Least 700 Years

Final score:

122points

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Kangaroo 2 months ago

lol I’ve only ever heard the word “troglodyte” as an insult

33points

#25

15th Century Ceremonial Fan Of Abuna Abraham Debre Tsion Church, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Final score:

121points

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Karina 2 months ago

So beautiful. Im impressed it is perserved as well as it is.

32points

#26

A Tiny Bone Monkey, Discovered In A Child's Grave. 2.2 Cm Tall. China, Erlitou Culture, Around 1600 Bc

Final score:

121points

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sassy frass 2 months ago

Put it back

90points

#27

Behold This Exquisite Half Of A “Salting Carpet” From The Safavid Period, Circa 1600. Meticulously Crafted With Wool, Silk, And Metal Thread

Final score:

118points

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Cee Cee 2 months ago

Salting because it was, with others, donated to the V&A by a collector George Salting.

65points

#28

Collection Of Mycenaean Weaponry. Swords, 16th - 12th C. Bce

Final score:

117points

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Alexandra 2 months ago

My grandfather would have said that they don't make them like that anymore.....:)

38points

#29

The Gold Fish Vessel, Dating Back To The 5th-4th Century Bce, Is A Remarkable Artifact From The Achaemenid Period

Final score:

114points

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Megan Fair 2 months ago

It's beautiful!

10points

#30

Jewelry Of A Scythian Queen, Found In The Chertomlyk Barrow, Near Nikopol, Katerynoslavsk Governorate (At Present Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine)

Final score:

111points

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SnackbarKaat 2 months ago

The scyths have a lot of gold treasures

17points

#31

This Wooden Foldable Bed Was Found In Tutankhamun's Tomb In The Valley Of The Kings, In Luxor. It Is Believed To Be The First Of Its Kind

Final score:

111points

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TheNewJenBrady 2 months ago

He got it at Pottery Barn

51points

#32

Nestled In The Heart Of Cambodia, The Ko Paen Bamboo Bridgeis A Testament To Human Ingenuity And The Remarkable Properties Of Bamboo

Final score:

110points

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S. E. in Indiana 2 months ago

Talk about a traffic jam!

36points

#33

Detailed Image Of The Hairstyle Of A Soldier From The Famous Terracotta Statue Army Of The First Emperor Of China

Final score:

108points

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Ali H M Salehuddin 2 months ago (edited)

Not only they are detailed, each statue is unique. They all look similar from afar. Upon a closer inspection, each one of has a different face with a different body pose.

70points

#34

Mummified Hand Of Yuya, Grandfather Of Akhenaten And Great-Grandfather Of Tutankhamun. This Is An Outstanding Example Of The Skills Of The Embalmer In Ancient Egypt, The Mummy Belonging To The 18th Dynasty Has Been Brilliantly Preserved

Mummified Hand Of Yuya, Grandfather Of Akhenaten And Great-Grandfather Of Tutankhamun. This Is An Outstanding Example Of The Skills Of The Embalmer In Ancient Egypt, The Mummy Belonging To The 18th Dynasty Has Been Brilliantly Preserved

Final score:

106points

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OneWithRatsAndKefir 2 months ago

Apart from being all shrivelled and dry, yeah, wow, that really is some amazing embalming! Most ‘human’ looking hand from a mummy I’ve personally seen.

19points

XenoMurph 2 months ago

If you've ever seen a dead body after just a few days, you'll realise how amazing this has been preserved for thousands of years. Don't confuse dismissive scepticism with intelligence.

0points

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ZuriLovesYou 2 months ago

Those are some long asś fingers!

9points

Pollywog 2 months ago

The better to flip you off with, my dear......... Sorry, popped into my head and made me giggle a little. 😄

7points

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and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 2 months ago

Nah you’re not fooling me that’s the hand of Vecna

3points

Pyla 2 months ago

Akhenaten of the Glass opera?

1point

Jennifer Brown 2 months ago

For clarification purposes, Yuya reigned around 1390BC....so this mummified hand is 3400 years old

0points

Dudley2348 2 months ago

Grandson of Yeyo.

0points

Rebekah Fuentes 2 months ago

He's still got his being and everything! Amazing 😍

0points

Justin Tyme 2 months ago

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Catherine Gill 2 months ago

Officially, it's only grave-robbing if it's 100 wars or less after the burial - we have some ethics after all (not enough to give things back of course)

3points

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#35

The Paracas Candelabra Is A Well-Known Prehistoric Geoglyph Found On The Northern Face Of The Paracas Peninsula In Pisco Bay In Peru

Final score:

106points

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Wendy Hamilton 2 months ago

Try saying that 5x quickly.

34points

#36

Persepolis Iran, Was Founded By Darius I Circa 518 Bc As The Cerymonial Capital

Final score:

104points

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Uncle Schmickle 2 months ago

Thank goodness it wasn't destroyed by ISIS.

20points

#37

A Copy Of The Lotus Sutra In A Lavishly Decorated Scroll From Japan, C.1636. Courtesy British Library Board

Final score:

103points

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SupaCab 2 months ago

About The Lotus Sutra for this interested: The Lotus Sutra is regarded as the single most important text of Mahayana Buddhism. It crystallizes the entire system of Indian Buddhist philosophy as created by Shakyamuni. The unique teaching of the Lotus Sutra and its ultimate goal—indeed of Buddhism as a whole—is to enlighten all people; to relieve them of their suffering and enable them to experience genuine happiness, thereby establishing a society that values peace and the dignity of life.

71points

#38

More Than 3500 Year Old Minoan Road, The Oldest Road In Europe

Final score:

103points

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MotherofGuineaPigs 2 months ago

It's worth looking it up on google earth

14points

#39

This Remarkable Gold Buckle, Adorned With Turquoise Inlays, Offers A Captivating Glimpse Into The Rich Cultural Fusion Of Ancient Bactria

Final score:

102points

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Auntriarch 2 months ago

Anyone else read "bacteria"?

85points

#40

Roman Cameo Of Caesar Augustus Carved In Chalcedony Stone. It Used To Be Decorated With A Golden Laurel Wreath. About (5cm) Early 1st Century Ad

Final score:

101points

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Daniela Lavanza 2 months ago

So small and yet such degree of details...stunning.

33points

#41

Late Bronze Age Baby Bottles From Austria, Dated To Around 1200-800 Bc

Final score:

98points

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Lulu 2 months ago

This looks like one of those photo shopped images for products on Amazon.

31points

#42

The Bacino Di San Marco, Which Is Decorated In Piazza San Marco With The Cathedral And The Ducal Palace

Final score:

95points

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Ace 2 months ago

Poorly-worded caption. This is in Venice, for anyone wondering.

54points

#43

The Xerxes Cuneiform Van, Also Known As The Xerxes Inscription, Is A Significant Artifact From The Reign Of Xerxes I, Who Ruled The Achaemenid Empire From 486 To 465 Bce

Final score:

94points

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Pandemonium 2 months ago

I see a typo

35points

#44

Miniature Ancient Egyptian Duck Cosmetic Vessel. New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, Amarna Period, 1353-1327 Bc

Final score:

94points

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LauraDragonWench 2 months ago

This kind of stuff is why I always wanted to be an Egyptologist. The craftsmanship, the detail, how well it's been preserved - absolutely amazing!

16points

#45

Circa 2500 Bc, A Fire-Flame Cooking Vessel (Ka'en Doki) From Ancient Japan

Final score:

93points

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Salty_Sasquatch 2 months ago

5000 years ago and what skill already in pottery!

15points

#46

Minoan Clay "Bag" With Labrys Symbols From Psira, Eastern Crete. Post Palatial Period, 1450-1200 B.c

Final score:

92points

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Sane Minotaur 2 months ago

Would this have been used as a vase or something? Any knowledgeable Pandas know?

17points

#47

The Peruvian Archaeologist Discovered More Than 300 Mysterious Skulls Believed To Be At Least 3000 Years Old Antiquity. The Volume Of These Skulls Is About 25% Bigger Than Of The Average Human Skull And They May Weigh Up To 60% More

The Peruvian Archaeologist Discovered More Than 300 Mysterious Skulls Believed To Be At Least 3000 Years Old Antiquity. The Volume Of These Skulls Is About 25% Bigger Than Of The Average Human Skull And They May Weigh Up To 60% More

Final score:

92points

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Brandon Parisien 2 months ago

Skull binding, people still do this.

36points

#48

Ciumesti Helmet Is An Iron Age Celtic Helmet Adorned With A Raven Totem

Final score:

90points

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H R 2 months ago

Must have been a challenge to wear....

22points

#49

A Large T-Shaped Pendant Was Discovered At The Maya Archaeological Site Of Nim Li Punit In Southern Belize. What Makes The Jade Pendant Remarkable Is The Fact That It Is Inscribed With A Historical Text Consisting Of 30 Hieroglyphs

A Large T-Shaped Pendant Was Discovered At The Maya Archaeological Site Of Nim Li Punit In Southern Belize. What Makes The Jade Pendant Remarkable Is The Fact That It Is Inscribed With A Historical Text Consisting Of 30 Hieroglyphs

Final score:

76points

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Corwin 02 2 months ago

But what does it say?

22points

#50

Gold Necklace Pendants With Images Of A Siren And Daemonic Bees. 2nd Half Of The 7th C. Bc. (Nationalmuseet, Copenhagen)

Final score:

71points

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Veronica Richard 2 months ago

What the heck are demonic bees?

19points