50 Archeological Wonders You Might Not Have Known Existed, As Shared On This Instagram Page
The lessons of the past aren’t just written in history books and brittle, yellowing scrolls—they’re also worked into the art and architecture we appreciate, whether it’s in our beloved museums, protected sites in the Great Outdoors, or splendidly photographed and posted on our favorite social network.
It’s vital to know the past of your country and humanity as a whole because it helps grow your appreciation for just how civilization has changed over the millennia and who we as a society are in that historic context. This very same link to the past also provides a ton of insights into how aesthetics, and our understanding of it, evolved.
The ‘Archeology and Art’ Instagram page provides the opportunity to take a closer look at some of the most impressive historical locations, works of art, jewelry, and artifacts that archeologists have uncovered. Scroll down to start your deep dive into history and all of its beauty, Pandas. Remember to upvote your fave photos, and be sure to let us know which ones impressed you the most.
Do we have any archeologists in the house today? We’d love to hear more about your job and your amazing finds, so drop by the comment section.
Bored Panda got in touch with financial expert Sam Dogen, the author of 'Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom' and the founder of the 'Financial Samurai' blog, for a chat about art and other investments, as well as what people see as potential stores of value.
This post may include affiliate links.
A Gothic-Styled Spiral Staircase Carved From A Single Tree In 1851, In Lednice Castle, Czech Republic, As A Symbol Of Progressing Toward The Ultimate Step, With Our Goals
"Investing in physical goods is only going to get more popular over time. More people want to enjoy their investments instead of merely making money on them. Historically, the best way people could enjoy their investments was through real estate. There's nothing better than making great memories in your home and then watching it go up in value as well," Sam, from 'Financial Samurai,' told Bored Panda.
"Now, more money is going into art, jewelry, fine watches, collectible sports cards, and rare books to enjoy. As an author, I'm a big believer in collecting rare books with signatures because the pandemic throttled in-person signing events for two years. As a result, there is a lower supply of books and other memorabilia with signatures, which makes them more valuable. There will likely be a continued structurally lower supply of collectibles with signatures for years to come," he explained what some people might choose to invest in as a store of value.
A 4852 Year Old Located Ancient Mountain Aras Cypress At Tandooreh National Park, Iran
Stairway To Heaven, The Ancient Inca Road That Leads To Machu Picchu, In Peru
I've been there. It's probably best to leave the stiletto heels back at the hostel.
According to Sam, the author of 'Buy This, Not That,' investing in fine art makes sense, financially. "But it can't be any piece of art. You have to invest in promising emerging artists or established artists with limited pieces of artwork. There's also a big difference between the original artwork and the prints," he told Bored Panda.
"Again, as society as a whole builds more wealth, we want to better enjoy our money instead of just letting it accumulate in a brokerage account or bank account. The pandemic has taught us life is short and we must enjoy each and every day to the fullest," Sam said.
"Enjoying the fine art on our walls that could also go up in value is a great combination. There's a reason why many of the wealthiest people in the world are avid art collectors. In fact, not only do I invest in fine art, I also make my own art! The cost is minimal and it's enjoyable to create. Who knows, maybe my original art pieces might be worth a lot to my children one day."
Cloister University Of Glasgow, Scotland
2000-Year-Old Sapphire Ring Presumably Belonging To Roman Emperor Caligula, Thought To Depict His Fourth Wife Caesonia
The Buried Bodies Of The Iconic Easter Island Moai Basalt Statues, Built By The Rapa Nui People Between 1250-1500 Ce, With Petroglyphs Carved On Their Back
The ‘Archeology and Art’ social media project currently has 65.2k loyal fans who can’t wait to unearth the freshest historical finds. The Instagram page gives a pretty good overview of just how varied and impressive art from the ancient world really was.
Generally speaking, many people assume that progress is linear and that someone living in 2022 is far smarter/skilled/more capable than someone, say, living a few centuries or even thousands of years ago. Seeing the quality of the craftsmanship and the architecture of the past should help you understand that human beings are not necessarily ‘better’ than their ancestors.
Art historian Mary McGillivray, from Melbourne, previously explained to Bored Panda during an interview that art and art history aren’t as unapproachable as many people might think.
"A lot of people think that art history is very serious and very important and this leads to them feeling overwhelmed—or even feeling like art history isn't for them. This isn't true! I've said it before and I'll say it again, art history is just old memes. Once we start to see the humor and the humanity in art, it becomes far less intimidating," she said that there’s often a more lighthearted side to it all.
The Bracelet That Gave Its Name To A Famous House In Pompeii: “The House Of The Gold Bracelet”.two-Headed Snake, With Glass Eyes, Holding A Medallion With The Image Of Diana
A Wooden Sarcophagus Rises From The Sand In Abydos After Thousands Of Years In Silence, Egypt
Seljuk Box With A Combination Lock, Cast And Hammered Brass, Inlaid With Silver And Copper. From Iran, 1200-1201
Meanwhile, former art gallery director Shelby Bercume told Bored Panda that many find art history intimidating and difficult to grasp because it’s a subject that isn’t taught in most schools. If that were to change, more people would feel far less scared to at least try dipping their toes in the water.
Emerald Wine Cup18th Century. India (Mughal) Carved Emeralds Set With Gold Mounts Dated
Hut Made Of Mammoth Bones, Cro-Magnon, Mezhirich, Ukraine, 15000 B.c
A Roman Amphora Filled With Gold Coins Discovered In Como, Italy
On behalf of the Pirate community, may I just say: "Arrrrrrrr"
"I don’t necessarily think art history is an inaccessible entity, but I know that people tend to feel intimidated by things they aren’t experts in. Since art is often, if not always subjective, it feels even more intimidating than a subject with a 'right answer,' like math for example," the art expert shared her thought with Bored Panda some time ago.
Bracelet Of Tutankhamun With Scarab. Gold, Lapiz Lazuli, Carnelian, Turquoise, Quartzite. New Kingdom: 18th Dynasty: Tutankhamun Resent Location: Egyptian Museum
1920s Hearse
Hieroglyphic Writing On The Wall Of The Mortuary Temple Of Ramesses III At Medinet Habu On The Western Bank Of Luxor, Egypt, Built Around 1186-1156 Bce
Up vote for most prepositions in one caption. The picture's cool too.
"I think often that leads to a disconnect between the desire to dive into the subject of art and by relation art history, and the execution of it,” she said.
"Art is something to be enjoyed and shouldn’t be reserved for an exclusive group," the expert noted that she’s an advocate of a more democratic approach to art.
Gate Of All Nations Also Known As Gate Of Xerses At Persepolis, Iran 486-465 Bc
This is the same Xerxes who fought the Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae. Also the guy who was shown wearing pencilled-on eybrows, gold chains, a banana hammock, and not much else in the movie 300.
Carpet-Like Mosaic Located In Hisham's Palace, Built By One Of The Early Muslim Caliphates Between 724 And 743 Ad. In The West Bank City Of Jericho, It Is Made Up Of 38 Panels Depicting Geometric, Floral Designs
Prehistoric Rock Carving Of A Whole Bunch Of Deer. Bayankhongor, Mongolia
Younger brother: "What's Mom cooking for dinner, Gronk?" Older brother: "I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess deer."
"Art is aesthetics and feelings. If you love something, voice why you love it... if you can’t find the words, that’s ok! Talking about art is really discussing how the art affects your emotional state and what thoughts it provokes," Shelby told us.
Delikkemer Is One Of The Original Roman Hydrology Engineering Works In Anatolia And It Was Built To Meet The Water Needs Of Patara, The Capital Of The Ancient Lycian Region
You can see how one section sockets into the next. What a huge task to transport water!
1920 C. This Is Perhaps The Most “Liked” Post I Ever Made! So Here It Is Again, Just In Case You Missed It! Bangle Bracelet Of Yellow Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Plique-Jour And Cameo. From Art Nouveau Around The World, Fb
Lapis Lazuli And Gold Horus Falcon.egyptian, Late Period, Dynasty 27
The craftsmanship here is breathtaking. I went to Egypt 20 years ago, and I was blown away by the ancient art and architecture. Then I went home to my country and saw a whole lot of public buildings that looked like parking garages. It wasn't the same.
"And remember, it is ok to not love everything, believe it or not, certain artworks are meant to be disturbing or disliked. Just don’t be intimidated to speak up because that’s really all we’re doing when we talk about art. We’re voicing opinions."
The Caryatids,erechtheion,acropolis Of Athens
Each one has a different hairstyle! Also, bring back their sister!!!! She's lonely and they miss her! :)
Azteec Tecpatl Obsidian Knives
Jade Plaque With Carved Out Openwork Of Bird Motifs Mounted In A Frame Of Gold Adorned With Rubies, Sapphires And Jade. China, Late Jin Or Early Yuan Dynasty. 13th To 14th Century Ad
Though we can infer a lot of information about a culture or a nation by its art and architecture (what they valued, how they thought, what their daily lives were probably like), our guesses aren’t definitive. Digging towards the truth (pun very much intended) is less about Indiana Jones-style adventures and more about cross-checking assumptions, reading a lot of prior research, and learning to embrace failure.
A Viking Era Ring Inscribed With The Words ‘For Allah’, Found In The Grave Of A Woman Who Was Buried 1200 Years Ago In Birka, 25 Km West Of Modern-Day Stockholm. The Ring Constitutes A Unique Material Evidence Of Direct Contact Between The Vikings And The Abbasid Caliphate
While we see Vikings mainly as a warrior culture, they were also traders, using their seafaring abilities to trade all over the mediterranean and even up to Asia. Their attempt to built lasting trading posts in America in the 10th century were not that successful, though. They managed to get there and even to establish some trading with local indians in Newfoundland, but ultimately failed to keep their settlements going.
Petra-Jordan
I' ve been there this summer - it is an incredible place! Jordan is worth the travel for sure.
A Roman Road Discovered While Excavating For A New McDonald's In Marino, Italy. They Incorporated A Glass Floor In The Restaurant After Excavations Were Complete
Would be lovely eating Big Mac whilst staring at a skeleton below your feet
The folks running the r/AskHistorians subreddit really know their stuff when it comes to history. One of the moderators told Bored Panda that having a healthy dose of skepticism is essential, especially when evaluating historical facts that get posted on social media.
First of all, you have to take a closer look at the source that’s sharing the info. Is it reliable? Can you cross-check the historical ‘facts?’ These are some of the things that you should ask yourself while browsing, well, pretty much anything.
The more important a historical event or period, the more likely it is that someone may try to exploit it to “push a political point in the present day.”
Viking Runestones Of The Swedish Countryside, 1899-1945
No doubt they were the inspiration behind the standing stones in Skyrim. :D
The Queen Of The Night (Burney Relief) Fired Clay, Mesopotamia, Old Babylonian Era, 1800-1750 Bce
Colombia. El Peñón De Guatapé Is A Rock Formation Bordering A Lake
"There are probably dozens of potential conspiracies surrounding Sumerian agriculture, but that topic isn’t in the public eye in the same way that something like the Second World War or the Roman Empire is," the historian told us.
"Because these events and periods are seen as important for the formation of the modern world, people see it as important that history aligns to their worldview or political leanings—even when it does not—and seek to twist reality in order to achieve this.”
‘A Cluster Of Rats’, A Japanese Netsuke (Small Sculpture) Dated Late 19th Century
The Construction Of Metal Clamps That Hold Giant Stone Blocks Together. There Are Structures That Have Stood For Thousands Of Years Are Still Standing
Gold Rings From Anglo-Saxon England, 8th-10th Century Ad
Temple Of Khnum, Esna, Egypt
The Talisman Of Charlemagne, C. 768-814. Two Large Cabochon Sapphires - One Oval, One Square - Enclose Holy Relics (What Are Supposed To Be A Remnant Of The Holy Cross And A Small Piece Of The Virgin's Hair, Visible Only When Looking Through The Oval Sapphire At The Front Of The Medallion.) The Other Gemstones Are Garnets, Emeralds, And Pearls
If you added up all the relics containing "remnants of the true cross" or "hair of the virgin" you could build a house and open a wig store.
Aspendos , Antalya-Turkey
A Tiny Devil Vitrified In A Prism Of Glass. In The 18th Century, The Imperial Treasury Of Vienna Attested That This Was A Real Demon Which Had Been Trapped In Glass During An Exorcism In Germany A Century Earlier. from The Kunsthistorisches Museum Collection, Vienna
Medusa Was A Gorgon Beheaded By A Demigod Named Perseus
I love Medusa's story. When I am ready, i'm getting her as a tattoo. It sucks, but I want to get her as a tat so I can help get past the trauma.
The Stone Spheres Of Costa Rica Are An Assortment Of Over 300 Petrospheres Located On The Diquis Delta On Isla Del Cano. They Are Sometimes Also Called The Diquis Stones, After Their Supposed Creators, The Diquis Culture
Egypt
Roman Mosaic: Reclining Skeleton With The Caption 'Know Thyself', C. 4th Century Ad. Now On Display At The Baths Of Diocletian In Rome, Italy
Persepolis, Iran
The ancient city of Persepolis in modern-day Iran was one of four capitals of the sprawling Persian Empire. Built beginning around 520 B.C., the city was a showcase for the empire’s staggering wealth, with grand architecture, extravagant works of silver and gold, and extensive relief sculptures such as this one portraying envoys with offerings for the king.The height of Persian rule lasted from about 550 B.C. until 330 B.C., when Alexander the Great overthrew the ruling Archaemenid dynasty and burned Persepolis to the ground
Crown Of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph I, Craft By Jan Vermeyen Of Antwerp In 1602. From The Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Drinking Horn And Cover With Figures Of Griffin And Mermaid.date: Ca. 1630place Of Origin: Northern Germany, Brnomedium: Bison Horn, Precious Stones, Silver-Gilt
Gold Buckle Depicting A Xiongnu Horseman, Uncovered In Tajikistan, 2nd-1st Century Bc. Housed At The National Museum Of Antiquities Tajikistan
Neolithic Pictographs Depicting People With Their Limbs Bent As If They Were Swimming. Date: 10.000 Years Ago. Cave Of The Swimmers, Gilf Kebir Plateau, Egypt
Our Historical Artifacts Are Our Historical Values
Somehow the veneration of women flipped over into total mysogyny.
The Great Sphinx Of Gizathe Great Sphinx Of Giza Was Built By The Egyptians Of The Old Kingdom During The Reign Of Khafre (C. 2558–2532 Bc), Whose Face It Probably Represents. It Is One Of The Oldest Known Monumental Sculptures In Egypt And Is Widely Known Worldwide
This is an imagining of what the Sphinx looked like before sandstorms eroded its paint and Napoleon's soldiers shot its nose off.
Iron-Age Swords From The Villanovan Culture, 9th-7th Century Bc
Maybe iron age, but given the color of most of them and the shapes of the tangs of the two on the left, I suspect these are made of bronze. Not any less cool for that.
Head Trophy, Peru. 400-200 Before Jesus Christ
They are all amazing! And to think that so many are lost due to wars, looting, time... :(
and people even eating some of them,, (Coughing) British (cough)
Load More Replies...The headlines in this list weren't so great. Could do with some editing.
The problem i always find with lists like these is that they totally disregard Asian history and archeology....... In this list of 130 there was 1 Japanese item and 1 chinese site .....
What do you mean? At least in this list there are plenty from China, India, Cambodia, Tajikistan, Mongolia... there are many. Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Jordan...
Load More Replies...They are all amazing! And to think that so many are lost due to wars, looting, time... :(
and people even eating some of them,, (Coughing) British (cough)
Load More Replies...The headlines in this list weren't so great. Could do with some editing.
The problem i always find with lists like these is that they totally disregard Asian history and archeology....... In this list of 130 there was 1 Japanese item and 1 chinese site .....
What do you mean? At least in this list there are plenty from China, India, Cambodia, Tajikistan, Mongolia... there are many. Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Jordan...
Load More Replies...