INFO VINE * 50 Jaw-Dropping Ancient Artifacts *

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The world is filled with many wondrous landscapes and monuments that represent the cultures of mankind, as well as the official history of them. But are you aware of the artifacts that have been found to corroborate these claims? If not, this is the gallery for you! We're going to check out 50 different ancient artifacts that have been discovered in our time and what they mean to our civilization.

Olmec Colossal Heads

The Olmec Colossal Heads are eight-ton, six-foot-tall stone heads made out of basalt and carved with the faces of the elders on them, represented by a headdress or fez, braided hair, wide noses, almond eyes, and plump lips. The heads were found around 3,400 years in the gulf coast of Central America. The heads represent the Olmec civilization that appeared in Mesoamerica - Mexico - between 400 and 1,400 B.C.



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The Olmec Civilization represents the indigenous Aborigines that inhabited Central America before the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone was named after the location of which it was found, Rosetta, Egypt, around 2,200 years ago. The Stone simply states that King Ptolemy V was the king and the stone was simply his coronation letter. The Rosetta Stone was discovered in 1799 during the Napoleon campaign in Egypt by French soldiers.



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Because the stones were scribed in hieroglyphs, it took almost 20 years to decipher the message, and it was performed by Jean-Francois Champollion in 1821. The earthly relic measures at 3 feet 9 inches and weighs approximately 1,680 pounds. It is said that all three stones are a set that declares the King's reign.

Dead Sea Scrolls

Found almost 2,000 years ago, the Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the world's timeless artifacts. It was discovered by a middle eastern shepherd named Muhammed ed-Dib who was chasing one of his runaway goats around the coast of the Dead Sea. In a narrow cave, there were old clay jars that were stuffed with papers, now known as the Dead Sea Scrolls.



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In the jars were more than 1,000 scrolls that were written between 300 B.C. and A.D. 70. Most of the scrolls translate into the stories of the Hebrew/Christian bible; specifically the old testament. The other scrolls are comprised of hymns, songs, and prayers.

King Tut's Funerary Mask

King Tut was the Pharaoh of both lower and upper Egypt until his final age of 19 in 1323 B.C. For his recognition of reign and memory, the Pharaoh was given a 24-pound solid gold base facial mask. It is the exact replica of King Tut himself and is also laced with gems and crystals such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, and various semiprecious stones.



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The mask was found in 1922  by a British archaeologist Howard Carter, in King Tut's tomb in the Valley of the Kings along the Nile river. King Tut's mask is a major historic artifact because most of Egypt's tombs were looted and stolen from; so for the King's mask to still be fully intact and present is a magnificent discovery.

Terracotta Army

One of China's historic gems is the Terracotta Army. It is a set of statues that represents acrobats, bronze waterfowl in canals, gold-based carriages, and entertaining dancers. But of course, since it's an army, you should know that there are also statues of soldiers.



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The statues were found by Chinese farmers that were digging a well. They uncovered the first statue, and over time, excavations have discovered an additional 2,000 soldier statues, and they are still being mined today. Interestingly, the statues are said to be a replica of each soldier that served in Qin Shihuang's army during 210 and 221 B.C., when China first became unified.

Venus of Willendorf

What is short, stout, and nearly 30,000 years old? You guessed it, the Venus of Willendorf. Now found in the Natural History Museum Vienna in Austria, the Venus of Willendorf are female figurines that were developed and sculpted during the Ice Age. They are depicted by the figure of a large lady with pronounced buttocks and breasts, along with short twisted hair that adorns their head.



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The sculptures were found during the excavations at Willendorf II in 1908. Along with the stout statues, more than 200 figurines that resemble the ladies of the Venus of Willendorf have been found across Europe. Additionally, the statues were named after Venus, the Roman Goddess of love and fertility.

Grenada: Underwater Sculptures

Located near the island of Granada, you'll find these Underwater sculptures. These submerged sculptures have the goal of simply paying tribute to the Africans that were taken from their home to become slaves in America. The statues were created by Jason DeCaires Taylor, who had a primary account of the dark stories of many Africans.



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You can find these sculptures in the Grenada Underwater Sculpture Park in Molinere Bay. Although the sculptures were created in 2006, it tells the history of many Aborigines that were forced to take part in the malicious act of slavery.

The Nebra Sky Disc

Found in the "Memory of the World" registry, the Nebra Sky Disc is a 3,600-year-old bronze disc with a specific inscription on it. It is small - about 30 cm in diameter, - weighs close to 3 pounds, and is coated with bluish-green patine with gold symbols resembling the sun, moon, and stars.



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The disk was buried in a prehistoric enclosure on top of a hill in the Ziegelrado Forest in Germany. There is much speculation surrounding this piece because the function of it is unknown. But whether it be for games, a weapon, or an instrument for space, The Nebra Sky Disc is a curious and nostalgic sight.

The Trundholm Sun Chariot

Resembling a Roman-style carriage, the Trundholm Sun Chariot golden-bronze collection piece that was found in the Danish Isles in 1902. It was dated to be created in the Nordic ages between 1700 and 500 B.C. When you see it, it shows a bronze horse and a disk with a sheet of gold paper on it that is postulated to resemble the Earth.



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The general consensus about this artifact is that is a tool for measuring space and time. The golden side of the disc shows one-third of a solar year, while the dark side is connected with the lunar months.

The Ubaid Lizard

Al'Ubaid is an area found in modern-day Iraq that had some peculiar findings in its cave. In the early 20th century, excavators uncovered several statues representing lizard-like people in humanoid form. They show a long neck with reptilian-like skin, almond eyes, with signs of royalty, and babies!



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The Ubaidian culture is connected to that of ancient Mesopotamia, dating the statues back between 5,500 and 4,000 B.C., potentially being created by ancient Sumerian sculptures to resemble a possible reptilian clan or family. Although unconfirmed, the origins of the Ubaid statues are convincing due to the detail of the statues.

The Divje Babe Flute

Slovenia, located in central Europe, surprised many archaeologists when it revealed a small pipe-like object to excavators. After close analysis, it is postulated to be the femur of a bear and is dated between 65,000 and 44,000 years old. It has approximately two to three holes in it, which gives many archeologists the belief that this potential bear femur was used as a flute.



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There are many experts who deny that this artifact could be a flute because the people who used it, the Neanderthals, were thought to be uncultured and incapable of such design. However, the truth holds its weight when a pattern of holes creates a sound when they are blown into.

Terracotta Baby Bottle

Remember the Terracotta Army? Well, meet the Terracotta baby bottle. This artifact was found in Italy and is postulated to be about 2,400 years old. The bottle is made out of clay and has a face and body that resembles a pig. Some archeologists believe that the bottle could have also doubled as a toy for the child's entertainment.



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However, based on the function of the artifact, it was declared to be a guttus: a vessel where liquids could be poured into. Also inside of this bottle were terracotta-style rattles; small round balls that made noise when shaken.

Thor's Hammer

Thor's Hammer is a 10th century Viking artifact that resembles the hammer of the Norse God of Thunder, Thor. It is designed with a bronze cast and is plated with other precious metals such as gold, silver, and tin. Extra evidence of this artifact being a tool is another similar artifact being found in Lolland - a Danish island - which contained a note simply stating "this is a hammer."



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Thor's Hammer is dated to be more than 1,100 years old and continues to stand as a pillar of the Nordic culture, although still unconfirmed. No one knows if it truly belongs to the Nordic God himself, as the owner of this artifact is still unknown.

Lowenmensch Figurine

The Lion-man of the Hohlenstein-Stade, or the Lowenmensch figurine, was discovered in 1939 in the Hohlenstein-Stadel cave in Germany and is dated to be between 35,000 and 40,000 years old. Made out of ivory, the figurine features a humanoid being with the head of a lion.



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The pieces of the sculpture were put together by Joachim Hahn in the mid-1900s, and are still being assembled to this day. Today, the figurine is featured in the Ulm museum in Germany and is almost completely put back together!

Blombos Cave Paint Bowl

In 2008, two tool kits were located in the Blombos Cave on the western cape of South Africa. The tool kit is predicted to be a paint bowl, or tool that the indigenous people used to create their own paint. The bowl and tools date back to over 100,000 years ago and have traces of color in them; mostly red clay residue.



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The paint tool kit also revealed other colored clay, hammerstones, charcoal, bones, and grindstones that were used to break down an object to collect its juices for colors. Once the color was extracted, it would then be mixed with the oils from the marrow of a heated bone to create a shiny new color.

Skhul Cave Beads

Aged to be over 100,000 years old and seen as one of the more primitive forms of decoration, the Skhul Cave Beads are teeth-like shells that were found in the Es Skhul Cave of Haifa, Israel. The shell beads were postulated to be utilized by humans for decorative and personal adornment purposes.



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The archeologist of the artifact says that the beads are a shell that was used by sea snails located approximately two miles away from the coast of Haifa. Meaning that tribal members traveled a significant distance to obtain these shells to create their personal jewelry.

The London Hammer

The London Hammer was discovered in 1936 by a couple who spotted an interesting rock that turned out to have a chisel and hammer inside of it. What makes the London Hammer such an interesting find is the fact that when carbon dated, it turns out to be aged at over 500 million years old! Additionally, the head of the hammer is made of 97% iron, which is purer than most iron of today.



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Archeological experts are not sure of the specific reasons as to what this tool was used for, or even who created it. But what we do know is that it is one of the oldest artifacts in history and was created by some humanoid being for constructive, or destructive, use.

The Antikythera Mechanism

Known as the ancient Greek computer, the Antikythera Mechanism is a device made by Greek philosophers and astronomers and was used to calculate various astronomical positions within our solar system. The mechanism consisted of a box with clock-like dials on it, along with a criss-cross pattern of gears and wheels that push and turn the mechanism as a whole. 



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The impressiveness of the Antikythera Mechanism is an anomaly considering the unknown origins of the technology used to create such an accurate device. It survived more than 45 meters of water for hundreds of years and holds a place in history as one of the world's more astonishing and thought-provoking artifacts.

The Saqqara Birds

The Saqqara Birds are bird figurines made from the wood of a sycamore tree. It was found in the 1898 excavation of the Pa-di-Imen tomb located in Saqqara, Egypt. When tested, the wood dated back to more than 2,000 years ago. The natural design and specific details of the Saqqara Birds prove the insight that the ancient Egyptians had for nature.



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However, the function of the birds are still up for debate. An archaeologist from the excavation says that it could have been created for pleasure or decorative purposes; while others say that it could simply be a toy that a child could play with.

The Baghdad Battery

Considered to be one of the first batteries of civilization, the Baghdad Battery is a device comprising of a 6-inch clay vessel and asphalt that secured copper wire. When the device was filled with an acid or alkaline water, or another liquid substance, an electric charge would be produced, which could cause the oxidation of various metals.



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Although revered as a battery, some scholars say that it is simply a storage vessel. But with overwhelming evidence of light, electricity, and rusted metals, the Baghdad Battery holds true to its name. Currently, it is more than 2,000 years old, and when assembled, is capable of still producing a small charge.

Dashka Stone

Also known as the "Map of the Creator" because of the accuracy of the city from above, the Dashka Stone is a map of Bashkortostan, Russia, from an aerial viewpoint. The map is interestingly complex as it includes the city's lakes, rivers, dams, and other important cities like Ufa, which is the capital.



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The Dashka Stone was discovered in the Ural mountains in Bashkortostan on July 21, 1999. After analysis, it shows that the stone is made up of three different layers of material: the first being cement; the second layer being diopside glass and silicon; while the third layer indicates artificial material from the beings that created it.

Klerksdorp Spheres

Possibly formed by volcanic sediments or ash approximately three billion years ago, the Klerksdorp spheres are a controversial ancient artifact. They are small metal balls with a diameter between 0.5 cm to 10 cm, with two to three lines going around the circumference of the entire ball. The spheres were found in different colors and have a smooth texture when touched.



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The spheres are well-balanced and proportionate in size, including the almost-perfect sphere lines. Considering that the spheres were made about three billion years ago, the question still begs "who created these?" Some experts say that they were naturally formed, while others place emphasis on extraterrestrial beings.

Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin plays a religious role in determining the origins of this artifact. It is a 53-square-foot rectangle of linen that shows the outline print of a wounded man laying down with his arms folded across his waist. The image that was discovered in 1898 holds much importance because it is believed to be the cloth that Jesus of Nazareth was wrapped in after his crucifixion.



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After it was damaged by fire in 1532, it was repaired by French seamstresses. Many tests on remaining pigment and blood have been enacted to determine the validity of who the cloth truly belonged to, yet, it is still a mystery to this day.

The Piri Reis Map

The Piri Reis Map is one of the finest artifacts to be discovered. It was developed by Piri Reis and the Turks in 1513 and depicts images of ancient America. The map shows plenty of different aspects found within ancient America such as technology and civilizations, indigenous tribes, extraterrestrial activity, and even Antarctica before it was covered in ice!



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The map was discovered in 1929 and the images collected for this map came from multiple sources, including those from Arabs, Indians, and Portuguese military personnel. It is also said that the Navy of that time was able to contribute many other images to be pieced to this map.

Phaistos Disc

Discovered on the Greek island of  Crete in July of 1908, the Phaistos Disk presents ancient intelligence and proof of culture. The disk is 15 centimeters across and one inch thick. It is copper-colored and has inscriptions of various images, including tattoos, children, arrows, helmets, and animals, printed into a concentric style on both sides of the disk.



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Experts believe that the disk and the symbols could be an astronomical tale, or simply personality traits of the culture that resided there. Although logical, no proof has been presented to reinforce these claims; yet, the Phaistos Disk is an indication of beings of that time having a solid form of printing.

Voynich Manuscript

As some believe it to be a hoax, the Voynich Manuscript presents solid information to negate this assumption. It was created in the 15th century by an unknown author and holds information within its 240 pages that most experts cannot decipher because the book is written in a language that is not of this time.



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The Voynich Manuscript contains information pertaining to plants, medicine, pharmaceuticals, space, and possibly even the anatomy of the human body. It is a book of intellectual thoughts and details that is still completely intact, and useful today; and although the language is undetermined, the pictures are completely legible.

James Ossuary Box

The James Ossuary is a stone box that was speculated to be used for burial purposes. It is of 1st-century origin and was discovered by Oded Golan in October of 2002. The most fascinating part of this ancient artifact is the Aramaic inscription of it which translates into "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus."



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The Israeli Antiquities Authority conducted a trial for its authenticity that lasted for seven years. The trial ended in 2012 and the inscription was not determined as a forgery. If it turns out to be fully authentic, it will serve as more proof for the physical existence of Jesus of Nazareth.

The Library of Ashurbanipal

Ashurbanipal was a king that ruled over the ancient kingdom of Assyria from 668 B.C. to 630 B.C. His manuscript comprised of massive clay tablets that had many different inscriptions on them. When translated from the ancient Sumerian text, it speaks of historical texts, poetry, legal works, medical treatments, and magical texts and recipes.



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The stones of knowledge became known as the Library of Ashurbanipal and serve as a major part in the comprehension of the ancient east, pre-Roman. The tablets were discovered during the 1850s in Iraq and currently resides in the British Museum for observation purposes.

The Ancient City of Troy

Troy is an archaeological site where the Trojan war between the Kingdom of Troy and Mycenaean Greece was initiated. The site is a ruin of scattered and smashed stones and concrete, yet still holds the image of a city with a battle pit and surrounding structures of shelter.



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Troy is said to be located near the northwest coast of Turkey, and the site being claimed as the official location of the epic battle is still up for debate. This notion changed in the 19th century when artifacts belonging to the ruler of Troy, King Priam, were found near the site. The legend of Troy may still be a discussion, but what is certain is that this site was surely inhabited for hundreds or thousands of years.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is the ancient city, turned archaeological site, on the mountainside of Peru where the Inca tribe resided. It was discovered during the 15th century, then rediscovered in 1911. The city is still in great condition with houses, pyramids, and other structures still being well preserved.



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It is said that Machu Picchu belonged to Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, who was a 14th century Inca Ruler. The city of Machu Picchu spreads across 128 square miles bordered by walls, temples, terraces and canals. Today, this ancient settlement is open for viewing for tourism and historical purposes.

Otzi the Iceman

As you could guess, Otzi the Iceman is the remains of a man who was buried in a glacier and frozen for more than 5,000 years. In 1991, research suggested that this man could have been a herder living in the plains near the mountains.



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Yes, he was found buried in ice, but that isn't how he died. According to a study published in 2012, the man was possibly attacked and struck with an arrow to the chest. An autopsy revealed that the arrow pierced his artery and he most likely bled out; causing him to collapse in the snow and remain there for thousands of years. 

Lucy

Lucy is the name of the female hominid skeleton that lived more than 3.2 million years ago in Ethiopia. She was found in 1974 and became known as A.afarensis. She was of melanin, bipedal, with strong arms possibly due to climbing trees for food, and was a hunter-gather.



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What makes Lucy such a significant find is that she is considered to be the oldest reference to life on Earth over 3 million years ago, and is currently the oldest set of skeleton remains to date. Thanks to the Afar Triangle of Ethiopia, we now know that human life on Earth is older than we previously thought.

Cave of Altamira

Located in Spain, the Cave of Altamira features prehistoric paintings that cover the inner walls of the cave. It was discovered in 1879 and is speculated to have been drawn with natural earthly material such as charcoal, berries, shells, and other pigmented objects.



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The drawings were done during the paleolithic age and feature a bison, wild cattle, and humanoids chasing and running from the animals. Experts say that the drawings were done between 15,000 and 19,000 years ago, but could be double the age based on the evidence found.

Moai/Easter Island

Easter Island is home to the famous human-like statues carved between the 11th and 16th centuries. 1,000 giant statues featuring a torso, arms, a narrow nose, almond eyes, thin lips, long ears, and big red headgear, can be found here and are easy to notice considering that these stone-based depictions range in height between 10 feet to 40 feet!



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It is said that visiting Polynesian settlers developed the ceremonial platforms -  ahu - that the natives of Easter Island used to worship these supposed "deities". They would pray for good fortune, bountiful food, protection, and provisions for the afterlife.

Madaba Map

The Madaba Map shows is the oldest surviving map of Jerusalem, also known as the Holy Land. It is designed with mosaic-style blocks and colors and depicts the Middle East including Syria, Toenna, and parts of northeast Africa like Egypt. The map was found in 1884 in a church and carbon dating has set this map to have been made between 559 A.D. and 565 A.D.



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The Madaba Map mainly shows Jerusalem in its height when it was protected by its six gates, 21 towers, and other forms of shelter. Amazingly, these objects can be clearly seen on the map and make for an important part of Middle Eastern history.

Pompeii

Pompeii was a Roman city in A.D. 79 and inconveniently settled near an active volcano. The volcano erupted and covered the city in a thick cloud of volcanic ash and gas. The ash settled and piled up to almost 25 feet deep, which caused most of the citizens to die, leaving the remains solidly intact and undisturbed beneath it.



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The remains were rediscovered in the late 16th century during an excavation and was seen as a tragic and historical find. Pompeii is now a tourist site for people to witness the natural disaster that took place in Rome.

Akrotiri, Thera

Another city that was covered by rock and ash from an active volcano, Akrotiri is an archeological site that displays well-preserved pottery, tools, and shelters. The city existed around 1500 B.C., which is also the year of the disastrous volcanic eruption that swallowed the city, making it literal ancient history.



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You can visit Akrotiri on the Greek island of Thera - now known as Santorini - and experience the excavations that started in 1967. You'll see many forms of houses, wealth, developed streets, and even outdoor/indoor plumbing!

Palace of Knossos

The Greek Island of Crete is where you can find the Palace of Knossos, a Bronze Age building that covers 150,000 square feet of land inside of a well-balanced economical town. It was discovered in 1878 and many damaged and broken artifacts were. Many speculations as to what could have happened exist but have yet to be proven.



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What does remain is the queen's mega room. This area of the building belongs to her royal highness and the top of the doorway is adorned with a colored image of the sea with dolphins and fish swimming within it.

Sutton Hoo Helmet

Within the crevice of an 86-foot-long shipwreck from 1939 lied the Sutton Hoo helmet; a warrior's helmet made of bronze and clay which covered the entire head and face of the warrior. The warrior was of the Great Britain army and the ship was of Anglo-Saxon origin.



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It is postulated that the reason as to why the ship became wrecked was because the current took the ship off course. Among the helmet that was found was the skeleton of the warrior that wore it; along with other artifacts like silverware, gold, and more bronze and metal helmets.

Nazca Lines

Geoglyphs known as the Nazca Lines cover 170 square miles of land and were created between 200 B.C. and 450 B.C. The designs were made by the Nazca people in Peru, and they created different geometric images including oblong shapes, birds, cats, monkeys, and llamas.



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In 1940, the lines were taken seriously and research studies began to learn of their origin. The studies show that the natives potentially created these designs as a way to connect with space and other beings, or was simply an agricultural tattoo for spiritual or land-tilling purposes.

The Pyramidion of the Black Pyramid of Dashur

A pyramidion is a capstone of the ancient Egyptian pyramids. This particular pyramidion was found in the destruction of the pyramids that occurred in early 1800 A.D. and was found to be connected to the Pyramid of Amenemhat III at Dashur, better known as the Black Pyramid.



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There is clear evidence that this pyramidion has been damaged with major cracks on the walls of the capstone. Nonetheless, it still holds together well and is stable enough to be displayed in the Egyptian Museum of Cairo. There, you'll see ancient Egyptian inscriptions and hieroglyphs designed by the people of 1820 B.C., when the capstone was created.

Meteorite Dagger

Created during the 14th century B.C., one of the daggers belonging to the ancient Egyptian pharaoh King Tut was found within the rubble of the pharaoh's remains. What's cool about this ancient artifact is that it is created with iron, nickel, and cobalt, which suggests that the dagger was made of a meteorite that favors the same metals.



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The assumption has yet to be proven, however, research shows that some of the trace metal elements were not of this Earth, and may suggest an extraterrestrial origin. Similar to this meteorite dagger, a gold dagger was also found next to the space-origin weapon.

Sword of Goujian

The Sword of Goujian was dated to have been created between 770 B.C. and 400 B.C. The sword is more than 2,500 years old and is actually considered to be a dagger. It was discovered in 1965 in Hubei, China at an archeological site. It is made of copper and tin and was placed in a golden sheath.



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The sword is also dressed in blue crystals and turquoise. The Sword of Goujian is now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Arts for observation and tourist speculation. Additionally, you'll notice the inscription on the sword that says "King of Yue...made this sword for personal use."

The Egyptian Pyramids

The Egyptian pyramids are one of the most notable ancient artifacts ever seen. They are found in the land of Giza, located on the outer edge of Cairo, Egypt. They were built in the honor of Pharaoh Khufu over 4,600 years ago and serves as his tomb where he and his precious metals and artifacts, such as a golden staff, masks, and even pets, reside.



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Considering that researchers found long tunnels of copper and iron running through the long hallways, golden caps at the tip of the pyramids, as well as a massive bed of water underneath, it can be postulated that the pyramids could have also doubled as a communication device.

Bonampak Murals

An ancient Maya archaeological site located in Chiapas, Mexico features the Bonampak murals. These images depict the actions, traditions, and ceremonies of the indigenous and aboriginal people of Central America, prior to the invasion of Christopher Columbus in 1492.



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"Bonampak" is the modern Mayan world for "painted walls" and these images can be found across three different rooms of the structure, all reaching from the ceiling to the floor. The events that took place possibly in A.D. 790 features the dressing style, physical features, and rituals of the indigenous people in the most creative and collaborative way.

The Benin Bronzes

The Benin Bronzes are a collection of statues, sculptures, and plaques. The items are actually made out of brass, along with being carved out of ivory, brass, wood, and ceramic, but are called the Benin "Bronze" because of the color of the sculptures. These images once hung on the walls of the royal palace of Oba (King) Nogbaisi, in the African country of Benin.



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The images of the people depicted in the bronzes are that of past kings and queens of Benin. Tragically, in retaliation, the British decided to invade Benin. Including other royal objects, the Benin Bronzes were taken as well and dispersed to other countries for the right price.

Bangwa Queen

The statue that resembles a nude African woman with pronounced breasts, neck ware, and an ascended hair-do is the Bangwa Queen of Cameroon and was created to promote the power and health of the Bangwa people. It is a famous African art piece that was stolen from the Cameroonian people in 1899 before the colonization of Cameroon.



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The statue was brought by an art collector in 1926 for inspection of wealth. In 1966, the Bangwa Queen statue was bought for $29,000 and then sold for $3.4 million. Instead of it being returned to Cameroon, it is now housed in the Musee Dapper (Dapper Museum) in Paris, France.

Zimbabwe Birds

Sculptures made out of soapstone resembles the fish eagle and is the national symbol for the country of Zimbabwe. Many of them were created to signify strength and were placed on the walls of the large buildings built by the Shoana people between the 12th and 15th centuries.



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In 1907, eight of the statues were looted by German colonists and sold to the Ethnological Museum in Germany. After several relocations of the statue, they made their way to South Africa. South Africa returned seven of the statues, with the eighth statue still residing in South Africa, in the museum home of Cecil Rhodes.

The Colima Dogs

A Meso-American artifact known as the C0lima Dogs was created during the pre-Columbian era in Colima City, Mexico. The Colima Dogs - called the Techichi - are believed to be related to the Chihuahua and is considered to be part of the hairless dog family. Research shows that they served many functions with the Aztecs: they were used as watchdogs, healers, a spiritual occupation as a guardian of the dead.



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The Colima Dogs are considered to be the first dog of the Americas and has existed in Mexico for more than 3,000 years. They are typically shown as smooth and stout dogs, with some of them being fat with an ear of corn in their mouth. This symbolizes being sacrificed to the Gods or becoming a future meal.

The Catalan Atlas

Created on the island of Majorca in 1375, the Catalan Atlas of the Medieval manuscript depicts many cities and trade routes of the richest person to ever live, Mansa (King) Musa Keita II. The atlas is on display at the Museum of Art at Northwestern University in Illinois, and places emphasis on Africa's massive wealth and influence during the Middle Ages.



Photo Courtesy [Art Zubov/Wikimedia.org]


Mans Musa was the 14th-century king that reigned over the Mali Empire in western Africa. The lines on the atlas represent the routes that he took on his migration to the holy city of Mecca. History says that along his journey, he gave out much gold to everyone he passed by. Currently, Mansa Musa is calculated to be worth over 400 billion dollars!