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Ancient artifacts are irreplaceable treasures, yet they are still subjected to destruction. Sometimes, this is driven by malice, like when the terrorist group ISIL destroyed priceless antiquities and shared the footage. At other times, it's simply due to thoughtlessness, a phenomenon that occurs all too frequently.
10. Native American Artworks Damaged by Paintball Guns
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is home to Native American monuments and rock art, which hold deep cultural significance to the local Native American tribes as their ancestral origins. These artifacts are even listed in the US National Register of Historic Places. In 2010, park rangers were called in after reports surfaced of people shooting paintball guns in the area. Upon investigation, they discovered paint splatters on the rock art and later apprehended a 20-year-old man responsible for the vandalism.
The man, a resident of Arizona, was sentenced to over a year in prison, a fine of nearly $10,000, and 50 hours of community service after admitting guilt to multiple charges related to the destruction of ancient artifacts. Park rangers had to remove hundreds of paintballs from the canyon, discovering 38 areas of rock art damaged by the shots.
9. Mayan Temple Destroyed for Construction Materials
While it might be easier to accept the destruction of 2,300-year-old Mayan temples due to war or a natural disaster, the reality that they were razed for construction materials to build nearby roads is far more upsetting. This occurred in 2013 when a Belizean construction company used mechanical diggers and bulldozers to demolish most of a Mayan pyramid and remove the limestone.
From the construction company’s point of view, they had their reasons for the act. The Mayan pyramids were made from premium limestone, and the temple was conveniently located near the road construction site, saving on fuel costs. The temple stood on private land, making its owners partially responsible for the damage. Although the bulldozing ceased once the destruction was exposed, much of the temple had already been reduced to rubble, leaving behind a pitiful ruin with significant damage, and likely destroying many archaeological relics within.
8. Thieves Attempt to Steal Cave Art by Cutting It from the Wall
While it's somewhat understandable that thieves might target paintings hanging in museums, who in their right mind would try to steal cave paintings? After all, you can’t just take something painted on the walls of a cave. Yet, someone or a group of individuals were foolish enough to attempt it on a 5,000-year-old cave painting in Spain.
The damage was spotted by tourists, who found small rock fragments scattered on the cave floor and noticed chip marks on the rock where someone had tried to carve the painting out using a tool—an utterly ridiculous idea. Although the paintings suffered some damage, the thieves eventually realized midway through their misguided attempt that it was an impossible task. Perhaps the sight of the painting’s fragments on the floor made them realize it was a hopeless endeavor.
7. Elgin Marbles Damaged by Over-Polishing and Cleaning
The Elgin Marbles are considered some of the most significant cultural artifacts. Originally part of the Parthenon and other ruins in Greece, they were taken and transported to the United Kingdom in the early 1800s. They were initially cleaned with water to remove soot that accumulated over time, but in 1845, the British Museum curators decided to give the Elgin Marbles a thorough cleaning to reveal what they believed was the marble’s original white hue.
The curators used nitric acid to scrub the marbles, dissolving the outer layer in an effort to restore them to their perceived original condition. Further cleaning with ammonia was done in the 1930s under the direction of a lord. Unfortunately, the result was significant damage to the marbles, worsened by untrained workers scrubbing them with wire brushes. This process removed key features of the marbles, and it’s now acknowledged by the British Museum that the damage may have ruined them.
6. Ancient Monument Destroyed by a Bulldozer
Offa's Dyke is a 1,200-year-old structure from the eighth century AD that stretches along the border between England and Wales. Constructed by a local king to protect his land from invaders, it features a trench and an earthen mound. It’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the world’s greatest wall walks, comparable to the Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall. Sadly, in August 2013, a digger clearing overgrowth near a highway damaged and destroyed part of the Dyke.
The individual responsible for the destruction, who owned the land where the Dyke ran, was the subject of a police investigation. Destruction of Offa’s Dyke could lead to fines or imprisonment. However, the man was not punished as police were unable to prove that he was aware of the Dyke's existence, despite having lived in the area his entire life.
5. Tourists Carving Their Initials Into Rome’s Colosseum
It’s apparently quite common for tourists to carve their initials into the 2,000-year-old Colosseum. In one of the most publicized cases, which took place in 2015, two American women used a coin to etch their initials into the ancient arena and then took a selfie. They were quickly arrested, despite having ignored the numerous signs in both Italian and English warning that any damage to the stadium was illegal.
The two women were swiftly detained by the police and charged. Such incidents may have become more frequent in recent years, partly due to staff cutbacks. Ironically, these cuts occurred even as Italy bolstered security around the Colosseum in response to threats from terrorist groups. While increased security can deter terrorists and quickly apprehend offenders, it proves less effective when it comes to preventing graffiti and damage to artifacts. This is compounded by the fact that many tourists regard the deteriorating Colosseum with more indifference than other, better-preserved monuments.
4. Archaeologist Destroys the Ancient City of Troy
Although the story of Helen of Troy may be more myth than reality, there’s no doubt that the city of Troy once existed. The Trojan War was indeed a real event (though certainly exaggerated), although the mythical figures in Homer’s epic tales were not real. In 1870, Heinrich Schliemann, a wealthy German businessman obsessed with the legend of Troy, arrived in Greece to search for the ancient city. He quickly discovered a promising excavation site that seemed to match Homer’s descriptions, complete with signs of a large wall surrounding a significant settlement. It was also clear that the city had been rebuilt multiple times throughout history.
Convinced that Troy was buried under the layers of these ancient cities, Schliemann began to blast his way down with dynamite, destroying seven levels of ruins in the process. Eventually, he claimed to have discovered the jewels of Helen of Troy. Unfortunately, what he had unknowingly destroyed was the very Troy he had hoped to find, as the jewels were from an era thousands of years older than the period of the Trojan War. The Troy that could be linked to Homer’s writings was, on modern analysis, a modest settlement that likely didn’t face any significant siege.
3. The Star-Spangled Banner Was Slowly Cut Apart
Anyone lucky enough to see the original Star-Spangled Banner might notice its unmistakably tattered appearance. This damage isn't due to the usual wear and tear, but rather the result of deliberate cutting by the person who owned it. Lieutenant Colonel George Armistead was the original keeper of the flag before passing it down to his daughter, Georgiana.
As requests for pieces of the flag began to pour in, Georgiana lamented that with so many people asking for fragments, she would have no choice but to cut the flag into pieces to fulfill the demand. Despite her hesitation, Georgiana went ahead and snipped hundreds of sections, including one of the stars, for notable individuals who requested a piece. In total, she cut away around 20 percent of the flag. Eventually, her son donated the remaining piece of the flag to the Smithsonian, where it required extensive repairs due to the fraying and the damage caused by the snipping.
2. Ancient Chinese Tombs Bulldozed to Make Way for New Infrastructure
As China undergoes rapid development, it is constructing vast amounts of new infrastructure, often at the expense of its rich archaeological heritage. When ancient artifacts or burial sites are uncovered, workers typically bulldoze them and continue their projects. In 2007, a construction site for an IKEA store unearthed a series of ancient tombs dating back 1,800 years, which were promptly destroyed so that construction could proceed. Developers chose to pay a fine rather than delay the project to preserve the tombs.
In 2013, a similar incident occurred, but this time with even more audacity. While constructing a new subway system, construction workers destroyed multiple ancient tombs that had been clearly marked off by a local archaeological research center. The construction company had not been granted permission to work in this area. Shockingly, the destruction appeared to be intentional: the workers even took the time to move aside archaeological tools before proceeding with the destruction.
1. Rare Chinese Vase Turned into a Cheap Lamp
In 2008, a London family found out the hard way that DIY projects can cost more than anticipated when a friend brought their table lamp vase in for appraisal. The vase was from China’s Qing dynasty and was made in the 18th century. Had the family left it untouched, the vase could have fetched as much as £50,000. Unfortunately, by turning it into a lamp, they significantly reduced its value.
The family, believing the vase was just an ordinary decoration, had drilled a small hole in its base to thread an electrical cord through and used it as an unattractive lamp for forty years. It wasn't until a family friend recognized its true value that the lamp was taken in for an appraisal. Unfortunately, the hole had already been drilled, and the lamp sold for a mere £5,000 at auction.
