Buzz
"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there."
History can be both surprising and recognizable. While it's often said that human nature remains unchanged, archaeology still has the power to astound us by unearthing objects that challenge our understanding of the past. Here are ten of the most groundbreaking archaeological finds in recent years:
10. Tintinnabula
For centuries, the Roman Empire was celebrated as the zenith of civilization. Roman ruins, among the grandest structures still in existence, and magnificent statues – more refined than those produced until the Renaissance – were continuously unearthed. However, for a long time, the startling reality of daily Roman life remained completely concealed from the public eye.
The discovery of Pompeii revolutionized our understanding: it revealed that sexuality was ever-present in Roman life. The Romans seemingly felt no shame regarding the male member in particular. The tintinnabula, or wind chimes, discovered in many homes, featured large winged phalluses surrounded by bells. To the Romans, the phallus symbolized masculine vitality and was believed to protect against misfortune.
9. Antikythera Mechanism
In 1901, sponge divers uncovered an ancient shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera. Among typical trade items like statues and flasks was a strange mass of fused metal. For nearly a century after its discovery, this object was considered nothing more than an oddity.
Today, it is recognized as an early prototype of a computer. The various gears and wheels of the mechanism can predict the positions of stars and planets in the night sky. This discovery demonstrates not only a profound understanding of celestial movement but also the ability to recreate these movements through an artificial device. It points to a mechanistic view of the universe, emphasizing the development of science as a method to comprehend and navigate the world.
8. Stone Spears
At the southernmost point of South Africa, sharp stone shards – ideal for spear tips – were found. These artifacts, dating back 200,000 years, suggested that early humans were hunting for food far earlier than previously believed. Some evidence even indicates that humans might have been hunting as far back as one million years ago, with remnants of ancient cooking fires discovered from that time.
7. Ancient Antibiotics
Modern antibiotics have been around for about seventy years. However, bones discovered in Nubia – dating back to 550AD – show traces of tetracycline, an antibiotic that is still in use today.
How could people have used an antibiotic more than a millennium before its discovery? Tetracycline is produced by yeast, which is also used in brewing beer. It appears that the ancient Nubians, including their children, consumed beer as a form of medicine.
6. Mother Goddesses
One of the oldest statues ever found depicts a corpulent woman with enlarged breasts. Known as the Willendorf Venus, this figure was uncovered in Austria and is 26,000 years old. It’s highly unlikely that any member of an ancient society would have been obese, so the statue likely symbolizes rather than represents actual physical characteristics.
These figurines were probably created to symbolize motherhood. The widespread discovery of plump figures at many ancient sites suggests that early religious practices were focused on the veneration of femininity.
5. Visby Lenses
The Visby lenses are a set of rock crystals found in Viking burial sites in Sweden. Each one is carefully polished into specific shapes that enhance vision. These lenses can magnify objects and would have been useful for intricate craftsmanship – but like modern magnifying glasses, they could also focus light. They may have been employed to start fires or even to cauterize wounds.
4. Roman Dodecahedra
Sometimes archaeologists come across an artifact whose function remains a total mystery – but it's rare for an entire category of artifacts to be unknown. Throughout the Roman Empire, small metal dodecahedra with circular cutouts on their faces have been found – yet their original purpose is still unclear. Some speculate they were used as candle holders (which seems unlikely in a time when oil lamps were common), while others suggest they may have been tools for measuring distance.
3. Otzi the Iceman
In 1991, mountaineers found a frozen body in the receding ice of the Alps. Once thawed, it was determined that the body was 5,000 years old. The remarkably well-preserved remains have offered significant insights into the lives of our ancient ancestors.
Pierced ears on Otzi’s body suggest he wore some form of earring. His spine, knees, and ankles were tattooed. His body also bore multiple wounds, including an arrow injury, indicating he was attacked by other humans before ultimately dying in the mountains. While this list focuses on surprising archaeological finds, human-caused death might be one of the least surprising aspects.
2. Ancient Flutes
In a cave in Germany, mammoth bones were discovered with carved holes, resembling modern-day recorders. These bones are 40,000 years old, indicating that intricate, musical societies existed long ago. It's unlikely that one individual would have made such instruments alone; instead, in a community, a specialist would have had the time to carve the instrument and teach others to play, suggesting that early societies placed enough value on music to nurture musicians.
1. Baghdad Batteries
In the ancient ruins of Mesopotamia, jars were discovered containing iron cylinders and copper spikes. Their purpose remains a mystery, though various theories have emerged. One hypothesis suggests that if the jars were filled with acidic grape juice, they could have generated voltage. Modern experiments with reconstructions of these jars have demonstrated that they could produce enough voltage to power electrical devices – though further evidence is still required to confirm this theory.
