Human ingenuity spans millions of years, leaving behind relics that defy time and rewrite history. From primitive tools to intricate mechanisms, these artifacts unveil the brilliance and resilience of those who came before us. Each one is a snapshot of life, ingenuity, and creativity from eras long past.
This list of nine extraordinary discoveries includes objects that redefined timelines and shattered assumptions. Their stories might change how you see history—and yourself.
1. Oldowan Tools (2.6 Million Years Old)
For decades, the Oldowan tools of East Africa, at 2.6 million years old, were considered the oldest. Consisting of basic choppers, scrapers, and pounders, they marked the beginning of the archaeological record.
2. Egyptian Wooden Toe (2,670-2,930 Years Old)
The history of prosthetics goes back further than you might think. An artificial big toe, dating between 950-710 BC, was discovered on a female mummy in Egypt. Expertly crafted from wood and leather, this functional prosthetic predates the formerly oldest known artificial limb by several hundred years.
3. German Bone Flutes (40,000 Years Old)
In 2008, archaeologists uncovered flutes carved from vulture bones and mammoth ivory in a cave in southern Germany. At an estimated 40,000 years old, they are the oldest confirmed musical instruments, demonstrating the emergence of musical tradition during the Upper Paleolithic.
These flutes provide insight into the cultural practices and cognitive capabilities of early modern humans.
4. Speyer Wine Bottle (1,670-1,700 Years Old)
When it comes to aged wine, it’s hard to top the Speyer wine bottle. Unearthed from a 4th-century Roman nobleman’s tomb in modern-day Germany, it dates to around 325-350 AD, making it the world’s oldest known unopened bottle of wine.
The ancient liquid, now resembling a thick, murky sludge, has survived over 1,600 years thanks to a sturdy seal of wax and olive oil.
5. Areni-1 Leather Shoe (5,500 Years Old)
Radiocarbon dated to around 3,500 BC, this 5,500-year-old cowhide moccasin-style shoe was found exceptionally well-preserved. Its careful stitching, lacing, and inner padding indicate a high level of Copper Age craftsmanship.
Astonishingly, it’s about a US women’s size 7, not far off from the average shoe size today!
6. Royal Game of Ur (4,600 Years Old)
The Royal Game of Ur, discovered in the ancient Sumerian city of Ur, is the oldest known board game. Dating back 4,600 years, this two-player strategy race game, played on a richly decorated wooden board, bears striking similarities to modern-day backgammon.
Its presence in royal tombs suggests games played a significant role in the lives of the Sumerian elite.
7. Antikythera Mechanism (2,200 Years Old)
The Antikythera Mechanism, a 2,200-year-old device discovered off the coast of a Greek island, is the oldest known analog computer. Composed of interlocking gears and dials, this astoundingly sophisticated machine was used to calculate astronomical positions and predict celestial events.
8. Hurrian Hymn No. 6 (3,400 Years Old)
The Hurrian Hymn No. 6, inscribed on a clay tablet from ancient Ugarit, in northern Syria, is the oldest surviving piece of musical notation. Dating back 3,400 years, this hymn, dedicated to the goddess Nikkal, is written in the Hurrian language and features instructions for a singer accompanied by a lyre.
9. Lydian Lion Coin (2,600 Years Old)
The ancient Kingdom of Lydia in modern-day Turkey created the first coins around 610-600 BCE. (ref) These coins, known as Lydian Lions or staters, were made from electrum, a naturally occurring gold and silver alloy.
Lydia’s far-reaching influence helped spread these coins across Eurasia, with one even being discovered in the Black Sea by a diver in 2014.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
