20 messages from the depths of history that the world is only trying to read (21 photos)

What do a Japanese scroll, an Egyptian silver tomb, and stone money from the island of Yap have in common? They are all priceless artifacts that preserve the stories of forgotten civilizations.





In this collection, you'll see unique objects that open a window into the past. Each find, from the opulence of imperial courts to the secrets of funerary rituals and even... demonic noodles, makes you wonder – who were we then?

1. The round tower at Kilmacduagh Monastery in Ireland is notable not only for its good state of preservation but also for its steep slope, more than half a meter from vertical.



The tower is over 30 meters high and likely dates to the 10th century CE.

2. A demon rolls a man into noodles. Japan (Edo period). The author, Nityōsai (also known as Matsuya Heizaburo), was active in the late 18th century.





3. In 2016, archaeologists discovered an ancient clay pot in Denmark containing traces of 3,000-year-old burnt cheese, discarded in an ancient landfill.



4. Etui casket made of gold and enamel, France, circa 1783–1789. Etui caskets (vanity cases) were created to store small items such as sewing accessories, toiletries, or cosmetics.



5. An ancient depiction of the rock-cut temple of Djerf Hussein in Ancient Egypt, dedicated to Pharaoh Ramses II and built by Satau in 1241–1216 BC.



Most of the temple is now buried beneath the Nile following the construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s.

6. The Khufu Solar Boat is an intact, full-size, 4,500-year-old boat from Ancient Egypt that was buried in a pit at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu in the Giza pyramid complex.



The vessel is 43.4 meters long and 5.9 meters wide, and is recognized as the oldest surviving ship in the world.

7. A lira da braccio with a male face on the back of the instrument, made by Giovanni d'Andrea. Verona, Italy, 1511



8. Sassanid blue glass goblet on a silver base, gifted to Empress Kömö (701-760 CE). Currently housed in the Shosoin Repository in Nara, Japan.



9. Silver sarcophagus of Pharaoh Psusennes I (reign c. 1047-998 BC), now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.



Since silver was a significantly rarer metal than gold in Egypt, the silver sarcophagus of Psusennes I is a luxurious A burial indicating great wealth during Egypt's period of decline.

10. Khmer bronze sculpture of Hevajra, a Tantric Buddhist deity representing Enlightenment.



Circa 1200 CE, Northeastern Thailand, formerly the Kingdom of Angkor. Currently housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art.

11. The Crown of Empress Eugénie, commissioned by Napoleon III for his wife in 1855, was damaged during the high-profile robbery of the Louvre on October 19, 2025.



12. "Knocked Down" - a pair of paintings by the English artist William Henry Hamilton Trude, created in 1887.



13. Wooden Mask, Dating to the early 3rd century CE, discovered in 2023 at the Nishi-Iwata ruins in Osaka, Japan. Archaeologists believe this object was used during harvest festivals to pray to the gods.



14. Acha (portable stone sculpture associated with an ancient Mesoamerican ballgame) in the form of bound hands. Veracruz, Mexico, Classic period, ca. 600-900 CE. Stone. Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection



15. The Penetrating Stare of the Antikythera Boy, found in the 1900s off the coast of Antikythera Island, Greece



16. A massive limestone rai stone used as currency on the island of Yap in Micronesia. Ownership was transferred orally, without physically moving the stone due to its enormous weight.



17. Women's cloak (chaogua) from the Qing Dynasty, China, 1750-1755 CE. Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, London



18. Gold applique with four spiders. Peru, Moche culture, 525-550 CE.



19. Jade Burial Suit – a ceremonial garment assembled from pieces of jade, used to bury members of the ruling family of the Chinese Han Dynasty.



For example, the outer suit belonged to Prince Liu Wu (died 144 BC) and was made of over 4,000 jade plates, held together with gold wire.

20. Terracotta figurine of a dog with a puppy, ca. early 5th century BC, Boeotia