15 Ancient Artifacts That Will Leave You in Awe (16 photos)

We're used to the idea that ancient artifacts are mostly boring.





But just look at this grin on this practical Bolivian figurine. Feel the weight of the intricately carved door from the College of St. Jerome. Imagine the wind singing in the mouth of a winged chiwen. These aren't exhibits, but characters. Each has its own secret (and perhaps even its own ghost). Check out this collection if you're ready to penetrate the forbidden halls of history.

1. A marble statue of the goddess Athena, approximately 1.8 meters tall, was discovered in Laodicea, an ancient city in southwestern Turkey.



The style of carving suggests that the sculpture dates back to the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus, between 27 BC and 14 AD.

2. Mongolian tetsuhau bombs, found in a shipwreck off the coast of Takashima Island, were originally filled with iron shrapnel. Nagasaki, Japan, 13th century





3. Bronze head of an Akkadian ruler discovered in Nineveh, Iraq



Believed to depict either Sargon (died c. 2279 BC) or, more likely, Sargon's grandson Naram-Sin (reigned c. 2255-2218 BC).

4. Chinese ceramics expert Nicholas K.S. Chow displays a blue and white vase made during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (1736-1795 CE).



5. A variant of the Roman Montefortino helmet. Made of bronze and dating to the 1st century AD.



6. Anthropomorphic figure, relief, 1500 BC. Andean Chiripa culture.



National Archaeological Museum, La Paz, Bolivia.

7. A tomahawk cast from brass and steel tubing, used by the British in trade with Native Americans, circa 1780-1830.



8. A redstone Cahok figurine depicting a crouching man, found in Mound C at the Shiloh site in Tennessee.



9. A gold-copper alloy pendant depicting a man and animals. Columbia, 900-1600 CE.



10. Doorway arch at the College of San Jerome. Galicia, Spain, 1490.



11. Oval birch bark box with lid, decorated with porcupine quills, Mi'kmaq culture, 1850-1900.



12. Glazed vessel-shaped figurine, Tiahuanaco Museum, La Paz, Bolivia



13. Roof ridge ornament in the shape of a chiwen - a dragon with fish features. China, Western Xia Dynasty, 1038-1227 CE.



14. Tepetlacalli (stone vessel) containing 16 carved ears of corn. Mexico, Mexican civilization, 1325-1521 CE.



These stone chests were used by the Aztecs as ritual offerings to the gods. The name comes from the Nahuatl language: tetl - stone, petlacalli - reed box.

15. A silver bowl with two handles, decorated with precious stones and cloisonné enamel, by Feodor Rückert, 1899-1908.



Sold at Christie's on April 8, 2025, for $151,200