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A time capsule inscription on a rock, 4th-3rd centuries BC, uncovered in Hebei, China, at the time part of the Kingdom of Zhongshan, written by two people to be read in the future. Translation in comments.

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A time capsule inscription on a rock, 4th-3rd centuries BC, uncovered in Hebei, China, at the time part of the Kingdom of Zhongshan, written by two people to be read in the future. Translation in comments.

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The Uyuk Tarlak inscription, discovered in Tannu Tuva in 1888. It contains an old Turkic funerary inscription, likely from the 7th or 8th centuries, by a ruler of the Yenisei Kyrgyz people. Translation in comments.

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The Uyuk Tarlak inscription, discovered in Tannu Tuva in 1888. It contains an old Turkic funerary inscription, likely from the 7th or 8th centuries, by a ruler of the Yenisei Kyrgyz people. Translation in comments.

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Letter dated 106 CE, written by a county officer about attempts on his life by by family members after two murder and robbery suspects were killed for resisting arrest, unearthed from a Han dynasty official document deposit, found in Changsha, China. Full translation in comments.

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Letter dated 106 CE, written by a county officer about attempts on his life by by family members after two murder and robbery suspects were killed for resisting arrest, unearthed from a Han dynasty official document deposit, found in Changsha, China. Full translation in comments.

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A Coptic magical text , 6th–7th century CE, from Egypt. Ink on papyrus, now part of Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

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A Coptic magical text , 6th–7th century CE, from Egypt. Ink on papyrus, now part of Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

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Bronze dagger-axe with inscription. Translation in comments. China, Spring and Autumn period, 770–476 BC

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Bronze dagger-axe with inscription. Translation in comments. China, Spring and Autumn period, 770–476 BC

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Proclamation by King Seonjo of Korea to the Korean people, dated 1593 during the height of the Imjin Japanese invasion, urging Koreans taken prisoner or forced into collaboration to escape to un-occupied territories or provide assistance for the war effort. Full translation in comments

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Proclamation by King Seonjo of Korea to the Korean people, dated 1593 during the height of the Imjin Japanese invasion, urging Koreans taken prisoner or forced into collaboration to escape to un-occupied territories or provide assistance for the war effort. Full translation in comments

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The Roman curse tablets of Bath are the private prayers of 130 individuals seeking justice inscribed on small sheets of lead or pewter. They range in date from the 2nd to the late 4th century AD. Roman Baths Museum. Translation in comments

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The Roman curse tablets of Bath are the private prayers of 130 individuals seeking justice inscribed on small sheets of lead or pewter. They range in date from the 2nd to the late 4th century AD. Roman Baths Museum. Translation in comments

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In 2017, during construction work at an IKEA parking garage near the Via Tiburtina, in Rome, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Roman road, believed to have been used between the 2nd-4th centuries CE, and which still bore the marks of wagon wheels carved into its stone surface

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In 2017, during construction work at an IKEA parking garage near the Via Tiburtina, in Rome, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Roman road, believed to have been used between the 2nd-4th centuries CE, and which still bore the marks of wagon wheels carved into its stone surface

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Excerpt from the Han dynasty civil case Su Jun v. Kou En, dated 3rd year of Jianwu , recovered in 1974 from Juyan, China. The records for the case survived almost in full and provide a view into civil lawsuits of Han China. Translation of entire case in comments

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Excerpt from the Han dynasty civil case Su Jun v. Kou En, dated 3rd year of Jianwu , recovered in 1974 from Juyan, China. The records for the case survived almost in full and provide a view into civil lawsuits of Han China. Translation of entire case in comments

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A pagoda scroll comprised of characters from the Lotus Sutra, written by Li Zhen in 1617 CE. Ming dynasty, from China, now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

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A pagoda scroll comprised of characters from the Lotus Sutra, written by Li Zhen in 1617 CE. Ming dynasty, from China, now housed at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

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Deer skull fragment with inscription about the time and place of a king's hunting activities. China, Shang dynasty, around 1200 BC

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Deer skull fragment with inscription about the time and place of a king's hunting activities. China, Shang dynasty, around 1200 BC

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A 82.9 cm high 15-lantern bronze lamp from the tomb of King Zhongshan . There is a Kuilong above the main frame branch, 2 birds are on the 4th layer of curved branches, and there are 8 monkeys on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th layers of curved branches. Hebei Museum, China

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A 82.9 cm high 15-lantern bronze lamp from the tomb of King Zhongshan . There is a Kuilong above the main frame branch, 2 birds are on the 4th layer of curved branches, and there are 8 monkeys on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th layers of curved branches. Hebei Museum, China

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The final edict of Emperor Wu of Han, one of the most significant ancient Chinese emperors, 87 BC. It was an instruction to his crown prince. Preserved by a copy on a piece of wood discovered in 1977. Full translation in the comments.

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The final edict of Emperor Wu of Han, one of the most significant ancient Chinese emperors, 87 BC. It was an instruction to his crown prince. Preserved by a copy on a piece of wood discovered in 1977. Full translation in the comments.

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Hematite Phoenix Intaglio with a “Digest!” inscription on the reverse shows that the intaglio was considered an amulet for digestion and proper stomach function. According to tradition, the phoenix never ate and therefore had no digestive problems. 1st–3rd centuries AD. BnF Museum

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Hematite Phoenix Intaglio with a “Digest!” inscription on the reverse shows that the intaglio was considered an amulet for digestion and proper stomach function. According to tradition, the phoenix never ate and therefore had no digestive problems. 1st–3rd centuries AD. BnF Museum

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Persian congratulatory address written in 1887 by maulvi syed fazl hussain to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria as Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India ,victoria memorial,indiatranslatiom in comments

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Persian congratulatory address written in 1887 by maulvi syed fazl hussain to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria as Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India ,victoria memorial,indiatranslatiom in comments

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Emily Eden’s Portrait of Prince Partaap Singh Bahadur

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Emily Eden’s Portrait of Prince Partaap Singh Bahadur

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A fresco from Pompeii showing the kiss of a Roman couple. Above is the inscription: NOLO CUM MYRTALE, which can be translated as: "I don't want to with Myrtale".

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A fresco from Pompeii showing the kiss of a Roman couple. Above is the inscription: NOLO CUM MYRTALE, which can be translated as: "I don't want to with Myrtale".

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Bronze figurine of a child riding a lion with an ancient South Arabian inscription

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Bronze figurine of a child riding a lion with an ancient South Arabian inscription

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Painting of Shakyamuni emerging from the mountains by an unidentified Southern Song dynasty artist, dated 1244. Hanging scroll; ink on paper. See inscription translation in comments. Cleveland Museum of Art collection

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Painting of Shakyamuni emerging from the mountains by an unidentified Southern Song dynasty artist, dated 1244. Hanging scroll; ink on paper. See inscription translation in comments. Cleveland Museum of Art collection

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