Explore the diverse breathtaking moments From urban streets to remote landscapes across the globe

A picture of the Minoan Palace of Minos in Crete, and a reconstruction of the palace as it may have appeared in its heyday. Built between 1900-1350 BCE, the palace was a complex of buildings which served as a combination religious and administrative centre rather than a royal residence

ARTIFACT

A picture of the Minoan Palace of Minos in Crete, and a reconstruction of the palace as it may have appeared in its heyday. Built between 1900-1350 BCE, the palace was a complex of buildings which served as a combination religious and administrative centre rather than a royal residence

ARTIFACT / Photography

An aerial photo of the archaeological site of Delphi in Greece, and a reconstruction of the sacred precinct as it may have appeared in its heyday. The ancient Greeks considered the centre of the world to be in Delphi, marked by the stone monument known as the Omphalos of Delphi

ARTIFACT

An aerial photo of the archaeological site of Delphi in Greece, and a reconstruction of the sacred precinct as it may have appeared in its heyday. The ancient Greeks considered the centre of the world to be in Delphi, marked by the stone monument known as the Omphalos of Delphi

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Ranganathaswamy Hindu Temple in Srirangam, India, is the world’s largest active religious complex, spanning 156 acres on an island in the Kaveri River. Built and renovated between the 10th and 20th centuries, it has 7 concentric enclosures, 21 towers, and a 953-pillared hall

ARTIFACT

The Ranganathaswamy Hindu Temple in Srirangam, India, is the world’s largest active religious complex, spanning 156 acres on an island in the Kaveri River. Built and renovated between the 10th and 20th centuries, it has 7 concentric enclosures, 21 towers, and a 953-pillared hall

ARTIFACT / Photography

Qajar-era photographs of the Tomb of Cyrus the Great reveals that the structure was once part of a larger complex. A gate and several columns can be seen, confirming that when it was built in 540 BC, there was an enclosed ceremonial area with a formal entrance path leading up to the tomb.

ARTIFACT

Qajar-era photographs of the Tomb of Cyrus the Great reveals that the structure was once part of a larger complex. A gate and several columns can be seen, confirming that when it was built in 540 BC, there was an enclosed ceremonial area with a formal entrance path leading up to the tomb.

ARTIFACT / Photography

The oldest paved road you can walk in Europe is the Minoan Royal Road in Crete, Greece, which is over 3.500 years old. The road included side drains to handle water runoff, a feature that helped preserve its structure by preventing water damage

ARTIFACT

The oldest paved road you can walk in Europe is the Minoan Royal Road in Crete, Greece, which is over 3.500 years old. The road included side drains to handle water runoff, a feature that helped preserve its structure by preventing water damage

ARTIFACT / Photography

The top image is a reconstruction of the Medieval Louvre which was built by Philip II in 1190. Between 1528-1660, it was generally demolished to make way for expanding the Louvre Palace, while some parts of the castle's foundations were incorporated in construction of the later palace

ARTIFACT

The top image is a reconstruction of the Medieval Louvre which was built by Philip II in 1190. Between 1528-1660, it was generally demolished to make way for expanding the Louvre Palace, while some parts of the castle's foundations were incorporated in construction of the later palace

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Green Stone lying in one of the storerooms of the Temple complex in Hattusa, which was the capital of the Hittite Empire until it was destroyed around 1200 BC. The stone, which is thought to have been made from serpentinite, may have played a role in some religious cult

ARTIFACT

The Green Stone lying in one of the storerooms of the Temple complex in Hattusa, which was the capital of the Hittite Empire until it was destroyed around 1200 BC. The stone, which is thought to have been made from serpentinite, may have played a role in some religious cult

ARTIFACT / Photography

Minoan Bull Leaping Fresco, Crete, 1650 BC. This colorful painting is the most completely restored stucco panel from Knossos Palace. Bull-leaping is considered a key ritual in Minoan religion. As in other Mediterranean civilizations, bulls were venerated and worshiped...

ARTIFACT

Minoan Bull Leaping Fresco, Crete, 1650 BC. This colorful painting is the most completely restored stucco panel from Knossos Palace. Bull-leaping is considered a key ritual in Minoan religion. As in other Mediterranean civilizations, bulls were venerated and worshiped...

ARTIFACT / Photography

X-ray composite reconstruction mapping the internal 37 bronze gears of the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek analogue computer built c. 150-100 BCE. Discovered in a Roman shipwreck in 1901, its mechanical complexity wasn't matched again for 1,400 years.

ARTIFACT

X-ray composite reconstruction mapping the internal 37 bronze gears of the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek analogue computer built c. 150-100 BCE. Discovered in a Roman shipwreck in 1901, its mechanical complexity wasn't matched again for 1,400 years.

ARTIFACT / Photography

The costumes of kings, royal mothers and a bishop from medieval Nubia have been reconstructed by Polish scientists and designers based on 10th-13th centuries CE paintings that once decorated the walls of the cathedral in Faras, Sudan

ARTIFACT

The costumes of kings, royal mothers and a bishop from medieval Nubia have been reconstructed by Polish scientists and designers based on 10th-13th centuries CE paintings that once decorated the walls of the cathedral in Faras, Sudan

ARTIFACT / Photography

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

ARTIFACT

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

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Hammerum Girl found in grave 83 at the Hammerum burial site in Denmark, 78-313 CE. All that remain of the deceased was her hair and her clothing, but it was the best-preserved Danish Iron Age textile from an inhumation grave. The picture on the right is a reconstruction of her dress

ARTIFACT

The Hammerum Girl found in grave 83 at the Hammerum burial site in Denmark, 78-313 CE. All that remain of the deceased was her hair and her clothing, but it was the best-preserved Danish Iron Age textile from an inhumation grave. The picture on the right is a reconstruction of her dress

ARTIFACT / Photography

Knossos Griffin fresco, Knossos Palace Throne Room, Crete. One of the accurate reproductions at the restored room. The surviving original, the remains of which served to make the frescoes now at Knossos, dates from c.1600 BCE, and can be seen at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum

ARTIFACT

Knossos Griffin fresco, Knossos Palace Throne Room, Crete. One of the accurate reproductions at the restored room. The surviving original, the remains of which served to make the frescoes now at Knossos, dates from c.1600 BCE, and can be seen at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum

ARTIFACT / Photography

A section of the Aurelian Walls, which was built in 271-275 CE to supplement the Servian Wall, which were built in the 4th century BCE after the invasion of Gauls. Since then, Rome has expanded its borders, and the walls were used until the fall of Rome.

ARTIFACT

A section of the Aurelian Walls, which was built in 271-275 CE to supplement the Servian Wall, which were built in the 4th century BCE after the invasion of Gauls. Since then, Rome has expanded its borders, and the walls were used until the fall of Rome.

ARTIFACT / Photography

An old picture of the excavation of the Templo Mayor, the main temple of the Mexica people in their capital city of Tenōchtitlan, which is now Mexico City. The Aztecs began construction of Templo Mayor sometime after 1325 CE, and the temple was rebuilt six times

ARTIFACT

An old picture of the excavation of the Templo Mayor, the main temple of the Mexica people in their capital city of Tenōchtitlan, which is now Mexico City. The Aztecs began construction of Templo Mayor sometime after 1325 CE, and the temple was rebuilt six times

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Pyramid of Cestius is a Roman Era pyramid in Rome, Italy, built as a tomb between 18-12 BCE for Gaius Cestius, a member of the Epulones religious corporation. The pyramid measures 29.6 m square at the base and stands 37 m high

ARTIFACT

The Pyramid of Cestius is a Roman Era pyramid in Rome, Italy, built as a tomb between 18-12 BCE for Gaius Cestius, a member of the Epulones religious corporation. The pyramid measures 29.6 m square at the base and stands 37 m high

ARTIFACT / Photography

Guyaju Caves are the ruins of a cave complex, in China, that may have served as dwellings for a fortified community, probably between 1000 and 2000 years ago. The origins of the community are mysterious due to uncertainty about the founding people and later disappearance of the community

ARTIFACT

Guyaju Caves are the ruins of a cave complex, in China, that may have served as dwellings for a fortified community, probably between 1000 and 2000 years ago. The origins of the community are mysterious due to uncertainty about the founding people and later disappearance of the community

ARTIFACT / Photography

Chania lighthouse, Crete, Greece. Built by Venetians c. 1600, it was neglected at first during Ottoman control, but later reconstructed by Egyptian troops in 1864 during their administration, incorporating a unique blend of Venetian and Egyptian architectural styles.

ARTIFACT

Chania lighthouse, Crete, Greece. Built by Venetians c. 1600, it was neglected at first during Ottoman control, but later reconstructed by Egyptian troops in 1864 during their administration, incorporating a unique blend of Venetian and Egyptian architectural styles.

ARTIFACT / Photography

The grave of Warawara, a young-adult female ceremoniously interred with a hunting toolkit 9,000 years ago at the site of Wilamaya Patjxa in Peru. The bottom picture is a reconstruction based on archaeological findings, rock art, and other archaeological evidence from the region

ARTIFACT

The grave of Warawara, a young-adult female ceremoniously interred with a hunting toolkit 9,000 years ago at the site of Wilamaya Patjxa in Peru. The bottom picture is a reconstruction based on archaeological findings, rock art, and other archaeological evidence from the region

ARTIFACT / Photography

A Roman marble head dated around 1st-2nd Century AD has been discovered by Greg Crawley, a construction worker driver while undertaking renovation works in Peterborough. Its bust was also discovered close to the site of the original find and were reassembled.

ARTIFACT

A Roman marble head dated around 1st-2nd Century AD has been discovered by Greg Crawley, a construction worker driver while undertaking renovation works in Peterborough. Its bust was also discovered close to the site of the original find and were reassembled.

ARTIFACT / Photography