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

Analysis of prehistoric human bones unearthed from Maszycka Cave, in Poland, suggest early Europeans engaged in cannibalism, sometimes even eating the brains of their enemies, during a time of war about 18,000 years ago

ARTIFACT

Analysis of prehistoric human bones unearthed from Maszycka Cave, in Poland, suggest early Europeans engaged in cannibalism, sometimes even eating the brains of their enemies, during a time of war about 18,000 years ago

ARTIFACT / Photography

Discovered in a cave in southern Poland in the 1980s, this prehistoric boomerang was made from a mammoth tusk and estimated to be 18,000 years old. But new analysis has uncovered that the boomerang is between 39,000 to 42,000 years old, making it the oldest known boomerang in history.

ARTIFACT

Discovered in a cave in southern Poland in the 1980s, this prehistoric boomerang was made from a mammoth tusk and estimated to be 18,000 years old. But new analysis has uncovered that the boomerang is between 39,000 to 42,000 years old, making it the oldest known boomerang in history.

ARTIFACT / Photography

Archaeologists have unearthed, in 2015, the oldest case of decapitation ever found in the New World. The skull belonged to a young man and was buried in Brazil about 9,000 years old, with severed hands covering its face in a mysterious pose

ARTIFACT

Archaeologists have unearthed, in 2015, the oldest case of decapitation ever found in the New World. The skull belonged to a young man and was buried in Brazil about 9,000 years old, with severed hands covering its face in a mysterious pose

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Vimose coat is a 22-pound piece of chain armor thrown into a Danish bog as a victory offering after battle some 1,800 years ago. Made by hand from nearly 20,000 tiny iron rings, it is the oldest completely preserved chain mail from Northern Europe

ARTIFACT

The Vimose coat is a 22-pound piece of chain armor thrown into a Danish bog as a victory offering after battle some 1,800 years ago. Made by hand from nearly 20,000 tiny iron rings, it is the oldest completely preserved chain mail from Northern Europe

ARTIFACT / Photography

The remains of a prehistoric house from the bronze age settlement of Akrotiri in Santorini, Greece. The settlement was destroyed in the Theran eruption sometime in the 16th century BCE and buried in volcanic ash

ARTIFACT

The remains of a prehistoric house from the bronze age settlement of Akrotiri in Santorini, Greece. The settlement was destroyed in the Theran eruption sometime in the 16th century BCE and buried in volcanic ash

ARTIFACT / Photography

Prehistoric Headdress from Britain, c.8000 BCE: this 10,000-year-old headdress was crafted from the skull and antlers of a red deer

ARTIFACT

Prehistoric Headdress from Britain, c.8000 BCE: this 10,000-year-old headdress was crafted from the skull and antlers of a red deer

ARTIFACT / Photography

This skull was preserved in a Danish bog for 5000 years, with the murder weapon beside it. The man was struck 8 times in the head with this wooden club, and analysis showed that his DNA differed from that of the local Danish population, indicating that he grew up somewhere else

ARTIFACT

This skull was preserved in a Danish bog for 5000 years, with the murder weapon beside it. The man was struck 8 times in the head with this wooden club, and analysis showed that his DNA differed from that of the local Danish population, indicating that he grew up somewhere else

ARTIFACT / Photography

At the prehistoric village of Hamin Mangha in China, the remains of 97 human bodies have been found stuffed into a small 5,000-year-old house before it burnt down. Anthropologists who studied the remains say a "prehistoric disaster," possibly an epidemic of some sort, killed these people

ARTIFACT

At the prehistoric village of Hamin Mangha in China, the remains of 97 human bodies have been found stuffed into a small 5,000-year-old house before it burnt down. Anthropologists who studied the remains say a "prehistoric disaster," possibly an epidemic of some sort, killed these people

ARTIFACT / Photography

An orange-red church and a lone rider in European garb, the work of an unknown historic-period native artist, loom from the shelter wall in a Lower Pecos canyon in Texas. Perhaps native peoples painted these and similar images as a means of recording events.

ARTIFACT

An orange-red church and a lone rider in European garb, the work of an unknown historic-period native artist, loom from the shelter wall in a Lower Pecos canyon in Texas. Perhaps native peoples painted these and similar images as a means of recording events.

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Pilling Figurines are a set of eleven clay figurines made by the Fremont culture around 1000 years ago. They were discovered in 1950 under a rock overhang in a side canyon of Range Creek, Utah, and are now housed at the USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum

ARTIFACT

The Pilling Figurines are a set of eleven clay figurines made by the Fremont culture around 1000 years ago. They were discovered in 1950 under a rock overhang in a side canyon of Range Creek, Utah, and are now housed at the USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum

ARTIFACT / Photography

A bear body made from clay with a bear skull in between its paws, made during the Upper Paleolithic and found in the Montespan cave in France. Riddled with holes from spear points, it was possibly used to teach hunting, or perhaps used for a ritual

ARTIFACT

A bear body made from clay with a bear skull in between its paws, made during the Upper Paleolithic and found in the Montespan cave in France. Riddled with holes from spear points, it was possibly used to teach hunting, or perhaps used for a ritual

ARTIFACT / Photography

A 2000-year-old well preserved polychrome mosaic has been unearthed in Alès, France. The discovery occurred during preventive excavations conducted between February and June 2025 at the Hermitage, on the heights of the town

ARTIFACT

A 2000-year-old well preserved polychrome mosaic has been unearthed in Alès, France. The discovery occurred during preventive excavations conducted between February and June 2025 at the Hermitage, on the heights of the town

ARTIFACT / Photography

In a stunning find deep in the woods of North Jura, Poland, metal detectorists have found a Roman sword from 2,000 years ago. The sword was in three pieces, which researchers think might mean it was part of a burial or ceremony.

ARTIFACT

In a stunning find deep in the woods of North Jura, Poland, metal detectorists have found a Roman sword from 2,000 years ago. The sword was in three pieces, which researchers think might mean it was part of a burial or ceremony.

ARTIFACT / Photography

Prehistoric Flute from Germany, c.40,000 BCE: this is one of the oldest musical instruments ever discovered, and it was carved from the wing-bone of a griffon vulture

ARTIFACT

Prehistoric Flute from Germany, c.40,000 BCE: this is one of the oldest musical instruments ever discovered, and it was carved from the wing-bone of a griffon vulture

ARTIFACT / Photography

"Venus of Kołobrzeg", Venus figurine made of limestone, found by a farmer near Kołobrzeg, Poland in December 2022. Created 6,000 years ago during the Neolithic period. Currently in the Museum of Polish Arms.

ARTIFACT

"Venus of Kołobrzeg", Venus figurine made of limestone, found by a farmer near Kołobrzeg, Poland in December 2022. Created 6,000 years ago during the Neolithic period. Currently in the Museum of Polish Arms.

ARTIFACT / Photography

Marble busts depicting Black Africans, produced widely in Venice and Rome, were popular throughout Europe in the 17-18th centuries. This example is sculpted with sensitivity and realism, suggesting it was based on a real person

ARTIFACT

Marble busts depicting Black Africans, produced widely in Venice and Rome, were popular throughout Europe in the 17-18th centuries. This example is sculpted with sensitivity and realism, suggesting it was based on a real person

ARTIFACT / Photography

The 4000-year-old skeletons of an adult who was trying to shield a child from a massive earthquake that struck China in 2000 BCE and triggered massive floods, in an event that is sometimes referred to as ‘China’s Pompeii’. Now located at the Lajia Ruins Museum in northwest China

ARTIFACT

The 4000-year-old skeletons of an adult who was trying to shield a child from a massive earthquake that struck China in 2000 BCE and triggered massive floods, in an event that is sometimes referred to as ‘China’s Pompeii’. Now located at the Lajia Ruins Museum in northwest China

ARTIFACT / Photography