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

An 18th century Chinese shoe for a bound foot. Foot-binding was a painful practice first carried out on young girls 1000 years ago in China to make their feet as small as possible, which were considered a status symbol and a mark of feminine beauty. The practice was banned in 1912

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An 18th century Chinese shoe for a bound foot. Foot-binding was a painful practice first carried out on young girls 1000 years ago in China to make their feet as small as possible, which were considered a status symbol and a mark of feminine beauty. The practice was banned in 1912

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Pair of Chinese Lotus Shoes for the practice of foot binding, 19th century. Embroidered satin, wood, paper, 3 15/16 x 4 1/8 in.

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Pair of Chinese Lotus Shoes for the practice of foot binding, 19th century. Embroidered satin, wood, paper, 3 15/16 x 4 1/8 in.

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In 1965, a young girl on a picnic found what she thought at first to be a small grinding stone. It turned out to be a 900-year-old pottery jar containing 1,212 beads, 240 pendants, all of turquoise, and 36 perforated glycimeris shells. Hohokam culture, Arizona State Museum

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In 1965, a young girl on a picnic found what she thought at first to be a small grinding stone. It turned out to be a 900-year-old pottery jar containing 1,212 beads, 240 pendants, all of turquoise, and 36 perforated glycimeris shells. Hohokam culture, Arizona State Museum

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A painted round table from one of the dining rooms at villa Moregine in Pompeii. The table has a marble top from the centre of which water flowed to enhance the dining experience. The beds were faced with marble, and a small channel ran around inside them and was fed by 14 water jets

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A painted round table from one of the dining rooms at villa Moregine in Pompeii. The table has a marble top from the centre of which water flowed to enhance the dining experience. The beds were faced with marble, and a small channel ran around inside them and was fed by 14 water jets

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View through the starboard sponson entry hatch of an MK-IV "Male" tank, with a Lewis machine gun in the foreground and a 6-pounder behind, 1917. The Male carried two 6-pound cannons and three Lewis MGs. The Lewis were standardized for Mark IV tanks due to their compact barrels...

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View through the starboard sponson entry hatch of an MK-IV "Male" tank, with a Lewis machine gun in the foreground and a 6-pounder behind, 1917. The Male carried two 6-pound cannons and three Lewis MGs. The Lewis were standardized for Mark IV tanks due to their compact barrels...

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Athena Parthenos Chiaramonti, colossal head of Athena, Rome, late 1st century CE. Found together with an arm and a foot, it was part of an acrolith statue believed to be a copy of an original from the circle of Phidias

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Athena Parthenos Chiaramonti, colossal head of Athena, Rome, late 1st century CE. Found together with an arm and a foot, it was part of an acrolith statue believed to be a copy of an original from the circle of Phidias

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Pair of ivory Benin leopards. Leopards were considered 'kings of the forest' and were an important symbol of regal power in Benin. 19th century Nigeria, British Museum

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Pair of ivory Benin leopards. Leopards were considered 'kings of the forest' and were an important symbol of regal power in Benin. 19th century Nigeria, British Museum

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Bronze Drum from the Idaean Cave. In ancient Greece, the tympanon was a type of circular, shallow tambourine, beaten with the palm of the hand or a stick. This one dates from the 8th century BC and is considered the first to appear in Greek art. It is a votive bronze disc found...

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Bronze Drum from the Idaean Cave. In ancient Greece, the tympanon was a type of circular, shallow tambourine, beaten with the palm of the hand or a stick. This one dates from the 8th century BC and is considered the first to appear in Greek art. It is a votive bronze disc found...

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The Titus tazza is one of the Aldobrandini Tazze which are a set of 12 silver-gilt standing cups, made during the late 16th century. The inside surface of each bowl is chased with four scenes which describe the lives of the first 12 Roman emperors

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The Titus tazza is one of the Aldobrandini Tazze which are a set of 12 silver-gilt standing cups, made during the late 16th century. The inside surface of each bowl is chased with four scenes which describe the lives of the first 12 Roman emperors

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Beauchêne Skull of a 14-year-old French girl whe died in the late nineteenth century. Featured in the book “Skulls: Portraits of the Dead and the Stories They Tell”

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Beauchêne Skull of a 14-year-old French girl whe died in the late nineteenth century. Featured in the book “Skulls: Portraits of the Dead and the Stories They Tell”

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DNA extracted from bones and teeth in a 4600-year-old stone age burial has provided the earliest evidence for the nuclear family as a social structure. The grave which was found in Germany, consists of 2 parents and 2 sons who were buried together after being killed in a violent conflict

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DNA extracted from bones and teeth in a 4600-year-old stone age burial has provided the earliest evidence for the nuclear family as a social structure. The grave which was found in Germany, consists of 2 parents and 2 sons who were buried together after being killed in a violent conflict

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The Criel Mound in West Virginia, built in 250–150 BC. Inside the mound, there was 2 skeletons near the top, and 11 at the base, which consisted of a large skeleton at the center surrounded by 10 others arranged in a spoke-like pattern with their feet pointing toward the central skeleton

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The Criel Mound in West Virginia, built in 250–150 BC. Inside the mound, there was 2 skeletons near the top, and 11 at the base, which consisted of a large skeleton at the center surrounded by 10 others arranged in a spoke-like pattern with their feet pointing toward the central skeleton

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Bronze statue of a young man. The figure shown is in the middle of a prayer - hence its name "Praying Boy". The object was found in Rhodes, and is dated to the 3rd century BCE.

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Bronze statue of a young man. The figure shown is in the middle of a prayer - hence its name "Praying Boy". The object was found in Rhodes, and is dated to the 3rd century BCE.

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The skull of a viking man with filed teeth, found in a mass grave in Dorset. The purpose behind filed teeth remains unclear but some researchers believe that the teeth carvings were likely dyed to frighten opponents in battle or to show their status as a great fighter

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The skull of a viking man with filed teeth, found in a mass grave in Dorset. The purpose behind filed teeth remains unclear but some researchers believe that the teeth carvings were likely dyed to frighten opponents in battle or to show their status as a great fighter

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In 2018, archaeologists in Peru have found the mummified remains of 5 sacrificed llamas, which are still adorned with the colorful strings, red paint and feathers that the Inca decorated them with before sending them to their deaths about 500 years ago, likely by burying them alive

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In 2018, archaeologists in Peru have found the mummified remains of 5 sacrificed llamas, which are still adorned with the colorful strings, red paint and feathers that the Inca decorated them with before sending them to their deaths about 500 years ago, likely by burying them alive

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Statue of Sobekneferu. The first confirmed female Pharoah. She ruled for 3 years and 10 months around 1800 bc during the 12th dynasty. The statue was lost in World War 2.

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Statue of Sobekneferu. The first confirmed female Pharoah. She ruled for 3 years and 10 months around 1800 bc during the 12th dynasty. The statue was lost in World War 2.

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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

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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

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Gold enamelled set featuring astrological themes which were extremely popular in 19th-century Iran. The 12 signs of the zodiac and their Chinese horoscope equivalents, joined to the personifications of the six primary constellations are combined on the surfaces of both bowl and lid

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Gold enamelled set featuring astrological themes which were extremely popular in 19th-century Iran. The 12 signs of the zodiac and their Chinese horoscope equivalents, joined to the personifications of the six primary constellations are combined on the surfaces of both bowl and lid

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