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

For the first time in 200 years, the Parthenon’s exterior is completely free of scaffolding on all sides. It’s also the first time in 20 years that the western side has been scaffold-free. At least six generations have never seen the Parthenon unobstructed.

ARTIFACT

For the first time in 200 years, the Parthenon’s exterior is completely free of scaffolding on all sides. It’s also the first time in 20 years that the western side has been scaffold-free. At least six generations have never seen the Parthenon unobstructed.

ARTIFACT / Photography

After 220 years, the Western pediment of the Parthenon has been restored to its most complete form. The restoration uses marble extracted from the same mountain as the ancient original, Mt Pentelicus.

ARTIFACT

After 220 years, the Western pediment of the Parthenon has been restored to its most complete form. The restoration uses marble extracted from the same mountain as the ancient original, Mt Pentelicus.

ARTIFACT / Photography

Sealed inside a ceramic funerary pot for over 4,500 years, an Old Kingdom man has become the first ancient Egyptian to undergo whole genome analysis. The man had North African Neolithic ancestry, mixed with a 20% genetic contribution from the Eastern Fertile Crescent

ARTIFACT

Sealed inside a ceramic funerary pot for over 4,500 years, an Old Kingdom man has become the first ancient Egyptian to undergo whole genome analysis. The man had North African Neolithic ancestry, mixed with a 20% genetic contribution from the Eastern Fertile Crescent

ARTIFACT / Photography

A Socketed Copper Adze Found in Northwestern Ontario Several Years Ago. It Was Made by the Old Copper Complex of North America, ca. 8000-1000 B.C.E.

ARTIFACT

A Socketed Copper Adze Found in Northwestern Ontario Several Years Ago. It Was Made by the Old Copper Complex of North America, ca. 8000-1000 B.C.E.

ARTIFACT / Photography

A 5,200-year-old pottery bowl from Shahr-e Sukhteh bearing what is considered the world's oldest example of animation. It shows five sequential images of a wild goat leaping to reach a tree, and when placed in sequence, they create a brief animated scene. National Museum of Iran.

ARTIFACT

A 5,200-year-old pottery bowl from Shahr-e Sukhteh bearing what is considered the world's oldest example of animation. It shows five sequential images of a wild goat leaping to reach a tree, and when placed in sequence, they create a brief animated scene. National Museum of Iran.

ARTIFACT / Photography

A tourist has sparked outrage in Greece after being photographed lifting an ancient marble fragment at the Temple of Apollo, raising serious concerns about the site's preservation. The marble appears to have been a loose piece — meaning that by being moved, it was likely scratched.

ARTIFACT

A tourist has sparked outrage in Greece after being photographed lifting an ancient marble fragment at the Temple of Apollo, raising serious concerns about the site's preservation. The marble appears to have been a loose piece — meaning that by being moved, it was likely scratched.

ARTIFACT / Photography

Archaeologists in the Iznik district of northwestern Turkey have uncovered part of a 3rd century CE mosaic floor, first detected during sewer construction in 2014

ARTIFACT

Archaeologists in the Iznik district of northwestern Turkey have uncovered part of a 3rd century CE mosaic floor, first detected during sewer construction in 2014

ARTIFACT / Photography

Near a royal tomb complex dating to the Western Han Dynasty , archaeologists discovered the remains of more than 400 sacrificed animals. This included the first complete skeletons of a giant panda and a tapir, to have ever been found in a tomb in China

ARTIFACT

Near a royal tomb complex dating to the Western Han Dynasty , archaeologists discovered the remains of more than 400 sacrificed animals. This included the first complete skeletons of a giant panda and a tapir, to have ever been found in a tomb in China

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

In 2007, archaeologists have discovered an 11,000-year-old mural in Syria, which they believe is the world's oldest known painting on a constructed wall. The 2 square-metre mural was found inside the remains of a circular mudbrick building at the neolithic settlement of Dja'de el-Mughara

ARTIFACT

In 2007, archaeologists have discovered an 11,000-year-old mural in Syria, which they believe is the world's oldest known painting on a constructed wall. The 2 square-metre mural was found inside the remains of a circular mudbrick building at the neolithic settlement of Dja'de el-Mughara

ARTIFACT / Photography

Six Bronze Age shields from Scotland, dating from 3300 to 3500 years ago, have been brought together for the first time ahead of a new exhibition opening at the National Museum of Scotland this summer

ARTIFACT

Six Bronze Age shields from Scotland, dating from 3300 to 3500 years ago, have been brought together for the first time ahead of a new exhibition opening at the National Museum of Scotland this summer

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

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

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

A gold Angel coin from the reign of Henry VIII was part of a big horde found in the garden of house in the New Forest, Hampshire in 2020. Sixty-nine gold and one silver coins were found: four kings, two queens and one cardinal across five denominations dating from the early Tudor period.

ARTIFACT

A gold Angel coin from the reign of Henry VIII was part of a big horde found in the garden of house in the New Forest, Hampshire in 2020. Sixty-nine gold and one silver coins were found: four kings, two queens and one cardinal across five denominations dating from the early Tudor period.

ARTIFACT / Photography

The mummy of king Tutankhamun was laid inside 3 coffins nested within each, with the innermost coffin made of 110.4 kg of solid gold. For the first time since his tomb was opened 100 years ago, the 3 coffins will be displayed together at the new Grand Egyptian Museum

ARTIFACT

The mummy of king Tutankhamun was laid inside 3 coffins nested within each, with the innermost coffin made of 110.4 kg of solid gold. For the first time since his tomb was opened 100 years ago, the 3 coffins will be displayed together at the new Grand Egyptian Museum

ARTIFACT / Photography

200 m off the East Sea in Gyeongju, South Korea, the tomb of King Munmu of Silla is the world’s first submerged grave. Made of unpolished stones, it has 4 channels in 4 directions; water flowing east to west keeps the level of water inside the tomb constant

ARTIFACT

200 m off the East Sea in Gyeongju, South Korea, the tomb of King Munmu of Silla is the world’s first submerged grave. Made of unpolished stones, it has 4 channels in 4 directions; water flowing east to west keeps the level of water inside the tomb constant

ARTIFACT / Photography

Ikoku Ochiba Kago, 1854. Also known as Fallen Leaves from a Foreign Country. The rarest printed text regarding the Perry Expeditions and the opening of Japan to the international world, this one preserved in scroll format, printed a year after first contact. An exciting find.

ARTIFACT

Ikoku Ochiba Kago, 1854. Also known as Fallen Leaves from a Foreign Country. The rarest printed text regarding the Perry Expeditions and the opening of Japan to the international world, this one preserved in scroll format, printed a year after first contact. An exciting find.

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Amber Room, an interior decoration of amber panels, gold leaf, and mirrors, constructed in the 18th century. Looted from the Catherine Palace by German forces during WWII and currently unrecovered. Estimated modern valuation exceeds $500M.

ARTIFACT

The Amber Room, an interior decoration of amber panels, gold leaf, and mirrors, constructed in the 18th century. Looted from the Catherine Palace by German forces during WWII and currently unrecovered. Estimated modern valuation exceeds $500M.

ARTIFACT / Photography

The 20 stelae inscriptions of Nahr el-Kalb, Lebanon, raised over a period of 3500 years by multiple conquerors and generals

ARTIFACT

The 20 stelae inscriptions of Nahr el-Kalb, Lebanon, raised over a period of 3500 years by multiple conquerors and generals

ARTIFACT / Photography