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Marble female figurine, Early Cycladic , Greece, 2800-2300 B.C. The best known type of Cycladic art is the marble figurine, a full-length female with arms folded across the front. Their function remains uncertain, but most were found in graves, indicating a funerary role...

ARTIFACT

Marble female figurine, Early Cycladic , Greece, 2800-2300 B.C. The best known type of Cycladic art is the marble figurine, a full-length female with arms folded across the front. Their function remains uncertain, but most were found in graves, indicating a funerary role...

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On the left: marble head of a Cycladic female figure with preserved red pigment remains, ca. 2500–2300 BCE, from Greece. On the right: Color reconstructions by Elizabeth Hendrix

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On the left: marble head of a Cycladic female figure with preserved red pigment remains, ca. 2500–2300 BCE, from Greece. On the right: Color reconstructions by Elizabeth Hendrix

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Ceramic "frying pan"-type footed pot with a relief of a solar symbol surrounded by ocean waves and a vulva underneath. Grave XI, Chalandriani cemetery, Syros, Cyclades, South Aegean, Greece; Keros-Syros culture, Early Cycladic II period, c. 2700–2300 BCE.

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Ceramic "frying pan"-type footed pot with a relief of a solar symbol surrounded by ocean waves and a vulva underneath. Grave XI, Chalandriani cemetery, Syros, Cyclades, South Aegean, Greece; Keros-Syros culture, Early Cycladic II period, c. 2700–2300 BCE.

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Sanxingdui head with gold foil mask: they were a civilization in China contemporary, but culturally different from Shang, the bronze age Chinese. They're known for their very distinctive and "un-Chinese" art style.

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Sanxingdui head with gold foil mask: they were a civilization in China contemporary, but culturally different from Shang, the bronze age Chinese. They're known for their very distinctive and "un-Chinese" art style.

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Painting depicting two teenage boys wearing somptuous clothes, an early full-length depiction of a black figure in English art, the sitters are unknown, but a text was added later, falsely claiming that the white boy is Prince Rupert, cousin to King Charles I, probably 1626

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Painting depicting two teenage boys wearing somptuous clothes, an early full-length depiction of a black figure in English art, the sitters are unknown, but a text was added later, falsely claiming that the white boy is Prince Rupert, cousin to King Charles I, probably 1626

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The Lady with the Hood or Venus of Brassempouy , France. This 1,44" high fragmentary ivory figurine from the Upper Paleolithic was carved from a mammoth tusk. It is one of the oldest busts ever found and one of the earliest known realistic representations of a human face...

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The Lady with the Hood or Venus of Brassempouy , France. This 1,44" high fragmentary ivory figurine from the Upper Paleolithic was carved from a mammoth tusk. It is one of the oldest busts ever found and one of the earliest known realistic representations of a human face...

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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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2 knives, ceramic containers, a collection of shells, and golden earrings were among the artifacts found in an 800-year-old flooded Lambayeque tomb in Peru. This tomb, located beneath the water table, was found beneath the burial chamber of a seated high priestess

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2 knives, ceramic containers, a collection of shells, and golden earrings were among the artifacts found in an 800-year-old flooded Lambayeque tomb in Peru. This tomb, located beneath the water table, was found beneath the burial chamber of a seated high priestess

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Split-twig figurines found in Grand Canyon caves dating from 2000-4000 years ago. Each one is made from a single twig, often willow, split down the middle, and then carefully folded into animal shapes, often deer or bighorn sheep

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Split-twig figurines found in Grand Canyon caves dating from 2000-4000 years ago. Each one is made from a single twig, often willow, split down the middle, and then carefully folded into animal shapes, often deer or bighorn sheep

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Kraters were used for mixing wine with water at symposia in Ancient Greece. However, the Derveni Krater was also used as a funerary urn. It contained the cremated remains of a man and a younger woman. 40kg, 90 cm, 4th century BCE

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Kraters were used for mixing wine with water at symposia in Ancient Greece. However, the Derveni Krater was also used as a funerary urn. It contained the cremated remains of a man and a younger woman. 40kg, 90 cm, 4th century BCE

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The Hunt Mosaic from the 4th century CE Villa Romana del Tellaro in Sicily, depicting a hunting scene with a banquet in the open air among the trees. The female figure in the center is the personification of Africa

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The Hunt Mosaic from the 4th century CE Villa Romana del Tellaro in Sicily, depicting a hunting scene with a banquet in the open air among the trees. The female figure in the center is the personification of Africa

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One of two figures found facing each other in Ur, Sumer, c. 4500 BP . The tubes coming up from their backs suggest they used to support something, maybe bowls, or a small table now gone. Found in the 'Great Death Pit', a mass grave in the Royal Cemetery at Ur...

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One of two figures found facing each other in Ur, Sumer, c. 4500 BP . The tubes coming up from their backs suggest they used to support something, maybe bowls, or a small table now gone. Found in the 'Great Death Pit', a mass grave in the Royal Cemetery at Ur...

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In the late 6th century CE, Greece was frequently attacked by Slavs and Avars. So a group of people and children took refuge in the Andritsa cave, taking with them lamps, vases, coins and a bronze cross, but for reasons unknown they were trapped inside and their refuge became their grave

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In the late 6th century CE, Greece was frequently attacked by Slavs and Avars. So a group of people and children took refuge in the Andritsa cave, taking with them lamps, vases, coins and a bronze cross, but for reasons unknown they were trapped inside and their refuge became their grave

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In 1958, archaeologists excavating the Sanctuary of Artemis in Brauron, Greece, uncovered a marble relief showing Zeus and Leto with their offspring Apollo and Artemis to the right. 420-410 BCE, now housed at the Archaeological Museum of Brauron

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In 1958, archaeologists excavating the Sanctuary of Artemis in Brauron, Greece, uncovered a marble relief showing Zeus and Leto with their offspring Apollo and Artemis to the right. 420-410 BCE, now housed at the Archaeological Museum of Brauron

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A 260mm 10" pewter syringe with a 150mm plunger from Henry VIII's sailing warship Mary Rose that sunk in the Solent in 1545. It would've been used for treating syphilis with caustic fluids like Hg but no cases of the disease were found amongst the human remains recovered from the wreck.

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A 260mm 10" pewter syringe with a 150mm plunger from Henry VIII's sailing warship Mary Rose that sunk in the Solent in 1545. It would've been used for treating syphilis with caustic fluids like Hg but no cases of the disease were found amongst the human remains recovered from the wreck.

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The West Kennet Long Barrow , built in 3700-3600 BCE and located in Wiltshire in England, is one of the largest chambered long barrows in Europe. It entombed the remains of least 36 people, with the ratio of male and female skeletons being roughly balanced

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The West Kennet Long Barrow , built in 3700-3600 BCE and located in Wiltshire in England, is one of the largest chambered long barrows in Europe. It entombed the remains of least 36 people, with the ratio of male and female skeletons being roughly balanced

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The gold embroidered robe with dragons and phoenixes of the female general Qin Liangyu , who is best known for defending the Ming dynasty from attacks by the Manchu-led Later Jin dynasty in the 17th century

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The gold embroidered robe with dragons and phoenixes of the female general Qin Liangyu , who is best known for defending the Ming dynasty from attacks by the Manchu-led Later Jin dynasty in the 17th century

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The Vix Krater is an imported Greek wine-mixing vessel found in the Celtic grave of the "Lady of Vix" in northern Burgundy, France. Made of bronze and dating back to ca. 500 BC, the Vix krater is the largest known metal vessel from Western classical antiquity, being 1.63 m in height

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The Vix Krater is an imported Greek wine-mixing vessel found in the Celtic grave of the "Lady of Vix" in northern Burgundy, France. Made of bronze and dating back to ca. 500 BC, the Vix krater is the largest known metal vessel from Western classical antiquity, being 1.63 m in height

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The Oseberg Wagon, found in a Viking Age grave mound in Norway. It is in pristine condition, with richly detailed carvings still visible. Early 9th century.

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The Oseberg Wagon, found in a Viking Age grave mound in Norway. It is in pristine condition, with richly detailed carvings still visible. Early 9th century.

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