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A cache of 11 duck decoys found in 1924 at Lovelock Cave in Nevada. These remarkable hunting tools were made from bundled tule, a long grass-like herb, covered in feathers and painted. Now housed at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

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A cache of 11 duck decoys found in 1924 at Lovelock Cave in Nevada. These remarkable hunting tools were made from bundled tule, a long grass-like herb, covered in feathers and painted. Now housed at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

ARTIFACT / Photography

Moccasins made of deer hide, glass beads and cotton thread, associated with Peo Peo T´olikt, grandson of Ni Mii Puu leader Xa xac ilpilp . Ca. 1880 CE, from Idaho, now housed at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

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Moccasins made of deer hide, glass beads and cotton thread, associated with Peo Peo T´olikt, grandson of Ni Mii Puu leader Xa xac ilpilp . Ca. 1880 CE, from Idaho, now housed at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

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In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on this portable desk. It features a hinged writing board and a locking drawer for papers, pens and inkwell. Now housed at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

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In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on this portable desk. It features a hinged writing board and a locking drawer for papers, pens and inkwell. Now housed at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

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This argillite Haida panel pipe may depict a real incident—an unfortunate sailor caught in the ship’s rigging and dragged to his death. C. 1830 CE, from British Columbia in Canada, now housed at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

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This argillite Haida panel pipe may depict a real incident—an unfortunate sailor caught in the ship’s rigging and dragged to his death. C. 1830 CE, from British Columbia in Canada, now housed at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

ARTIFACT / Photography

These sewing needles, found at grotte du Placard in France, were made from animal bone some 15,000 years ago. Now housed at the National Archaeological Museum of France

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These sewing needles, found at grotte du Placard in France, were made from animal bone some 15,000 years ago. Now housed at the National Archaeological Museum of France

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The Lute and White Snake of Benten ; painted by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai in 1847 CE. Now housed at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C.

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The Lute and White Snake of Benten ; painted by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai in 1847 CE. Now housed at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C.

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“Headdress” said to have belonged to Crazy Horse , a Lakota war leader who helped lead the combined Native forces that defeated the 7th Cavalry under George Armstrong Custer at the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.

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“Headdress” said to have belonged to Crazy Horse , a Lakota war leader who helped lead the combined Native forces that defeated the 7th Cavalry under George Armstrong Custer at the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A 15,000-year-old baton made from a reindeer antler, and depicts a leaping horse. Found at the Bruniquel Cave, and is now housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Saint-Germain en Laye, France

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A 15,000-year-old baton made from a reindeer antler, and depicts a leaping horse. Found at the Bruniquel Cave, and is now housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Saint-Germain en Laye, France

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A mute testimony to the horrors of war, this shattered, bullet-riddled stump is all that remains of a large oak tree caught in the crossfire during one of the most ferocious battles of the American Civil War in 1864. Now housed at the National Museum of American History, Washington, D.C.

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A mute testimony to the horrors of war, this shattered, bullet-riddled stump is all that remains of a large oak tree caught in the crossfire during one of the most ferocious battles of the American Civil War in 1864. Now housed at the National Museum of American History, Washington, D.C.

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Agee arrow points made from novaculite, and found in Arkansas. 700-1000 CE, now housed at the Museum of Native American History in Arkansas

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Agee arrow points made from novaculite, and found in Arkansas. 700-1000 CE, now housed at the Museum of Native American History in Arkansas

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The Tuxtla Statuette is a 16.5 cm high Nephrite figurine, from Mexico, carved as a squat, bullet-shaped human with a duck-like bill and wings. Its Epi-Olmec glyphs include a Mesoamerican Long Count date, possibly March 162 CE. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.

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The Tuxtla Statuette is a 16.5 cm high Nephrite figurine, from Mexico, carved as a squat, bullet-shaped human with a duck-like bill and wings. Its Epi-Olmec glyphs include a Mesoamerican Long Count date, possibly March 162 CE. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.

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2nd century CE Roman leather shoes for a man, woman and child, recovered from the Bar Hill Fort in the centre of the Antonine Wall. Now housed at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

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2nd century CE Roman leather shoes for a man, woman and child, recovered from the Bar Hill Fort in the centre of the Antonine Wall. Now housed at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

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This Olmec jadeite pendant, from Mexico, is a miniature mask of the fat god, a poorly understood being found among the Maya and other early cultures of Mesoamerica. Middle Formative Period , now housed at the Dumbarton Oaks Museum in Washington, D.C.

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This Olmec jadeite pendant, from Mexico, is a miniature mask of the fat god, a poorly understood being found among the Maya and other early cultures of Mesoamerica. Middle Formative Period , now housed at the Dumbarton Oaks Museum in Washington, D.C.

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The chairs and oval table used by the generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee during the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to the United States Army at Appomattox, on April 9, 1865. Now housed at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

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The chairs and oval table used by the generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee during the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to the United States Army at Appomattox, on April 9, 1865. Now housed at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

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The Tissøringen is a large gold necklace from the Viking Age, weighing 1.83 kg and found at Tissø in Denmark. 850-1000 CE, now housed at the National Museum of Denmark

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The Tissøringen is a large gold necklace from the Viking Age, weighing 1.83 kg and found at Tissø in Denmark. 850-1000 CE, now housed at the National Museum of Denmark

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Double phallus engraved on a pierced stick. From the Gorge d'Enfer in France, made of reindeer antlers, 17,000-11,000 BCE, now housed at the National Archaeological Museum in France

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Double phallus engraved on a pierced stick. From the Gorge d'Enfer in France, made of reindeer antlers, 17,000-11,000 BCE, now housed at the National Archaeological Museum in France

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During an invasion of Naghadeh around 1200 BC, one of the soldiers grabbed a golden bowl from the treasury and tried to escape with it. He fell and died clutching it, bending the bowl under his weight. Discovered beneath his skeleton in 1958, it’s now housed at National Museum of Iran.

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During an invasion of Naghadeh around 1200 BC, one of the soldiers grabbed a golden bowl from the treasury and tried to escape with it. He fell and died clutching it, bending the bowl under his weight. Discovered beneath his skeleton in 1958, it’s now housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A 19th century CE Tashkent Suzani from Uzbekistan. Made of silk and cotton, now housed at the George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum in Washington, D.C.

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A 19th century CE Tashkent Suzani from Uzbekistan. Made of silk and cotton, now housed at the George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum in Washington, D.C.

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A whaling suit from Greenland, made some time before 1834. The hunter crawled into the sealskin suit through the central hole, making it waterproof by pulling the hole closed. Now housed at the National Museum of Denmark

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A whaling suit from Greenland, made some time before 1834. The hunter crawled into the sealskin suit through the central hole, making it waterproof by pulling the hole closed. Now housed at the National Museum of Denmark

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