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The Treasure of Pouan consists of a number of gold and garnet cloisonné jewels and ornaments, and 2 iron swords with hilts encased in gold, buried with a skeleton uncovered in 1842 at Pouan-les-Vallées, in France, and identified as the burial of a 5th century CE Germanic warrior

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The Treasure of Pouan consists of a number of gold and garnet cloisonné jewels and ornaments, and 2 iron swords with hilts encased in gold, buried with a skeleton uncovered in 1842 at Pouan-les-Vallées, in France, and identified as the burial of a 5th century CE Germanic warrior

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A 7th or 8th century CE ivory comb, encrusted with gold and jewels, believed to be from Syria or Egypt. Now housed at the treasury of the Quedlinburg cathedral in Germany

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A 7th or 8th century CE ivory comb, encrusted with gold and jewels, believed to be from Syria or Egypt. Now housed at the treasury of the Quedlinburg cathedral in Germany

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A 5th century CE Visigothic gold ring, from Seysses in France, with cloisonné decoration of glass and garnet raptor heads. Now housed at the Musée Saint-Raymond in Toulouse

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A 5th century CE Visigothic gold ring, from Seysses in France, with cloisonné decoration of glass and garnet raptor heads. Now housed at the Musée Saint-Raymond in Toulouse

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The “Ryazan Barmy treasure” discovered in 1822 in Ryazan, Russia. Made of gold, cloisonné enamel, precious stones, and pearls. 12th-13th century CE, now housed at Moscow Kremlin Museums

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The “Ryazan Barmy treasure” discovered in 1822 in Ryazan, Russia. Made of gold, cloisonné enamel, precious stones, and pearls. 12th-13th century CE, now housed at Moscow Kremlin Museums

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The skeleton of an adult male who was buried in a unique position at the Hirota site, in Japan, with his arms clasped and kneeling. The man was wearing over 10,000 pieces of shell ornaments, which account for about a quarter of the shell artifacts excavated at the site. 2nd-7th century CE

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The skeleton of an adult male who was buried in a unique position at the Hirota site, in Japan, with his arms clasped and kneeling. The man was wearing over 10,000 pieces of shell ornaments, which account for about a quarter of the shell artifacts excavated at the site. 2nd-7th century CE

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This 1680 CE detector lock records each unlocking on a numbered dial beside the clock. A man's figure points to the total as the dial turns whenever the key is used. His front leg conceals the keyhole until a button swings it forward, and tilting his hat releases the door bolt

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This 1680 CE detector lock records each unlocking on a numbered dial beside the clock. A man's figure points to the total as the dial turns whenever the key is used. His front leg conceals the keyhole until a button swings it forward, and tilting his hat releases the door bolt

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Remains of Roman leather shoes from the site of Martres de Veyre . The sole consists of several layers of leather held together with iron nails. Discovered in 1893. Dated back to II century CE.

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Remains of Roman leather shoes from the site of Martres de Veyre . The sole consists of several layers of leather held together with iron nails. Discovered in 1893. Dated back to II century CE.

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A set of gold jewellery unearthed from the tomb of a woman in Taranto, Italy. The set includes a gold ring, 2 necklaces, 2 earrings, 2 bracelets and a gold hairnet with a central medallion and a ribbon-like base studded with garnets. 3rd century BCE, Altes Museum in Berlin

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A set of gold jewellery unearthed from the tomb of a woman in Taranto, Italy. The set includes a gold ring, 2 necklaces, 2 earrings, 2 bracelets and a gold hairnet with a central medallion and a ribbon-like base studded with garnets. 3rd century BCE, Altes Museum in Berlin

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While preparing for construction of a housing development in Stuttgart, Germany, an ancient horse cemetery with more than 100 burials was discovered that was used by the Roman cavalry unit stationed nearby in the second century C.E.

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While preparing for construction of a housing development in Stuttgart, Germany, an ancient horse cemetery with more than 100 burials was discovered that was used by the Roman cavalry unit stationed nearby in the second century C.E.

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Sandby borg is an Iron Age ringfort, in Sweden, that was the scene of a massacre in the 5th century CE. The victims of the massacre discovered so far, all males, were never buried but are found lying as they fell. 5 deposits of exquisite jewelry were also discovered hidden in the fort

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Sandby borg is an Iron Age ringfort, in Sweden, that was the scene of a massacre in the 5th century CE. The victims of the massacre discovered so far, all males, were never buried but are found lying as they fell. 5 deposits of exquisite jewelry were also discovered hidden in the fort

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Pair of brooches, Gold plating on silver with inlaid garnet, glass, and enamel circa 430, Part of the Treasure of Untersiebenbrunn, from an East Germanic grave

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Pair of brooches, Gold plating on silver with inlaid garnet, glass, and enamel circa 430, Part of the Treasure of Untersiebenbrunn, from an East Germanic grave

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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.

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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.

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2nd century CE Roman pipe burial from Wales. Within the tomb was a lead canister containing cremated bones and a piece of linen bearing traces of frankincense. Pipe burials are thought to have allowed relatives to pour blood or wine into the container to nourish the soul of the deceased

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2nd century CE Roman pipe burial from Wales. Within the tomb was a lead canister containing cremated bones and a piece of linen bearing traces of frankincense. Pipe burials are thought to have allowed relatives to pour blood or wine into the container to nourish the soul of the deceased

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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 grave of a woman, at Mulhouse-Est in France, who was buried with several ornaments that she was wearing at the time of her burial, but alongside her was also a kind of pile made up of 617 shaped beads. Linear Pottery culture

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The grave of a woman, at Mulhouse-Est in France, who was buried with several ornaments that she was wearing at the time of her burial, but alongside her was also a kind of pile made up of 617 shaped beads. Linear Pottery culture

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The interior of the 4 m long stone coffin at the 90 m long Mukonoda tumulus in Japan. The inside of the coffin is dyed vermilion and contains the remains of a woman who was buried with 3 bronze mirrors, as well as beautiful ornaments such as magatama and wheel stones. 4th century CE

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The interior of the 4 m long stone coffin at the 90 m long Mukonoda tumulus in Japan. The inside of the coffin is dyed vermilion and contains the remains of a woman who was buried with 3 bronze mirrors, as well as beautiful ornaments such as magatama and wheel stones. 4th century CE

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The Dunstable Swan Jewel a gold and enamel brooch given as a livery badge. The probable recipient was the future Henry V of England — 15th century

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The Dunstable Swan Jewel a gold and enamel brooch given as a livery badge. The probable recipient was the future Henry V of England — 15th century

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The royal scepter from the Hungarian Crown Jewels, made in the 11th century CE and consists of a thin, gilded silver handle with a 7 cm diameter crystal ball mounted on it, with motifs inlaid on three sides

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The royal scepter from the Hungarian Crown Jewels, made in the 11th century CE and consists of a thin, gilded silver handle with a 7 cm diameter crystal ball mounted on it, with motifs inlaid on three sides

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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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An aerial view of Iraj Castle, a Sasanian fortification built in the 4th-5th century CE in Iran. The monument is known for its peculiar design: large defensive walls with embedded rooms and arches, with towers at regular intervals, enclosing a vast empty interior of 190 hectares

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An aerial view of Iraj Castle, a Sasanian fortification built in the 4th-5th century CE in Iran. The monument is known for its peculiar design: large defensive walls with embedded rooms and arches, with towers at regular intervals, enclosing a vast empty interior of 190 hectares

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