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This 2,500-year-old Egyptian bead net funerary shroud was made entirely by weaving thousands of tiny, multicolored beads. It was placed over mummies to turn them into Osiris, housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

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This 2,500-year-old Egyptian bead net funerary shroud was made entirely by weaving thousands of tiny, multicolored beads. It was placed over mummies to turn them into Osiris, housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

ARTIFACT / Photography

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.

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

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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

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The "Bearded Man of Vado all’Arancio" is a 11,600-year-old engraved limestone slab found near Massa Marittima in Italy. Now housed at the Florentine Museum and Institute of Prehistory

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The "Bearded Man of Vado all’Arancio" is a 11,600-year-old engraved limestone slab found near Massa Marittima in Italy. Now housed at the Florentine Museum and Institute of Prehistory

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The Abbey library of St Gall, Saint Gallen, Switzerland. It was founded in the 8th century. The library has a collection of around 170,000 books. Over 400 volumes are more than 1,000 years old.

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The Abbey library of St Gall, Saint Gallen, Switzerland. It was founded in the 8th century. The library has a collection of around 170,000 books. Over 400 volumes are more than 1,000 years old.

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A statuette of a striding figure, considered a hero or a demon. Made of copper, from Iraq , of 3000 - 2800 BCE. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, nr. 611.2010

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A statuette of a striding figure, considered a hero or a demon. Made of copper, from Iraq , of 3000 - 2800 BCE. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, nr. 611.2010

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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

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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

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A tattooed human skin depicting a scene from the Japanese play "Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees". This skin was removed from a man, who died around 1930, by the Japanese physician Fukushi Masaichi who was the founder of a collection of tattoos taken from the dead

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A tattooed human skin depicting a scene from the Japanese play "Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees". This skin was removed from a man, who died around 1930, by the Japanese physician Fukushi Masaichi who was the founder of a collection of tattoos taken from the dead

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The 4000-year-old Harput relief, now housed at the Elazig City Museum in Turkey, was discovered by chance in 2016. This 4-ton limestone relief depicts the conquest of a fortress and the arrival of prisoners before the king

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The 4000-year-old Harput relief, now housed at the Elazig City Museum in Turkey, was discovered by chance in 2016. This 4-ton limestone relief depicts the conquest of a fortress and the arrival of prisoners before the king

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Part of the wall of Darius the Great's palace in Susa , which still retains its color after more than 2,500 years. Only two examples of this wall remains in the world today, one housed at the National Museum of Iran, and the other at Louvre.

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Part of the wall of Darius the Great's palace in Susa , which still retains its color after more than 2,500 years. Only two examples of this wall remains in the world today, one housed at the National Museum of Iran, and the other at Louvre.

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Egyptian gold ring with a cat. Made around 1070-712 BC, the ring is now in the collection of the British Museum.

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Egyptian gold ring with a cat. Made around 1070-712 BC, the ring is now in the collection of the British Museum.

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Cocoon-shaped flask. China, Qin or Western Han dynasty, late 3rd to 1st century BC. Buff earthenware with polychrome pigments. Art Institute of Chicago collection

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Cocoon-shaped flask. China, Qin or Western Han dynasty, late 3rd to 1st century BC. Buff earthenware with polychrome pigments. Art Institute of Chicago collection

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The 9445-year-old Spirit Cave mummy, discovered in 1940 in Spirit Cave in Nevada, is the oldest human mummy found in North America. The mummified man was found to be wearing moccasins and wrapped in a tule matt and a rabbit-skin blanket

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The 9445-year-old Spirit Cave mummy, discovered in 1940 in Spirit Cave in Nevada, is the oldest human mummy found in North America. The mummified man was found to be wearing moccasins and wrapped in a tule matt and a rabbit-skin blanket

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A terracotta figurine in the form of a pig was made in Egypt around 3000 B.C., during the Early Dynastic period. Part of the collection of the Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung in Berlin, Germany.

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A terracotta figurine in the form of a pig was made in Egypt around 3000 B.C., during the Early Dynastic period. Part of the collection of the Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung in Berlin, Germany.

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The colossal 3,200-year-old statue of Ramesses II, which is 11 meters tall and weighs 83 tons. It was discovered in 1820, broken into six pieces at Mit Rahina near ancient Memphis, where it lay for several decades. It is now in the entrance hall of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

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The colossal 3,200-year-old statue of Ramesses II, which is 11 meters tall and weighs 83 tons. It was discovered in 1820, broken into six pieces at Mit Rahina near ancient Memphis, where it lay for several decades. It is now in the entrance hall of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

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A funerary Mimbres black-on-white ceramic bowl with a kill hole at its base. The Mimbres of the American Southwest placed such bowls over the heads of the deceased, believing the spirit must exit the body and return to the underworld through the hole

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A funerary Mimbres black-on-white ceramic bowl with a kill hole at its base. The Mimbres of the American Southwest placed such bowls over the heads of the deceased, believing the spirit must exit the body and return to the underworld through the hole

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8,000-year-old flute made of migratory bird bone, one of the world's oldest known musical instruments. With four main holes and one at the end, its a testament to early humans' sophisticated skill in making musical instruments. Discovered in Shahrud, its housed at National Museum of Iran.

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8,000-year-old flute made of migratory bird bone, one of the world's oldest known musical instruments. With four main holes and one at the end, its a testament to early humans' sophisticated skill in making musical instruments. Discovered in Shahrud, its housed at National Museum of Iran.

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Mummy Mask of a Man. This mask would have covered the head of the mummy of a an Egyptian man. It is highly decorated with images of protective amulets and gods to aid in the journey towards becoming a glorified spirit in the afterlife.

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Mummy Mask of a Man. This mask would have covered the head of the mummy of a an Egyptian man. It is highly decorated with images of protective amulets and gods to aid in the journey towards becoming a glorified spirit in the afterlife.

ARTIFACT / Photography