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3,000-year-old Egyptian statue head of a woman, New Kingdom, limestone, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, statue gained viral attention for its uncanny resemblance to Michael Jackson, largely due to erosion damage to the nose and facial structure

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3,000-year-old Egyptian statue head of a woman, New Kingdom, limestone, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, statue gained viral attention for its uncanny resemblance to Michael Jackson, largely due to erosion damage to the nose and facial structure

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Egyptian limestone statue head of a woman, New Kingdom. Housed at the Field Museum, Chicago

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Egyptian limestone statue head of a woman, New Kingdom. Housed at the Field Museum, Chicago

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When the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the National Museum of Iran in 2019, the Shami Statue specifically drew his attention. The media captured him gazing at the 2,000-year-old Parthian statue for several minutes.

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When the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the National Museum of Iran in 2019, the Shami Statue specifically drew his attention. The media captured him gazing at the 2,000-year-old Parthian statue for several minutes.

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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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Thracian burial gold wreath and ring. The central figure of the wreath is Nike on top of a chiton. National Museum of History, Sofia.

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Thracian burial gold wreath and ring. The central figure of the wreath is Nike on top of a chiton. National Museum of History, Sofia.

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A 2,000-year-old hat intended to keep Roman soldiers cool in the heat of the desert following their conquest of Ancient Egypt has been painstakingly brought back to life. The artefact, now held at Bolton Museum, is believed to be one of only 3 similar headpieces remaining in the world

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A 2,000-year-old hat intended to keep Roman soldiers cool in the heat of the desert following their conquest of Ancient Egypt has been painstakingly brought back to life. The artefact, now held at Bolton Museum, is believed to be one of only 3 similar headpieces remaining in the world

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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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A painted limestone statuette of Amenophis IV and Nefertiti, from Tell el-Amarna in Egypt. Amarna Period, New Kingdom, 1353-1337 BCE, now housed at the Louvre Museum

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A painted limestone statuette of Amenophis IV and Nefertiti, from Tell el-Amarna in Egypt. Amarna Period, New Kingdom, 1353-1337 BCE, now housed at the Louvre Museum

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The bracelet of Pharaoh Amenemope has been stolen by a restoration specialist at the Egyptian Museum and melted down. Dated back to 1000 BC, it contained spherical lapis lazuli beads and was sold for only $4,000 at a gold workshop in Cairo.

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The bracelet of Pharaoh Amenemope has been stolen by a restoration specialist at the Egyptian Museum and melted down. Dated back to 1000 BC, it contained spherical lapis lazuli beads and was sold for only $4,000 at a gold workshop in Cairo.

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Facial reconstruction of one of the young men buried in Lake George, New York and likely a teenager in the Continental Army, created by forensic artist Jenny Kenyon. Image courtesy of the New York State Museum.

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Facial reconstruction of one of the young men buried in Lake George, New York and likely a teenager in the Continental Army, created by forensic artist Jenny Kenyon. Image courtesy of the New York State Museum.

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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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Japanese ivory netsuke in the shape of a man heralding the New Year, Edo period, 18th-19th century, Bern History Museum. In Japanese art, netsuke are wooden or ivory figurines used as a fastener to secure pouches or other items on the belt.

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Japanese ivory netsuke in the shape of a man heralding the New Year, Edo period, 18th-19th century, Bern History Museum. In Japanese art, netsuke are wooden or ivory figurines used as a fastener to secure pouches or other items on the belt.

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A large necklace, from Susa in Iran, with ten rows of small limestone beads held by black schist loops: three appendages and a series of amulets or pendants are attached to it. 3800-3100 BCE, now housed at the Louvre Museum

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A large necklace, from Susa in Iran, with ten rows of small limestone beads held by black schist loops: three appendages and a series of amulets or pendants are attached to it. 3800-3100 BCE, now housed at the Louvre Museum

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The Lead Plaque of Magliano, which contains 73 words in the Etruscan language, seems to be a dedicatory text, including as it does many names of mostly underworld deities. It dates to the mid 5th century BCE, and is now housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Florence

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The Lead Plaque of Magliano, which contains 73 words in the Etruscan language, seems to be a dedicatory text, including as it does many names of mostly underworld deities. It dates to the mid 5th century BCE, and is now housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Florence

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Iranian and German archaeologists have discovered a 3,000-year-old kohl in Iran, containing no traces of organics like those in Egypt, but showing traces of graphite and manganese oxide. This unprecedented formula, which was far ahead of its time, gave the eyes a shiny, metallic luster.

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Iranian and German archaeologists have discovered a 3,000-year-old kohl in Iran, containing no traces of organics like those in Egypt, but showing traces of graphite and manganese oxide. This unprecedented formula, which was far ahead of its time, gave the eyes a shiny, metallic luster.

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The only taxidermied blue whale in the world, 1865 CE, now housed at the Natural History Museum in Sweden. The public was allowed to enter it up until a couple was found having sex inside it; now its jaws are opened only for special occasions like Swedish election days

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The only taxidermied blue whale in the world, 1865 CE, now housed at the Natural History Museum in Sweden. The public was allowed to enter it up until a couple was found having sex inside it; now its jaws are opened only for special occasions like Swedish election days

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Head from a statue of the goddess Hathor in the form of a cow. Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th dynasty, ca 1450 BC. Calcite with lapis lazuli and rock crystal. Loaned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from the British Museum

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Head from a statue of the goddess Hathor in the form of a cow. Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th dynasty, ca 1450 BC. Calcite with lapis lazuli and rock crystal. Loaned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from the British Museum

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An 2400 year old Egyptian coffin with strange and amateurish decorations, shedding light on a tumultuous period in Egyptian history when the Persian Empire was in control of the region and Persian kings deported trained Egyptian artists and used them for building projects in Persia

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An 2400 year old Egyptian coffin with strange and amateurish decorations, shedding light on a tumultuous period in Egyptian history when the Persian Empire was in control of the region and Persian kings deported trained Egyptian artists and used them for building projects in Persia

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In 2017, during construction work at an IKEA parking garage near the Via Tiburtina, in Rome, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Roman road, believed to have been used between the 2nd-4th centuries CE, and which still bore the marks of wagon wheels carved into its stone surface

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In 2017, during construction work at an IKEA parking garage near the Via Tiburtina, in Rome, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Roman road, believed to have been used between the 2nd-4th centuries CE, and which still bore the marks of wagon wheels carved into its stone surface

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