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In this tablet from Iraq, we find the copper merchant Ea-nāṣir writing to a couple of men, telling them not to overreact when two other men come to them in search of some missing metal. One of the men intimidating the recipients is named Mr. Shorty . C. 1750 BCE, British Museum

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In this tablet from Iraq, we find the copper merchant Ea-nāṣir writing to a couple of men, telling them not to overreact when two other men come to them in search of some missing metal. One of the men intimidating the recipients is named Mr. Shorty . C. 1750 BCE, British Museum

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Roman fresco from Herculaneum showing two young women, where one of them holds a wax tablet and a stylus for writing. Object dated to the 1st century CE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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Roman fresco from Herculaneum showing two young women, where one of them holds a wax tablet and a stylus for writing. Object dated to the 1st century CE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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World’s oldest complaint a Babylonian clay table from 1750 BC, the complaint was written in Akkadian cuneiform by a man named Nanni to a merchant named Ea-nasir, expressing dissatisfaction with the quality of copper delivered

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World’s oldest complaint a Babylonian clay table from 1750 BC, the complaint was written in Akkadian cuneiform by a man named Nanni to a merchant named Ea-nasir, expressing dissatisfaction with the quality of copper delivered

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The first recorded chemists were 2 women named Tapputi and -ninu . This 3200-year-old clay tablet, from Iraq, describes them as perfume-makers from Assur, one of the cities in ancient Mesopotamia. Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin

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The first recorded chemists were 2 women named Tapputi and -ninu . This 3200-year-old clay tablet, from Iraq, describes them as perfume-makers from Assur, one of the cities in ancient Mesopotamia. Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin

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One of a pair of goats, dubbed “Ram in a Thicket”from the Royal Tombs of Ur, Sumer. gold leaf, copper, lapis lazuli, white shell, red limestone base. circa 2500 BC. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The other is in the British Museum

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One of a pair of goats, dubbed “Ram in a Thicket”from the Royal Tombs of Ur, Sumer. gold leaf, copper, lapis lazuli, white shell, red limestone base. circa 2500 BC. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The other is in the British Museum

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the Treaty Cone of Entemena, king of Lagash, to god of Bad-Tibira, about the peace treaty between Lagash and Uruk. This text is the oldest known diplomatic document. From Iraq, dated to c. 2400 BCE, now housed at the British Museum

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the Treaty Cone of Entemena, king of Lagash, to god of Bad-Tibira, about the peace treaty between Lagash and Uruk. This text is the oldest known diplomatic document. From Iraq, dated to c. 2400 BCE, now housed at the British Museum

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An ivory tusk cosmetic spoon in the form of a duck, which turns her head to offer a fish to the two ducklings which ride on her back. From Egypt, 1350-1300 BCE, now housed at the British Museum

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An ivory tusk cosmetic spoon in the form of a duck, which turns her head to offer a fish to the two ducklings which ride on her back. From Egypt, 1350-1300 BCE, now housed at the British Museum

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A mural from Ostia - a Roman port - showing the loading of a merchant ship named Isis Giminiana with grain. Object dated to the 2nd-3rd century CE. Located in the Vatican Museums in Rome.

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A mural from Ostia - a Roman port - showing the loading of a merchant ship named Isis Giminiana with grain. Object dated to the 2nd-3rd century CE. Located in the Vatican Museums in Rome.

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This 724-year-old letter written in a form of Latin shorthand, is from the King of France to his agents at the papal court in Rome, in which he instructs them to support the Scottish knight Sir William Wallace in "those things which he has to transact". National Archives in Kew, England

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This 724-year-old letter written in a form of Latin shorthand, is from the King of France to his agents at the papal court in Rome, in which he instructs them to support the Scottish knight Sir William Wallace in "those things which he has to transact". National Archives in Kew, England

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Roman marble sculpture showing the philosopher Socrates. The object is dated to the mid-1st century CE and is a copy of a Greek original from the 4th century BCE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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Roman marble sculpture showing the philosopher Socrates. The object is dated to the mid-1st century CE and is a copy of a Greek original from the 4th century BCE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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A proverb tablet, dated to the Old Babylonian Period , which says: "The dog understands: 'Take it!' It does not understand: 'Put it down!'". From Iraq, now housed at the British Museum

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A proverb tablet, dated to the Old Babylonian Period , which says: "The dog understands: 'Take it!' It does not understand: 'Put it down!'". From Iraq, now housed at the British Museum

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Relief on a Roman tombstone showing a scene from the work of the deceased, who was a butcher. The man is at work, pieces of meat are hanging in front of him, and the wife is writing something on a wax tablet. The woman has a hairstyle typical of the reign of Emperor Hadrian .

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Relief on a Roman tombstone showing a scene from the work of the deceased, who was a butcher. The man is at work, pieces of meat are hanging in front of him, and the wife is writing something on a wax tablet. The woman has a hairstyle typical of the reign of Emperor Hadrian .

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An Urartian copper alloy shield decorated with incised figures of lions and bulls, and inscribed with the name of the king Rusa III. This was one of several fragmentary shields which may have decorated the façade of the temple of Khaldi in Rusahinili, Turkey. 650 BCE, British Museum

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An Urartian copper alloy shield decorated with incised figures of lions and bulls, and inscribed with the name of the king Rusa III. This was one of several fragmentary shields which may have decorated the façade of the temple of Khaldi in Rusahinili, Turkey. 650 BCE, British Museum

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7th or 8th century "Musicians plate" from Tabaristan, in Ancient Northern Iran made of gilded silver depicting a Sasanian-style ruler reclining on a couch, surrounded by musicians and attendants.British Museum.

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7th or 8th century "Musicians plate" from Tabaristan, in Ancient Northern Iran made of gilded silver depicting a Sasanian-style ruler reclining on a couch, surrounded by musicians and attendants.British Museum.

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An ancient sculpture showing a Greek strategist. The marble object was discovered in Herculaneum and is dated to the 1st century CE. It is probably a copy of a Greek original from the 5th century BCE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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An ancient sculpture showing a Greek strategist. The marble object was discovered in Herculaneum and is dated to the 1st century CE. It is probably a copy of a Greek original from the 5th century BCE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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90 years ago today, local villagers in Shami accidentally unearthed a 2-meter statue while digging in the area. Shortly after, it was moved to the National Museum of Iran and dated to 50 BC. The Shami Statue is now considered the single most important work from the Parthian Empire.

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90 years ago today, local villagers in Shami accidentally unearthed a 2-meter statue while digging in the area. Shortly after, it was moved to the National Museum of Iran and dated to 50 BC. The Shami Statue is now considered the single most important work from the Parthian Empire.

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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.

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British Museum object EA37984 close up of a banquet from Amenhotep III circa 1370 BC. Found in Thebes, it's very interesting due to the musician girls looking forwards rather than being side-on, while two dancers prance on. It's worth a Google to see the other fragments and colours. OC.

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British Museum object EA37984 close up of a banquet from Amenhotep III circa 1370 BC. Found in Thebes, it's very interesting due to the musician girls looking forwards rather than being side-on, while two dancers prance on. It's worth a Google to see the other fragments and colours. OC.

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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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A polished stone sword excavated from a dolmen in Muge-ri, South Korea. The 52 cm long stone sword consists of a blade and a single-piece handle. Bronze age , now housed at the National Museum of Korea

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A polished stone sword excavated from a dolmen in Muge-ri, South Korea. The 52 cm long stone sword consists of a blade and a single-piece handle. Bronze age , now housed at the National Museum of Korea

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