These 123 Archeological Finds Are So Beautiful, People Thought They Were Modern Works Of Art

We often read about great civilizations, lost cities, and ancient marvels in history books. But let’s be honest, sometimes words on a page don’t quite capture the magic. What really brings the past alive are the images—the structures, the art, the moments frozen in time that speak louder than any textbook ever could.

Today, we’ve compiled a collection of archaeological wonders that span centuries and civilizations, curated from the Facebook page “Archaeology and Art.” These awe-inspiring finds will leave you stunned by their detail, beauty, and the mysteries still buried within them. Shared by passionate history lovers online, this list is a powerful reminder that the past isn’t gone, it’s just waiting to be rediscovered.

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Tray (Pan) In The Form Of A Plum Blossom With Birds And Flowers, China, Late Southern Song Dynasty, About 1200-1279

Intricately carved red lacquer plate featuring birds and flowers, an example of archeology and art craftsmanship.

Carved Red Lacquer On Wood Core; Height: 7/8 In. (2.2 Cm), Diameter: 7 3/8 In. (18.8 Cm). Los Angeles County Museum Of Art, Los Angeles, Gift Of Dr. And Mrs. Sam K. Lee (M.86.330)

Archeology and art Report

Final score:

48points

40 Historical Discoveries That Show Just How Brilliant Ancient Humans Were

Tray (Pan) In The Form Of A Plum Blossom With Birds And Flowers, China, Late Southern Song Dynasty, About 1200-1279

Ruins Of The Greek City Of Ephesus In Modern-Day Turkey

A Circular Golden Viking Brooch From Hornelunde Near Varde In Denmark

Egyptian Scarab Bracelet, From Tomb Of Tutankhamun (1341-1323 Bc), And Was Made With Gold, Lapis-Lazuli, Carnelian, Turquoise And Other Semi-Precious Stones

This Bronze Head, Found On The Island Of Delos In 1912, Represents One Of The Most Extraordinary Masterpieces Of Hellenistic Art That Has Survived To This Day

Psiloceras Planorbis. Ancient Elegance, Preserved In Stone. Over 100 Million Years Old, Discovered In Somerset. A Natural Masterpiece

Over 2,000 Drones Recreated The Colosseum To Show Its Size In Roman Times

1927 Dress, Slip And Cape Which Belonged To Marjorie Merriweather Post

In 1939, Archaeologists Discovered A Treasure Trove At Sutton Hoo, A Burial Site In Suffolk That Has Fascinated History Buffs Ever Since

Fairy Glen, Isle Of Skye, Scotland By With.bryan

The Lycian Rock Tombs, Fethiye, Türkiye, C. 4th Century Bce

Statue Of Poet Sappho (2nd Century Ce, Smyrna) At The Istanbul Archeological Museum

Roman Fresco Fragment

House Of The Vestals, Forum, Rome

Bronze Wine Pot With Textured Surface Inlaid On Ten Sides, And Ring Holders. China, Eastern Zhou Period, 5th Century Bc

Roman Mosaic, House Of The Tetrastyle, Pula Archaeological Park, Nora, Sardinia

Ancient Greek Gold Tiara (Diadem), 325-330 Bc , Demetrias/Thessaly Stathatos Collection Gallery, National Archaeological Museum, Athens Photo: Gsry Todd

Roman Military Armour, Corbridge Roman Town, Northumberland

Palazzo Vecchio, Firenze, Toscana, Italia

Ancient Byzantine Gold Ring Featuring A Blue Nicolo Intaglio Carving Of Nike Supported By Two Gold Leopards, 4th Century Ce

Sardonyx Cameo Of Jupiter's Head Crowned With Laurel And Ivy. Louvre (ID: Bj 1820)

Abbaye Des Vaux De Cernay, France (By Amandine)

Fossil Coral From Indonesia! Highly Agatized! Rare Coral! Photo: Davidhunter01

Flint Handaxe Discovered On A Beach In Norfolk, England, Around 500,000 Years Old. From The Norfolk Museums Collection

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Olmec Greenstone Mask, Puebla Region, Middle Preclassic Period, 900-600 B.c

Cartier: Giraffe C.1900 Rose Quartz, Sapphire | 10.8 X 8.5 X 4.8 Cm (Whole Object). Provenance; Probably Acquired By Queen Alexandra; Royal Collection Trust By 1953

Jadeite With Ruby, Sapphire And Gold

'leg In The Air - Parthenon' (1986). Photograph By Edgard Alsteens

Grimacing Asuras (Demons) Line One Side Of The Approach To The South Gate Of Angkor Thom

Dolmabahçe Palace, Istanbul, Turkey

The Family Of Osiris, With The God Osiris In The Center On A Lapis Lazuli Pillar, With His Son The God Horus On The Left And His Wife The Goddess Isis On The Right

Detail Of Hieroglyphs Of One Of Six Cedar Wooden Panels From The Mastaba Of Hesy-Ra, A High Official Of King Djoser

Archaeological Site Of Kerameikos: The Necropolis Of Athens

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Brooch C. 1830 Coloured Gold, Set With Rose And Brilliant-Cut Diamonds Victoria And Albert Museum

An Exquisite Antique Aquamarine, Ruby And Diamond Cameo Brooch/Pendant, Circa 1860

Nice Colors Gemstone Huge Fluorite Carved Crystal Skull, Realistic. A Single Piece Sculpture Carved From A Solid Specimen From Zhejiang, China. Photo: Skullis Gem

A Foot Of God Serapis Near Piazza Navona. It Is Probably From A Temple Of Isis That Was Located On This Area - Roma, Via Del Pie Marma

A Pair Of Glass Amphoriskoi, Roman, 2nd Century Ad

A Duck Bracelet Of Ramses II

"Hellenistic Prince" Greek. 2nd Century Bc, Bronze. Palazzo Massimo, National Museum Of Rome

Assyrian Archers Firing On The Enemy During The Siege Of Lachish, Sennacherib's Palace In Nineveh, C. 700-692 Bce. British Museum

Attic Black-Figure Hydria, A Group Of Women At A Water Fountain Greek, Athens, Ca. 510 Bc

Torso. Park Seungwan Korean (Busan, 1986) Marble

Dragonfly Fossil, 250-300 Million Years Ago With 2 Ft. Wingspan

The Temple Of Poseidon, Cape Sounion, Attica, Greece

The Dabous Giraffes - Neolithic Petroglyphs Found In Saharan Niger Estimated To Be 6,000 To 8,000 Years Old

Closeup Of The Doryphoros ('spear-Bearer') Statue, 2nd-1st Century Bc Pompeii's Samnite Palaestra (Gymnasium) Museo Archeologico Nazionale Di Napoli (Inv. 6011)

Portrait Of Emperor Domitian (R. 81-96) At The Louvre

Jupiter. Giuseppe Piamontini Italian 1664-1742

Textile Doll With Gold Jewelry, A Toy. Date: A.d. 2nd Century Place Of Origin: Egypt Medium: Leather, Gilded; Human Hair, Wool Linen, Paint

Fragment From The Freeze Of The Temple Of Nike, Acropolis, Athens

An Extravagant Bracelet In The Shape Of Gothic Architecture. Consisting Of Five Arches, It Is Decorated With Precious Stones And Intricate Fretwork

Seal With Unicorn And Inscription

Interior Of Salisbury Cathedral (1805) By J.m.w. Turner

Lion Fighting A Snake Chlorite Vessel With Inscription, “Inanna And The Serpent.” Temple Of Inanna, Nippur, Iraq. Early Dynastic II/III Period. Ca. 2600-2400 Bce

Edit After Chinese Artist Of The Ming Dynasty (Box With Flowers And Birds) (Metropolitan Museum Of Art) (Ed. Lic.: Cc By-Nc 3.0)

Frieze (Gilt Bronze Inset With Hard Stones And Turquoise) Made By An Unknown 15th-Century Artist At The Monastery Of Densatil, Tibet

A Ziwiyeh Gold Plaque Fragment, 7th Century Bce

Diana Of Versailles (Diana With A Stag) Domenico Brucciani (1815–1880) (Attributed To) Grove Gardens, Teddington, Richmond Upon Thames

The Galleon Was Graffitied On The East End Of Lincoln Cathedral, 16th Century

Downhill House, Londonderry, Northern Ireland By Visit_ireland_

Ancient Roman Bronze Sculpture Of A Wolf's Head. Artist Unknown; 1st Cent. Ce. Now In The Cleveland Museum Of Art, Cleveland, Oh, USA

Inscribed Scarabs, Upper Egypt, Temple Of Hatshepsut, Ca. 1479–1458 B.c. Via Met Collections

Details Of A Statue Of A Girl, Perhaps Artemis | C. 530 Bce | Athenian, Archaic Period

Shell Trumpet, Helpfully Engraved With A Man Blowing A Shell Trumpet, Just In Case Archaeologists Weren’t Sure What They Were Looking At

Apollo, Pompei, Napoli

This Gold And Enamel Ring Was Made In Italy In The 17th-Century

Partially Reconstructed Hand From A Second-Century Roman Sculpture. Farnese Collection Of The National Archaeological Museum, Naples

Marine Style, Minoan Pottery Neopalatial Period, 1700-1400 Bc Archaeological Museum Of Herakleion, Crete/Greece

Sculpteur Jean-Joseph Perraud (1819-1876)

Gold Brooch, Roman, 1st-2nd Century Ad From The British Museum

Relief Of Reclining Woman. Underside Of An Archway, Herculaneum

Carnelian Bead Necklace, Egypt, Circa 1980-1760 Bc From The Worcester Art Museum

Antechamber In The Pyramid Of Unas

Achaemenid (Persian Empire) Gold Cup With Bulls C500 Bc

A Bronze Statue Depicting The Goddess Athena, Adorned With The Corinthian Style Helmet, Peplos Garment And An Aegis Wrapped Around Her Chest