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26 Artifacts Considered To Be The Only Ones Of Their Kind Left Today, As Pointed Out In This Online Community
Collectors and folks who are directly affected by scarcity will know exactly what it means to have just one of something in existence. Even more of a reason to celebrate what we have, right?
Well, there is a dedicated online community that does just that. r/UniqueArtifacts posts and shares pictures of one of a kind artifacts throughout history. Mostly, it’s stuff archaeologists had to dig out from the ground, but there are some more modern submissions there as well.
Whatever the case, scroll down, check it out, and share some of your insights into whatever you see in this list, or share some artifacts that should have made it up here!
More Info: r/UniqueArtifacts
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The Pons Fabricus Is The Only Ancient Bridge In Rome Still In Its Original Location And Condition. The Last Major Repairs Occurred In 23 BCE
Wonky Donkey 3 years ago
Last major repair was 2000 years ago.. and my state cant even fill in potholes.
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#2
Terracotta Warriors With The Original Paint Scheme
#3
The Lycurgus Cup: The Only Complete Example Of Ancient Color-Changing Glass
#4
One Of The Last Two Preserved Jolly Roger Pirate Flags Left In Existence
LizzieBoredom 3 years ago (edited)
It's amazing pirates found the time to make such exquisite needlework ( between looting, & pillaging, the hook hand, and the scurvy).
#5
The “Iron Man” Buddha - The Only Statue Carved From A Meteor
#6
The Only Surviving Handwriting Of A Roman Emperor (Theodosius II)
LizzieBoredom 3 years ago (edited)
Dear Sirs, I have still not received the latest issue of 'Hot Vandal Chicks' . I sent my wife/slave to the Post Office many times, and it's still not there. Sincerely, Theodosius II
#7
The Sword Of Goujian Was Discovered Untarnished And Retains Sharp Edges After ~2500 Years
#8
The Barber Cup & Crawford Cup, The Only Two Examples Of Ancient Roman Vessels Carved From Fluorite
#9
The Only Known Color Photograph Of The Russian Czar's Fabled "Amber Room" - Looted By The Nazi's This Unique, Priceless Work Of Art Was Lost For Ever (Maybe?). St Petersburg, 1943
#10
One Of Only Three Papyrus Fragments Written In The Phoenician Language
#11
Intact Bottle Of Ancient Roman Wine From 325ad
#12
This Julio-Claudian Rock Crystal And Silver Spoon Is The Only Example Of Its Kind Known To Exist
#13
The Only Surviving Example Of An Iconic Roman “Scutum” Shield
#14
The Only Natural Fossil Of A Scorpion Made Entirely Out Of Copper
PurpleUnicorn 3 years ago
According to @BenMS on twitter, it was most likely a very, very slow process. Most likely, the doomed scorpion became entombed in in the rock. Over time, copper-rich fluids ultimately came into contact with the entombed scorpion, depositing the metal as it evaporated. This process would be similar to how petrified wood is formed.
#15
Ancient Roman-Egyptian Crocodile Armor
#16
One Of The Two Coins Found Of The Roman Usurper Silbannacus, Who Would've Been Unknown Otherwise
#17
The Only Surviving Example Of A Crest From A Roman Centurion's Helmet
#18
The Vergilius Augusteus, One Of Only Two Surviving Ancient Manuscripts To Be Painstakingly Written In Roman Square Capitals
#19
First Ever Intact Ballista Arrow Uncovered In Utrecht (Augusta Treverorum), Netherlands
Nicole Weymann 3 years ago
"Augusta Treverorum" is the German city of Trier. Utrecht was called Traiectum, apparently meaning "ford", because at the time the Rhine river was shallow enough to be crossed there.
#20
The Only Intact Bronze Lantern From Ancient Rome Next To A Reproduction. Housed In The Museo Archeologico Girolamo Rossi In Ventimiglia, Italy
#21
Tombstone Of Marcus Caelius, The Only Known Example Of Direct Reference To The Varus Disaster During Which 20,000 Men Were Lost To Ambush
Translation:
"To Marcus Caelius, son of Titus, of the Lemonian voting tribe, from Bologna, a centurion in the First Order of legio XVIII, aged 53; He fell in the Varian War. His bones - if found - may be placed in this monument. Publius Caelius, son of Titus, of the Lemonian voting tribe, his brother, set this up."
#22
The Only Time A Monumental Column Was Erected And Adorned With A Statue That Was Not An Emperor Was The Early 2nd Century Gilded Bronze "Emona Citizen". Housed In The Roman Lapidarium Of The National Museum Of Slovenia
#23
1961 Photo Of A Screw Press Used To Iron Clothes From The Bottega Del Lanarius Or Workshop Of Lanarius In Herculaneum. This Was The Only Artifact Found In The Shop, Along With Bourbon Tunnels. No Other Examples Exist
#24
The Only Surviving Example Of Roman “Cestus” Boxing Gloves
#25
The Earliest Example Of A Proper “Book”, Written In A Totally Unique Style
Caroline Nagel 3 years ago
The explanation on Reddit: The “De Bellis Macedonicis” manuscript contains a wealth of information, considering how tiny it is. It is a scrap of parchment with Latin text, dating from the 1st century CE. It was discovered in the ancient Oxyrhynchus rubbish dump, where Latin texts are relatively rare. Curiously, it contains writing on both sides, and appears to be the earliest example of a “codex” (book), rather than a scroll. The writing style is both beautiful and completely unique. It appears to be an extremely version of the Uncial bookhand, but with some letters that resemble minuscules and other that resemble rustic capitals.
#26
The Misenum Statue Is The Only Surviving Bronze Imperial Image To Have Been Altered As A Result Of Condemnation. Domitian's Facial Features Have Been Severed From The Back Of The Head And Replaced With A New Face Representing Nerva
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What do you think ?
TheDag 3 years ago (edited)
This could have been an interesting article but its spoiled by confusing titles and a massive lack of information for each article. Didn't even need much but some more information on each of the subjects would of turned this from a frustrating read into an informative one. Here's a couple of examples #24 Africa 60’s-70’s, what am I meant to understand from this? It was made in Africa between 60-70? What does it do in fact what is it even cause I'm pretty sure its not an Africa between 60-70. One more example would be #15 The Earliest Example Of A Proper “Book”, Written In A Totally Unique Style. Ok great what makes the style unique? When was it written? Maybe even what language it was written in. This isn't even mentioning the #12 The Only Natural Fossil Of A Scorpion Made Entirely Out Of Copper. My names The Dag thanks for coming to my Ted talk about how lazy writing spoils an article
Emma London 3 years ago
Aww, where is the only surviving stuffed Dodo bird? (and even that is a partial! The bitd was seen as so common and mundane that it wasn't seen as worth preserving as a trophy bitd, and the only one was almost burnt because it was in a poor shape and the British natural museum was supposed to get a new one... Only to discover that all of the birds had already died.
TheDag 3 years ago (edited)
This could have been an interesting article but its spoiled by confusing titles and a massive lack of information for each article. Didn't even need much but some more information on each of the subjects would of turned this from a frustrating read into an informative one. Here's a couple of examples #24 Africa 60’s-70’s, what am I meant to understand from this? It was made in Africa between 60-70? What does it do in fact what is it even cause I'm pretty sure its not an Africa between 60-70. One more example would be #15 The Earliest Example Of A Proper “Book”, Written In A Totally Unique Style. Ok great what makes the style unique? When was it written? Maybe even what language it was written in. This isn't even mentioning the #12 The Only Natural Fossil Of A Scorpion Made Entirely Out Of Copper. My names The Dag thanks for coming to my Ted talk about how lazy writing spoils an article
Emma London 3 years ago
Aww, where is the only surviving stuffed Dodo bird? (and even that is a partial! The bitd was seen as so common and mundane that it wasn't seen as worth preserving as a trophy bitd, and the only one was almost burnt because it was in a poor shape and the British natural museum was supposed to get a new one... Only to discover that all of the birds had already died.
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