Explore 741 Ancient Collections - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

741 Items Tagged

Ancient

Share
A male reserve head found in the shaft of a tomb c. 1915.
objects of intrigue

Dozens of Mysterious 'Reserve Heads' Were Sealed in Ancient Egyptian Tombs

Over 30 have been found, but their function is unclear.
Hadley Meares June 4, 2018
Kharanaq.
Iran

Kharānaq

The tower in this 1,000-year-old mud-brick village seems to vibrate for no apparent reason.
Nicopolis.
Preveza, Greece

Nicopolis

The ruins of this monumental city founded by the first Roman Emperor are strangely overlooked by most travelers.
Detail of the ceiling of the Great Vestibule
Dandarah, Egypt

Hathor Temple

One of the most well-preserved temples of ancient Egypt.
Roman circus of Tarragona.
Tarragona, Spain

Roman Circus and Praetorian Tower

Long tunnels run under the ancient chariot racing circuit to the tower.
Gastro Obscura

Commandaria

To taste the oldest wine still in production, head to Cyprus.
Entrance to the Cave of the Coffins.
Kiryat Tiv'on, Israel

Beit She'arim Necropolis

A sprawling ancient Jewish cemetery with over 30 rock-hewn burial caves.
The floor mosaic, with the zodiac in the center and the Torah ark above.
Tiberias, Israel

Zodiac Mosaic of Hammat Tiberias

The mosaic floor of a 4th-century synagogue features a pagan zodiac wheel alongside traditional images of a Torah ark and menorahs.
Bean-shaped pillow with child design, Northern Song Dynasty.
Guangzhou, China

Ceramic Pillows at the Museum of the Nanyue King's Mausoleum

Three floors above a 2,000-year-old royal tomb is a rare collection of ancient porcelain pillows.
John Hale, local resident Fettah Anli, Matthias Zeithoffler, Jelle de Boer (left to right) at the site of the Plutonium.
temples

The Scientific Detectives Probing the Secrets of Ancient Oracles

Geological features, toxic fumes, and visions of the future.
Kevin Krajick May 17, 2018
Sar Yazd Castle
Saryazd, Iran

Sar Yazd Castle

This ancient fortress in Iran was once the oldest and largest treasury in the world.
Standing stone with hole.
Sisian, Armenia

Zorats Karer

Called the "Armenian Stonehenge," this ring of menhirs pierced with holes may be a prehistoric astronomical observatory.
Jaffe was puzzled by the patterns of use on a vessel found in an ancient Chinese cemetery.
ancient

How to Reconstruct an Ancient Meal From Dirty Dishes Alone

Archaeologists and chefs used chemical analysis—and their taste buds—to solve a culinary puzzle from China.
Jessica Leigh Hester May 4, 2018
Ponce Inlet, Florida

The Green Mound

One of the largest Native American shell middens stands 30 feet tall.
The sweeping mountains and climes of the Svaneti region.
ancient

The Quest for an Ancient Culture's Cannabis-Filled Cooking

The Svans, from Georgia's Caucasus region, had their weed culture (and plants) uprooted.
Benjamin Kemper May 2, 2018
Marco Island, Florida

Otter Mound Preserve

Decorative shell walls built in the 1940s sit atop an ancient midden created by the Calusa Native Americans.
Rabban Hormizd Monastery.
Alqosh, Iraq

Rabban Hormizd Monastery

An ancient sanctuary that has long been a holy site for the Chaldean Christian Church.
Gastro Obscura

Lacryma Christi

The vineyards of Mount Vesuvius still produce the same wines enjoyed by the ancient Romans.