A wonderful horse pyxis, a Greek container distinguished by miniature horse figures on its lid.
The horses often served as decorative handles and, likely signalled prestige because keeping horses was expensive.
Dating 750-725 BC, on display at Altes Museum, Berlin
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This elaborately decorated #Neolithic vessel, discovered in a well in Altscherbitz, dates back to 5100-5000 BC. The vessel is adorned with finely incised lines, coated with bar pitch, and covered with meticulously applied strips of thin bark. Its exceptional preservation makes it a truly unique object.
On display at Archaeological State Museum in Chemnitz.
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What a great picture: A Roman dolium (a large vessel used to store and transport wine and foodstuff) discovered off the coast of the island of Elba. It is believed to be connected to a so-called dolium ship, a merchant vessel that was used to transport large quantities of wine.
Apparently, it's #WorldLionDay!
A magnificent lion head carved from mammoth ivory some 40,000 years ago. Although small in size (H. 2.3 cm), it exhibits remarkable detail.
Found at the Vogelherd Cave, located in the Swabian Jura region.
On display at Landesmuseum Württemberg
One of my favorite #Roman objects: World's oldest known "Swiss army knife", including a hinged knife, fork, spoon, spike, prick, spatula.
Unfortunately, there is no provenance of this multi-tool, but it’s not a unique item: There are a few more examples, e.g. one was found in a Roman tomb in Albintimilium, Italy, dating 2nd/3rd century AD.
📷Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
A Roman-era shipwreck, believed to date between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, has been discovered approximately three miles off the coast of Mazara del Vallo at a depth of 46 metres. The site comprises a substantial assemblage of amphorae, in association with two lead anchor and an additional lead structure, the function of which remains to be determined.
#InternationalCatDay: a marvellous Egyptian faience ring depicting a #cat and her kittens. 🐈
The ring is probably related to Bastet, the feline goddess of fertility and protection.
📷 Metropolitan Museum of Art
#InternationalCatDay: a terrific #Egyptian gold finger-ring with a carnelian bezel in form of a #cat. The ring is presumably related to the goddess Bastet, who was worshipped in the form of a lion and a cat.
📷 The British Museum, 1947,1011.2
Strikingly impressive, yet profoundly unsettling: Exceptionally low water levels on the Danube have exposed parts of the foundations of the ancient Constantine Bridge, giving archaeologists a rare opportunity to document what they describe as one of the Roman Empire's most impressive engineering achievements.
#Neolithic textile production: a charred skein of linen thread, dating around 3200 BC, from the pile dwelling settlement of Nußdorf-Maurach, Überlingen, Lake Constance. The damp environment has preserved it in good condition
The waterlogged, anaerobic environment provided ideal conditions for the preservation of organic materials such as textiles or wood.
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An #IceAge masterpiece: This small carving (4.7cm) of a water #bird was made from mammoth ivory some 40,000 years ago. It's thought to be a #diver, #cormorant, or #duck.
Found in the Hohle Fels cave on the Swabian Jura.
It's the oldest known representation of a bird.
On display at Urgeschichtliches Museum Blaubeuren.
For this week's #MosaicMonday, here is a mosaic from Trier depicting the philosopher Anaximander of Miletus (c. 610–c. 546 BC), who is credited with inventing the sundial. The mosaic dates to the 3rd century AD.
WOW, new finds from the Ice Age! Two absolutely stunning Ice Age figurines from the Swabian Jura were found, dating back around 40,000 years.
The tiny carvings, about the size of a thumbnail, depict two birds, rendered with remarkable attention to detail. Snow grouse, buzzard, or perhaps capercaillie? Their exact species remain unknown.
Die Temperaturen steigen 🥵. In unserer neuen Mitmachausstellung "Rom lebt!“ bleibt es aber angenehm kühl bei 20 Grad. 🧊🌡️
Perfekt für eine kleine Reise ins antike Rom und eine Auszeit vom Schwitzen. 😎
Wir freuen uns auf euch!
👉 https://www.alm-konstanz.de/sonderausstellungen/rom-lebt-ein-mitmachabenteuer
An early #medieval silver gilt bow fibula (brooch) found in a woman's grave in Lauchheim, dating around 600AD. Decorated with animal interlace, the foot ends in a stylized animal head.
Bow brooches were a common element of women’s dress in south-west Germany. They were worn in in pairs as decorative element on a strap hanging from the belt.
On display at Archäologisches Landesmuseum Baden-Württemberg
Beads with #Minion eyes 👀
Made of yellow, blue and white glass. Found in Vicenice, Czech Republic, dating late 6th/5th century BC.
So far, it has not been possible to determine whether the beads were imported from the Mediterranean region or produced locally.
The beads are produced in core-winding technique, the yellow knobs and the eye motifs were applied to the beads.
On display at Naturhistorisches Museum Vienna.
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For #MosaicMonday a #Roman mosaic with a mesmerizing 3D effect. Domus Romana, near Rabat and Mdina, #Malta , dating 100 BC.
Beloved toy: An over 1800-year-old rag-doll made from linen and stuffed with flexible filling, and dressed in linen garments. The hair is made of human hair. The eyes, eyebrows, and mouth are painted on.
The doll is one of the most elaborate of its kind and presumably belonged to a child from a wealthy family: She's wearing gold earrings and a neck ring and bracelets made of gilded leather.
Egypt, Roman period, 2nd c. AD.
📷 Ägyptisches Museum/Papyrussammlung der Staatlichen Museen Berlin
During the early Iron Age, the Pomeranian culture in Poland developed distinctive clay vessels for cremated remains, influenced by southern European cultures such as the Etruscans.
These urns are characterized by human faces and hat-shaped lids, and are frequently adorned with symbolic engravings of celestial bodies, trees, and waves. Depictions of clothing and adornment are also present, figurative scenes of people and animals are rare. 6th/5th c. BC.
On display at Neues Museum Berlin
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A pair of gold bull head earrings, decorated with granulation, filigree and garnets. Dating late 4th century BC. Hoops formed of wound wire with animal-head finials were a very popular type of earring during the #Hellenistic period. They were inserted into a hole in the earlobe.
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On display at Landesmuseum Württemberg
