Tom Metcalfe

This article is part of Astonishing artifacts, a regular series on Live Science that gives us new insight into how our ancestors lived.

None of the many interpretations of the Phaistos Disk's inscriptions are universally accepted.

The archaeologist who discovered the mask believed it showed the Trojan War was real.

Archaeologists think the felt figurine was used as a symbol of life by the Iron Age people of the region.

A strange supernova remnant first appeared as a “guest star” seen in 1181 by sky watchers in China and Japan

This statue of an Egyptian pharaoh is said to have inspired the English poet Shelley to write his famous poem "Ozymandias."

A galaxy cluster bends light from seven background galaxies around it, letting astronomers peer into space and time

This statue of an Egyptian pharaoh is said to have inspired the English poet Shelley to write his famous poem "Ozymandias."

Researchers investigating how the first writing arose identified the motifs on preliterate "cylinder seals" used in the trade of agricultural products and textiles.

Researchers investigating how the first writing arose identified the motifs on preliterate "cylinder seals" used in the trade of agricultural products and textiles.