Diggin’ deeper

A 2,000-year-old computer? 10 archaeological finds that challenge history

Image: The Cleveland Museum of Art

Most of the time, archaeology uncovers little more than pottery shards and ancient tools—not that there’s anything wrong with those. But sometimes, when luck strikes, excavations can reveal bizarre, baffling, and downright eerie artifacts that challenge our understanding of history. Join us on a journey through 10 of the most fascinating mysteries and unexpected finds ever unearthed.

Image: Constantinos Kollias

Recovered from a shipwreck in 1901, the Antikythera Mechanism was a surprisingly complex artifact that used intricate bronze gears to predict eclipses, track planetary positions, and regulate calendars.

Advanced imaging techniques revealed it contained at least 37 interlocking gears, operated by a hand crank, earning it the title of the world’s first known analog computer.

Image: Seiji Seiji

Dating back to 500 BCE–500 CE, these lines cover over 400 square miles and depict animals, plants, and geometric shapes. Created by removing the top layer of reddish pebbles to expose the lighter soil beneath, they have remained intact thanks to the region’s dry climate.

While their full extent can only be appreciated from the air, scholars believe they served astronomical or ceremonial purposes at the time.

Image: Spencer Davis

Found across Europe, these hollow 12-sided polyhedra date to the 2nd–4th centuries CE. From the start, they puzzled scientists, who couldn’t determine their purpose.

Their size, ranging from 1.6 to 4.3 inches, and evenly spaced holes suggest they may have been measuring tools, religious artifacts, or even knitting aids. However, no ancient texts explain their use, and, so far, the mystery remains unsolved.

Image: F𝓪7𝓪𝓭 ✔️ .

This 2,000-year-old ceramic jar contained a copper cylinder and an iron rod, which some have speculated could have been part of an ancient galvanic cell.

It might have generated the electricity required for electroplating or medicinal purposes. Tests with modern replicas show it can produce a small voltage, though its true function remains unconfirmed.

Image: The New York Public Library

Drawn by Ottoman admiral Piri Reis in 1513, this early world map depicts parts of Europe, Africa, and the Americas with surprising precision.

Some theories claim it even shows Antarctica centuries before its official discovery. The surviving fragment is now kept in Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace.

Image: Mark Rasmuson

Carbon-dated to the early 15th century, this mysterious 240-page manuscript is written in an unknown script with even stranger botanical drawings.

Despite decades of cryptographic attempts, no one has cracked its meaning. It’s housed at Yale University’s Beinecke Library.

Image: Steinar Engeland

At the northernmost tip of the island of Newfoundland, Canada, lies the first confirmed Viking settlement in North America, dated to around 1000 CE. Excavations have revealed turf houses, iron-working remains, and Viking-style artifacts.

This UNESCO World Heritage site provides clear evidence that Norse explorers reached North America nearly 500 years before Columbus.

Image: Aaron Greenwood

Discovered in 1974, China’s Terracotta Warriors consist of over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers standing in battle formation near Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb.

Buried with the emperor around 210 BCE, these warriors were created to serve as his protectors in the afterlife, reflecting the emperor’s power and beliefs about immortality. The site remains one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in history.

Image: Gabriel Garcia Marengo

Discovered in the Alps in 1991, Ötzi is a naturally mummified man from the Copper Age, over 5,300 years old. Found with a copper axe and clothing made from multiple animal hides, his body is so perfectly preserved that even multiple tattoos can be identified.

Curiously, analysis of Ötzi’s remains revealed he died from an arrow wound, offering rare and valuable insight into prehistoric life, violence, and death during the Copper Age. A literal cold case from millennia ago, eh?

Image: Matteo Vistocco

Discovered in 1799, the Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele inscribed with the same text in three scripts: Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphic. This unique trilingual inscription provided the crucial key to understanding ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Thanks to the Rosetta Stone, Jean-François Champollion was able to crack the hieroglyphic code in 1822, unlocking centuries of Egyptian history. The artifact is now prominently displayed in the British Museum.

Deep roots

11 everyday words with indigenous roots

English is a very welcoming language in the sense that it incorporates terms from many other languages from all over the world. And, as it couldn’t be otherwise, Native American languages have lent many of their words and terms to English speakers. Some traveled through Spanish or French before settling into English, and others arrived directly through early contact and trade, helping shape the way we speak today. Did you know about these 11 terms?

The word "canoe" comes from the Taino term canoa, which was first used by Caribbean islanders long before Europeans arrived. Early explorers adopted it to describe the slim, sturdy boats they saw.

Over time, "canoe" became the standard English word for a small paddled craft. Today it still carries that sense of simplicity and closeness to nature.

The word "barbecue" comes from barbacoa, another Taino term for a wooden frame used for cooking meat over fire. Europeans adopted it and applied it to both the method and the gathering itself.

Today, "barbecue" means everything from a backyard cookout to a regional cooking style. Its origins highlight the deep culinary influence of Native Americans in the nation's current culture.

"Skunk" comes from the Algonquian word squnk, which means "urinating fox" (quite a fitting term, indeed). This was an obvious reference to the animal’s strong defensive spray. Early settlers adopted the term directly.

Since English had no better name for the creature, the Native word stuck. Today, the word skunks is also used as playful slang.

The word "moose" originates from Eastern Abenaki, a part of the Algonquian family, where it meant "he strips off bark." Yes, it described the animal’s habit of tearing bark from trees.

The name entered English quickly because settlers relied on Native knowledge of local fauna. The word remains unchanged because of its accuracy and usefulness.

"Raccoon" comes from the Powhatan word arakun, meaning "he scratches with his hands." It described the animal’s clever, humanlike front paws.

Settlers adopted the term because it captured the creature’s behavior beautifully. Today, the raccoon is used as a household symbol of curiosity, not unlike the animal itself.

The term "chipmunk" most probably comes from the Ojibwe word ajidamoo, which means "one who descends trees headfirst." Early English settlers adapted the sound into today’s form.

Though the spelling changed over time, the lively image of a chipmunk racing down a tree face-first stayed.

The word "caribou" comes from the Mi’kmaq term qalipu, which means "snow shoveler," referring to the animal’s habit of digging through snow for food.

French settlers brought the word into English, keeping its descriptive nature. The name still connects the modern animal to the winter landscapes it belongs to.

"Totem" comes from the Ojibwe word ototeman, which means "kinship group." It described symbols representing clans and shared roots.

English adopted it to describe carved poles and symbolic elements. Though broader in modern usage, it still hints at the original sense of community, identity, and heritage.

"Coyote" comes from the Nahuatl word coyōtl, which was used by Indigenous tribes of central Mexico. Spanish speakers adopted it, and English borrowed later.

The word kept its meaning, and it remains one of the most direct links between the English language and Nahuatl.

The tasty avocado’s name traces to the Nahuatl word ahacatl, which refers to the fruit and to a body part as well. Spanish speakers transformed it into aguacate.

Later on, English speakers adapted it to avocado. While the name sounds contemporary and culinary, it has ancient Native roots.

The last Nahuatl word and also the last word on the list comes from the term xocolātl, which describes a bitter cacao drink that was consumed long before Europeans arrived in America. The name traveled from Spanish to English.

Though the product changed dramatically, the word survived. Today, chocolate is a universal symbol of sweetness, with rich and deeply indigenous roots.