2021 is a bumper year for discovering obscure, quirky and unexpected artifacts around the world – and even beyond! From the golden tongue mummies of Egypt, an unusual bullet-shaped metal object in a 4.5 billion year old meteorite, a Fenris stone, Roman crushers pulled from the Med, these 2,400-year-old intact fruit basket and more… Here is our list of popular artifacts found from 2021. Here are our top 10 artifacts from 2021, but what about? Many other exceptional artifact stories are found on our Artifact Catalog page.
Mummy with golden tongue found at possible site of Cleopatra’s tomb
Mummy with golden tongue and other recent finds from the Taposiris Magna site. (Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
During recent discoveries at an ancient Egyptian temple near Alexandria, archaeologists found something surprising and unique. When searching inside the newly discovered tomb, they found a 2,000-year-old mummy with a golden tongue. This does not mean that the mummy suddenly came to life and began to impress them with his eloquent powers of persuasion. That means the mummy had a real golden tongue – a replica made from shiny, precisely shaped gold leaf. This incredible discovery was made by a team of archaeologists from the Dominican Republic and Egypt, led by pioneering archaeologist Kathleen Martinez.
Long-lost runestone from Viking monument recovered in Sweden
The incredible runestone used to make bridge foundations, has been shown to be part of the famous Hunnestad Monument in southern Sweden. It depicts a strong, ferocious wolf, known as Fenris (or Fenrir) in Norse mythology. (Annika Knarrström / Arkeologerna )
While carrying out excavations in the area where new sewer lines are being installed, Swedish archaeologists announced a remarkable and almost miraculous discovery. Digging in near-frozen ground near the city of Ystad in December 2020, they unearthed a large oblong runestone with an intricate carving of a powerful, ferocious wolf, known as Fenris (or Fenrir) in Norse mythology.
Drone footage reveals sunken ancient wooden boat in Ireland’s River Boyne
Image of wooden boat, River Boyne, Ireland Source: Anthony Murphy / Mythical Ireland
A short video shot by citizen archaeologist and Ancient Origins guest author Anthony Murphy flying his drone over the River Boyne in Ireland has revealed an unusual rectangular object sink into the river bed. According to Irish Central, the object’s size and shape have led archaeologists to tentatively identify it as a wooden boat, a simple but sturdy watercraft made from hollow tree trunks.
An unusual metal object was discovered inside a 4.5 billion year old meteorite
This meteorite NWA 869 is unlike anything this writer has ever seen before. (David Bryant)
Meteorite traders David Bryant and his wife Linda contacted Ancient Origins to inform them of an extraordinary discovery they had made while regularly transporting meteorite fragments. In April 2020, David received a package of meteorites ordered from a regularly trusted source. Here are 20 examples of a very famous and common type of common chondrite called NWA 869. But one of them is different and appears to contain a metal object crafted inside. The meteorite is 4.5 billion years old, so what about that object?
1300 year old prehistoric ski track found in Norway completes a pair!
Runar Hole holds the prehistoric ski Digervarden found in Norway. (Aud Hole/secretsoftheice.com)
After years of searching, a team in Norway has finally found another prehistoric ski run on Digervarden Mountain. While not the oldest ski run ever found, it still dates back to prehistoric times and is certainly the best preserved. What makes this discovery even more interesting is that prehistoric skiing was one of two. The first half of a pair of ancient skateboards were discovered near the same location in 2014! Other pairs of ultra-antique skis have been found elsewhere but none in such a high state of preservation.
Divers find four Roman naval attack vehicles from the Punic War of 241 BC
One of the Roman navy’s assault chariots is pulled from the sea near the island of Ustica, Italy. (RPM Maritime Foundation)
Four ancient Roman bronze hammers, the type used on the front of battleships, were discovered by divers near the island of Ustica, north of Palermo, Italy. These rare artifacts of ancient naval warfare are a perfect example of the Romans’ engineering skills and one of the reasons they defeated the Carthaginians in battles in the 3rd century ago. BC.
800 year old Boomerang discovered in Australia Creek
Dave Johnston, Professor of Archeology at the Australian National University, is analyzing one of six boomerangs recently discovered in Australia. (Jamie Kidston / Australian National University)
A family in Australia noticed a “luminous object” lying next to a remote river. They crossed the river and examined the V-shaped object and it turned out to be a boomerang. But not just any old boomerang: this is actually an ancient boomerang, which archaeologists in Australia say is 800 years old.
2,400-year-old fruit basket found underwater at Thonis-Heracleion, Egypt!
A piece of one of the fruit baskets was brought to the surface by the French underwater archaeological team at Thonis-Heracleion. (Christoph Gerigk / Franck Goddio / Hilti Foundation)
While research work was being carried out at Thonis-Heracleion in Abu Qir Bay, intact fruit baskets dating back to the 4th century BC were discovered! “They have been lying intact underwater for 2,400 years, possibly because they were once placed in an underground chamber or buried shortly after being raised.”
Nearly perfect 800-year-old Norman letter chain discovered in Ireland
Vest or chain coat at Granard Conquest & Knighthood Heritage Centre, Longford. (Longford Leader)
A rare and complete 800-year-old Norman chainmail vest was discovered in County Longford, believed to date from when the Normans arrived there in 1172. Some doubt its authenticity.
8 jars of Colombian emeralds, gold and silver unearthed near Bogotá
A close-up look at the treasure as it was found in one of eight jars: a mixture of gold and silver Muisca crafts and many large Colombian emeralds. ( Francisco Correa )
And finally, who doesn’t love searching for treasure? There are a lot of them in 2021. One of the most interesting is the huge treasure discovered by archaeologists in Colombia. Although the reporters were certainly involved in El Dorado, these offerings of Colombian gold, silver, and emeralds have nothing to do with the legendary City of Gold, which is a creation of conquest folklore. 16th century costumes.
