25 Most Incredible Ancient Artifacts Finds

[00:00:00]Items from history are both interesting in their own accidents, as well as what they say about the past.

[00:00:07]Around the world, archaeological historians and museums are sorting through these items and learning whatever they can about the past.

[00:00:17]An ancient Maori war cloak has found its way back to New Zealand and is now only one of five in existence that resides in its country of origin.

[00:00:26]These cloaks are also known as pa kou, and they were worn by warriors to protect their body with its tightly woven cloth.

[00:00:34]Made with single pair weft twining, they were soaked in water and mud in order to strengthen and harden the materials, creating a tool to wrap around the arm, hand, or abdomen in order to protect the body during close combat.

[00:00:47]Once hardened, it was able to help absorb blows and to protect from cuts while providing time to deflect and react, even moving out of the way.

[00:00:56]These are lighter and faster, easier to move than other items like metal mail or shields, as well as not getting hot as metal items would.

[00:01:06]The history of these capes can be traced to the 18th century with the designs beginning in earlier versions from the 17th century.

[00:01:16]As all others are in collections around the world, this will be the only one on display in New Zealand at this time.

[00:01:24]In the ancient Etruscan city Vulci in central Italy, the marble head of a statue has been found.

[00:01:31]It's from a kore, a special type of statue from ancient Greece, which was popular in the Greek Archaic period of 800 to 480 BC.

[00:01:40]She was a young woman, and the head was found in a temple during excavations of Vulci.

[00:01:45]This is one of very few which have been found outside of Greece at any time, offering a rare glimpse into the culture of the city.

[00:01:53]Each, including this one, have what's called the Archaic smile, which was meant to show ideal harmony without representing happiness.

[00:02:02]The statue head also had hair that was both braided and curled, and it was determined to have been made in a workshop in the early 5th century BC.

[00:02:12]The presence of the statue outside of the expected area is providing insight into the political structure of both the city in which it was found and the time in which it was made.

[00:02:24]Recently, an intricately carved piece of onyx depicting the head of Medusa was found in Hallstatt, Austria.

[00:02:31]It measures 0.6 in tall and is the largest of the three Roman cameos that have been found in Upper Austria.

[00:02:38]It's also the one that has the most detailed of the carvings.

[00:02:42]The stone is agate with black and white bands or onyx from the 2nd century AD, likely to have been carved in Aquileia, where there was a strong focus on crafting and trade.

[00:02:53]To create the finished piece, the block of the onyx was used as the background and the head and hair were both carved into the band of white.

[00:03:02]Through the intricacy of the carving, the light creates a sense of translucence in the hair and glowing in the face and head.

[00:03:09]Due to the size, it's believed to have been a pendant for a necklace. This area was part of the Roman Empire along with most of Upper Austria and was known for the large amounts of salt being extracted beginning in the Neolithic period.

[00:03:23]Upon the discovery of the salt mine, the nearby city was established for the administration and the workers for the salt mine.

[00:03:30]Still in operation today, it's the oldest salt mine to be in operation. The Medusa carving will be on display at the Linz Castle Museum in Upper Austria.

[00:03:41]Depictions of Madonna are common in art throughout history, and recently restored statue is now on display at the Convent of Saint Agnes Bohemia, located in Prague.

[00:03:53]Restoration work was conducted over 3 years and the layers of paint that had been added during previous restoration or repairs and returned it to the subtle tones that it had originally been.

[00:04:04]Known as the Madonna of Havron or Madonna of the Angelic Throne, it was originally discovered during the 19th century and then rediscovered in a cottage in 2022.

[00:04:15]The cottage had previously belonged to members of the Nazi party who would have lost most of their property after the war and must have hidden the statue to avoid confiscation.

[00:04:25]Standing barely over 3 ft in height and made of Linden wood, it depicts Madonna with baby Jesus in her lap and three angels surrounding her.

[00:04:33]Each of the angels are playing musical instruments, one a fiddle, one a cittern. Dated to the 1360s or 1370s, it's believed to have been carved in Prague. A CT scan was conducted to determine the layers of paint and the composition of the statue.

[00:04:51]During invasions and war, people often hide items of value in order to protect them from looting. And one such item was found in the Eastern Archdiocese forests of Poland.

[00:05:01]It was an eagle standard from the 12th Infantry Division in Tarnopol, which was designed based upon the eagle on the Polish coat of arms.

[00:05:09]Consisting of a white eagle, the beak, talons, and crown were all gold, this division was tracked to 1919 and was part of the invasion of Poland by German troops along with the rest of the Prussian army.

[00:05:22]It's believed to have been buried to avoid being taken by the invading troops, so it would not become a trophy of war.

[00:05:29]These details are offering insight into the events of the time and how the military members were responding to what was going on and preparing for the next battle.

[00:05:38]Along with the standard, which would have been carried on a large pole to announce their presence, were pieces of a leather belt and parts of a ceremonial sash.

[00:05:47]Each of the items will undergo conservation efforts to preserve them for future generations.

[00:05:54]Viking artifacts can be rare in comparison with others, and new research about the Viking miniatures is proving their value through insight into their purpose and role in the culture.

[00:06:05]Rather than being the decorative objects they had been considered, it's now known that they played a strong role in the culture and were commonly used in rituals.

[00:06:14]The study included a collection of 10 figurines made of bronze and silver, and investigated both the production methods and the complexity of the design and creation, modifications that were made, and the rituals in which they were used.

[00:06:28]Contained within the collection were Valkyrie figures, a seated form, [music] a pregnant figurine, and an Oscar head, which was cast separately from any other portions.

[00:06:39]Techniques that were displayed included smoothing of the surface, scratching into the metal, fractures both intentional and accidental, and patterns of polishing that helped to reconstruct items after damage.

[00:06:51]The study showed there were several steps to the production of the figures and the intention with which each choice was made, as well as the process of recreations, repair, redecoration, and reworking that each of them underwent.

[00:07:05]Each of the changes to clothing, weapons, or other features showed they were adapted to the preferences of the time and to fit the ritual needs, including the choice to leave some appearing unfinished or having rough areas.

[00:07:18]Of the 10 that were studied, nine of them had been prepared for wearing on clothing, cords, or other items, and while some showed wear that created rounded edges and displayed high use, while others appeared to be barely used at all. Some are believed to be made for burial offerings only.

[00:07:36]The Třebíč excavation in the Czech Republic has revealed a shoe decorated with gold that's changing what was expected about their footwear.

[00:07:45]After years of excavation and focus on specific areas, the project is nearing completion with this shoe being one of the final finds.

[00:07:53]Many other artifacts were also found including pieces of pottery from the 13th century which have shown to be lightly used and key in marking the layers of the dig and separating which years were found in which layers.

[00:08:08]Studying the artifacts found has provided valuable insight into daily life in the settlement and has been proven to be an area that was high status.

[00:08:16]One of the items that showed wealth and status was this upper leather portion of a shoe which was decorated with gold which is a rare find with only a few others having been located before at any excavation site.

[00:08:29]Medieval manuscripts have described shoes such as these worn only by high-ranking elites of the community.

[00:08:36]Also found were wooden structures including those in the main square which had a bakery, blacksmith shop, timber processing, millet drying, and a stable.

[00:08:46]The remains of these buildings suggest a thriving settlement which was able to sustain itself and provide residents with their needs.

[00:08:54]Items from this excavation site are on display at the local museum while others are still undergoing repairs and preservation work before they're able to be displayed.

[00:09:05]In Southwest Zealand, Denmark, a find of two iron spears near Boeslund has resulted in new discoveries about the weaponry and culture between 900 and 830 BC.

[00:09:18]Two spears were found with intricate and ornately decorated with gold inlay and they're the oldest iron artifacts to have ever been found in Denmark.

[00:09:27]This discovery and the date at which they were made is showing that there were metalworking and iron items 300 years before they were thought to have access.

[00:09:37]During the the focus was on finding items from the Bronze Age, and they found a vast amount of gold, some small Bronze Age items, 10 gold oath rings, 2,200 gold spirals, and other items that fit within the same time frame.

[00:09:52]Upon discovering that there was a spring below the collections, it was determined that the items had been provided as an offering and the water source sacred.

[00:10:01]With the discovery of these two spears, a highly advanced technology difference has been seen, and this is creating changes in the timeline for the settlement. The first spear is 18.5 inches long and is believed to have been 23.6 inches when it was made.

[00:10:17]Several circular gold inlays were found along the blade displaying advanced craftsmanship and techniques.

[00:10:24]Using the combination of both iron working and gold working are what set the spears apart from others from the same time period.

[00:10:33]Shopping at a thrift store in Chilliwack, BC, a customer was surprised to find what's believed to be a collection of artifacts from the 3rd or 4th century.

[00:10:43]The collection included 11 rings and three medallions and had been donated to the thrift shop for sale, where they were found by an archaeologist from a local university.

[00:10:53]Little is known about the items so far, though they're suspected to be from the Roman Empire and be dated to either the late antiquity period or the medieval time period.

[00:11:03]Decorative designs were found on the items, including a Cairo, which was common in the late antiquity period, while the larger medallion appears to have designs from the Byzantine period.

[00:11:15]This difference in age of the designs suggests that they were not all found in one historical hoard, but rather that they were collected over time by one private owner from several different archaeological sites.

[00:11:27]Each of the artifacts has undergone initial investigation to determine age and style, while ongoing studies and care will continue at the museum for the university, allowing students to learn as they go through the process.

[00:11:42]One lake in Poland has become an archaeological excavation site after the discovery of artifacts that are expected to be linked to an ancient ruler.

[00:11:52]Medieval weapons were recovered from the lake around the island Ostrow Lednicki, which has been determined to have been a royal stronghold during the 10th century.

[00:12:02]Dates for the items place them under the reign of Mieszko the First and Bolesław the Brave, who both were active in medieval Poland.

[00:12:10]Each was a socketed spearhead, and they were both decorated, while others that have been found at the site were plain with no other showing the attention to design or inscriptions.

[00:12:20]Both the metals used to create the weapons, as well as the ornamental appearance, point to them being for those who were high-ranking in the community.

[00:12:28]One has been referred to as the princely spear due to the ornamented socket and the gold, silver, and bronze that were inlaid throughout to create the designs.

[00:12:39]While it's uncertain how they ended up in the lake, it's been suggested that they fell into the lake during military battles over the island, particularly during the invasion in the 1030s, or that they were provided as offerings.

[00:12:52]During excavations in Harran, Turkey, a 900-year-old ceremonial pot was found.

[00:12:58]The site is recognized as one of the oldest settlements in the world and is a protected site.

[00:13:03]Measuring 7.8 inches deep and marked with Arabic inscriptions and a signature from the person who made it, the pot is an important find for the site.

[00:13:12]>> [music] >> It was created through the lusterware technique, which made ceramics with several firings rather than one, which creates a shimmering metallic glaze rather than the matte finish that's expected.

[00:13:24]Not Not is it the first example in the area of this technique, but it was also found in a center of learning with the location adding meaning to the find.

[00:13:34]It's been dated to the 12th century AD confirming the records that mention the city remaining populated for thousands of years continually.

[00:13:42]Along with other artifacts, this pot has offered insight into the role that the city had the time periods that it was active, as well as the techniques and opportunities that were available.

[00:13:53]Early Venetian glass making set the standard for others who would also create glass objects, as well as the future of glass making as a whole.

[00:14:03]Pieces of glass from the 8th century are providing extensive information about the technology and materials that were common during that time.

[00:14:11]The dating process has shown that the glass was made before the famous Murano glassmakers were established and operated during the medieval period.

[00:14:20]This is a time that not much is known about with this excavation providing more information with which to build a timeline and learn about the lives of the glassmakers.

[00:14:30]It's being studied along with other pieces from Olavala, an ancient island which had a castle with ties to the glass making technology.

[00:14:39]Glass from that site along with the new site is dated to the 6th to 9th centuries and includes 45 samples from production waste to vessels [music] and even a crucible.

[00:14:50]With these finds, it's become obvious the role that Venice played in early glass making and how advanced it was even then. With one of those advancements being moving from natron-based glass to plant ash glass much earlier than was believed.

[00:15:06]Excavations in Turkey have unearthed large circular stones which are surrounded by mystery. They were found during the beginning of a road expansion near the Turkey border with Iraq when six large circular stones were found, each weighing more than 440 lb.

[00:15:23]Though little is known about the stones, it's been suggested that they may be fossils from animals that are long extinct. Others that have been found in various places around the world have been identified as millstones, ritual structures, geological concretions, and others have been found to house fossils.

[00:15:41]Currently housed at the home of the head of the construction crew, they have yet to be fully studied and experts have been contacted to pick them up and begin investigations.

[00:15:52]In the ancient city of Metropolis, which is located in western Turkey, a marble statue head was found that belongs to a goddess.

[00:16:00]It's been dated to the Hellenistic period and may depict Hestia, who is the guardian of the hearth.

[00:16:07]Not only is this monumental find showing the advanced carving and craftsmanship that was common during the time period, but also the religious beliefs and the culture.

[00:16:17]Ongoing excavations at the site of unearthed the statue head along with several other artifacts, with the site now being known as the city of the mother goddess due to the items found.

[00:16:28]The building that once stood where it was located was a commercial building, showing that there was an intermingling of business, religion, and community.

[00:16:37]Dating was based upon the construction techniques, realism, and proportions, all of which point to the Hellenistic period of 323 to 31 BCE.

[00:16:48]It was created using two pieces of marble, each carved and then joined together with metal clamps, which was a common method of large-scale statue building.

[00:16:57]Conservation efforts discovered that the pupil in the eyes had been hollowed, which was previously noted as a preparation for adding stones or glass that had been colored to make the eyes appear more lifelike.

[00:17:11]Near the ends of the Harran Plain, a small excavation site at Gurcatepe is proving to provide a vast amount of information on the pre-pottery Neolithic time period.

[00:17:22]During this time period, there was a shift from mobile hunting and gathering to settlements and agriculture.

[00:17:27]After the settlements of the larger megalithic communities of Göbeklitepe and similar, it was not a ceremonial hub as the others were, but rather the earlier settlement was a community that focused on the residents and their daily lives.

[00:17:42]Using farming to feed the community and working closely together to sustain themselves, they formed a close group of people who worked with small structures and residences.

[00:17:52]Both growing crops and keeping animals were used to maintain the settlement, requiring strong organization and cooperation.

[00:18:00]Figurines that were found throughout the settlement have been dated to as long ago as 9,000 years and represent both animals and people.

[00:18:08]They were carved of limestone and clay in both natural and schematic styles with women or gender-neutral forms.

[00:18:16]As they developed over time, they were found to go from shaped lumps to carefully detailed torsos, allowing researchers to follow the progression of techniques and the changing in the culture.

[00:18:28]>> [music] >> Stone Age tools found in Pahang Cave are a great example of 5,000 years of the use of stone tools. When measured, the group had pieces from 38 inches to just over 39 inches in size and showed wear from years of use.

[00:18:44]Over 1,000 artifacts and 1,000 funnel remains were located within the cave and they're being studied to determine their age, origins, and how they ended up in the cave.

[00:18:55]Over 980 of the artifacts were studied and more than 88% were waste flakes, the pieces that were chipped off of the stone during manufacturing.

[00:19:05]Both pieces of polished axe and a hammerstone were found near the chips, suggesting an early beginning to the technique of polishing stone.

[00:19:14]Inspections of the tools showed that over a period of 5,000 years, there were little changes to any of the tools and that they were made in largely the same way.

[00:19:24]Within the site, there were five layers and together they make up a time range of 7,427 BP to 2,724 BP and covers most of the later Stone Age.

[00:19:38]A freeze of a horse was found and recovered from the seabed just off the coast of Sicily.

[00:19:44]It was carved of marble and was in the Temple of Zeus.

[00:19:48]The location was 2 miles from the Valley of the Temples, providing a glimpse into the settlement and the temples that were on site.

[00:19:56]Depicted in the relief is a horse who appears to be in movement to pull back onto his back feet, an image that was commonly associated with Zeus and his carriage drawn by the four winds which show themselves as horses.

[00:20:10]Upon inspection, it was determined that it likely was part of the relief that was over the entrance to the temple based on its size and style when compared to the areas and other carvings of the building.

[00:20:22]The temple itself was built by Theron, who was ruler from 488 to 473 BC after he was victorious in the Battle of Himera and it included dancing horse carvings.

[00:20:34]It's possible this fragment is one of those horses as it stretches 6 and 1/2 feet by 5.2 feet and is over a foot thick of Proconnesian marble. Found 30 feet below the surface, it required special operations to bring it to the surface and to prepare it to adapt from the water to the air.

[00:20:53]The head of a statue was found in Plovdiv, Bulgaria and has been found to be the Greek goddess Tyche.

[00:21:00]Carved from marble, it was intricately detailed and found in the city of Philippopolis within the Basilica.

[00:21:08]Dating on the head placed it in the first to the third century CE, and it's a stunning example of the Hellenistic period craftsmanship.

[00:21:18]A mural crown is carved onto the head, and the size of the head suggests the entire statue was 8.2 ft tall.

[00:21:25]Through the presence of this statue, archaeologists are filling in information about the religious beliefs, cultural history, and art of the settlement.

[00:21:34]The age and details of the statue also suggest that it may have been from a religious building that was present before the Christian Basilica was created, and before Christianity was in the area, or during the time that both pagan and Christian traditions were celebrated.

[00:21:50]Cleaning, restoration, and display are being completed for the head, which will end up at the Plovdiv Museum of Archaeology.

[00:21:58]Within the Louvre Museum, among other famous artworks and legendary artifacts, is the Amathus pot.

[00:22:05]At one time, over 2,000 years ago, the pot was standing across the entrance of an acropolis to its twin.

[00:22:12]The acropolis was for the kingdom of Amathus on Cyprus island.

[00:22:17]Originally purposed for grape storage as they waited to become wine. It stands 6 ft tall, and has curved, intricately decorated handles depicting a bull.

[00:22:27]These designs were to symbolize strength and resilience, and were popular during the time it was made.

[00:22:34]For those unable to visit the original at the Louvre in Paris, a similar pot from the same region is on display in Amathus.

[00:22:42]Medusa's been found on many different types of artifacts, and one of the more unusual is a military medal from the ancient city of Perge in Turkey.

[00:22:52]Dated to 1,800 years ago, it's cast in bronze, and details the snakes in her hair, including two snake heads, as well as her facial features.

[00:23:01]Greek mythology considers her a Gorgon, a monster who would turn anyone to stone upon eye contact. And the city in which it was found was once a major city.

[00:23:12]It's believed that the metal was one that would be given to a soldier to reward their bravery, which would then be worn on the shield during ceremonies.

[00:23:21]A previously located military diploma confirms that there was military living in the settlement alongside civilian residents.

[00:23:29]Excavations in the direct area of the discovery to seek additional military relics, several other artifacts including 13 sculptures of gods and goddesses have also been found at the settlement.

[00:23:41]Funerary objects were often found to be made specifically for the ritual and burial, rather than for use. Though new Viking age burial shields are showing they were also ready for combat.

[00:23:53]Found in a 78-ft long ship, the shields are 1,100 years old and part of the burial for an important member of the community or high-ranking military officer.

[00:24:03]Along with the shields, they found several other luxury offerings including tapestries embroidered with gold, a sleigh, 12 horses and a saddle, eight dogs, two peacocks, six beds, three small boats were found on the deck, and there were 64 round shields.

[00:24:21]Everything appeared to be completely undisturbed when it was found in 1880, free of looting or grave robbing.

[00:24:27]While each of the artifacts in the ship itself are displayed at a museum in Norway, they have not all been fully investigated or studied. A strong focus was placed on the study of the shields with all 64 expected to be burial goods made specifically to be buried in a burial ritual, and it was determined that four had to be reconstructed approximately 100 years prior when they had steel frames added to the original wood to reinforce them.

[00:24:53]>> [music] >> Reports of the original discovery stated that each of the shields was painted either yellow or black and that they were placed evenly along the sides of the ship in alternating colors.

[00:25:04]They were overlapped in a way to create the shape of a half moon and each upon discovery, they were not fully constructed but rather a few pieces remained hanging and the remainder were gathered from the ruins.

[00:25:18]For centuries in time, women were not permitted to discuss with their male doctors leaving them to use a porcelain doll in order to point to where their concerns lied.

[00:25:29]For someone with breathing concerns, she may point to the chest, tap the side of the head to represent a headache and they would share all of their concerns through this manner.

[00:25:39]These Chinese medical dolls have been traced to the 15th [music] century and the Ming Dynasty and have been recorded in use as late as the 1950s.

[00:25:48]They were used throughout several different regions and countries and are still being located today.

[00:25:54]Each measured between 3 to 5.9 inches long and were designed as a naked woman that all would be of ivory or jade left without color and often laying on a couch or on a bed which would be of ivory or wood.

[00:26:08]Only the hair would be colored and any jewelry that they were wearing. Some also had fans and shoes.

[00:26:14]Used to support modesty and limit contact between genders, they were a common tool in doctor offices of all types and in some offices the patient would stay behind a screen of bamboo or cloth and put their hands through the screen to engage with the doll.

[00:26:30]While the doctors usually had them at the office, often upper class clients would carry their own customized medical doll and in some cases would even send servants to share their concerns with the doctor on their behalf.

[00:26:44]At an archaeological site in Afghanistan, the Tillya tepe, meaning the golden hill, a hoard called the Bactrian gold was found.

[00:26:53]The site was excavated in 1978 and the hoard was found with 20,600 artifacts including ornaments, coins, and items made of ivory, gold, and silver throughout the six burial mounds.

[00:27:06]Of the burials, five were women and one was a man, each with jewelry dating to the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE.

[00:27:16]Within the collection of grave goods were several necklaces, each with semi-precious stones, belts, medallions, and a crown.

[00:27:24]Several coins were also found that were dated to the 1st century CE and before and they were determined to belong to Tiberius, Mithradates, and Sapadbizes and many of the items showed prestige and importance of each of those in the burials.

[00:27:39]One coin that was an imitation of a Parthian king coin was found in the hand of one of the women made of gold and suggests the coin was made to show the prestige of the woman it was buried with.

[00:27:51]The crown was found to be a gold diadem with removable crown ornaments which now remains on display at the museum.

[00:27:59]It belonged to the Mycenaeans who were in the area at the time and created settlements where they easily interacted with other cultures.

[00:28:07]The crown was a surprising find and studies are being conducted to learn more about it and the connections between the Greeks and the Han Chinese as they traded and interacted.

[00:28:17]It consists of a band with round gold ornaments covering the band and the upper pieces easily removable for travel or storage.

[00:28:26]One of the most famous artifacts to have been found in Egypt is King Tutankhamun's gold death mask.

[00:28:32]Death masks were used to make a reminder of someone who had died and would be made using their face as the guide.

[00:28:39]This mask weighs 22 lb and was created with one sheet of gold.

[00:28:44]Within the gold were inlays of colored glass and semi-precious stones with lapis lazuli for the eyebrows and the eyeliner.

[00:28:53]For the eyes, obsidian was used made from volcanic ash and quartz. As some of the stones needed to be imported from Afghanistan, the mask shows that trade was already occurring and what countries were trading with Egypt. Two goddesses are found on the forehead of the headdress, Nekhbet and Wadjet, providing protection and marking him as a leader of the upper and lower Egyptian kingdoms.

[00:29:15]A large collar wraps around the neck with lapis lazuli, quartz, and green feldspar with lotus buds around the border and a falcon head on each side.

[00:29:25]Holes were placed in the ears for earrings, which were commonly worn by young men in that time, but they would stop as they became adults.

[00:29:33]The representations of him as a boy or teen rather than an adult add to the determination for when he died and how old he was at the time.

[00:29:43]In the Christ Church Cathedral and Saint Laud's Chapel, the heart of the patron saint of Dublin's heart was stolen.

[00:29:51]Saint Laurence O'Toole was a 12th-century saint in Kildare County, Ireland and was born in 1128.

[00:29:58]After years in captivity as a boy, he decided to be a monk and he became a very successful one and was the abbot of the monastery in Glendalough by 25 years of age.

[00:30:10]Helping to create peace between Henry II of England and Irish King Rory O'Connor in 1170 and though the connection had wavered, he was sent to negotiate in 1180 as well when Henry II refused to see him. As he attempted to follow the king to Normandy to complete his task, he died in the Abbey of Saint Victor at Eu, Normandy in 1180.

[00:30:32]His heart was moved to Christ Church Cathedral in the next 50 years, though there's no exact date, and it was stored there in a heart-shaped box suspended in a small wooden cage hanging in the cathedral.

[00:30:44]When the guard arrived one morning, there was a candle already lit, and by 12:30 p.m. that day, the heart was gone.

[00:30:51]Cameras showed 40 visitors, but none were seen with the wooden heart-shaped box, and it's still not been found.

[00:30:59]>> [music] >> The Celtic religious center at Acropolis Recópolis is near Velaux, Southern France.

[00:31:06]Among the first records from 1824, it was noted that a statue of a warrior sitting cross-legged was found half-buried in the garden that had belonged to the parish priest.

[00:31:15]It had been destroyed in 124 BC by the Romans, and then not seen again until the 1800s.

[00:31:22]>> [music] >> Discovery of the statue began a series of excavations, which lasted 10 years, and unearthed several structures. As each was identified, it was found that many of them belonged to a sanctuary in the settlement, and there were many artifacts found from the 3rd century BC.

[00:31:39]It was at this time a Celtic expansion would have reached the area, and the clothing in some of the statues suggest that they were from the 5th or 6th century BC, providing some guidance in when the area was populated and for how long.

[00:31:53]Along with a large portico with limestone pillars, there were also several stone masks, human skulls, and other items.

[00:32:05]>> [music]