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Found in 1799 in Egypt by a French soldier, the famous Rosetta Stone became one of the greatest archeological discoveries and a major key to understanding ancient Egyptian history. How did that stone help archeologists decypher Egyptian hieroglyphs?
Rosetta Stone is a part of a bigger stone that had a decree by King Ptolemy V (about 200 years BC) written on it. The text was translated into three languages: Egyptian hieroglyphs, demotic script, and ancient Greek. Since the linguists knew ancient Greek, they used it as a reference point for decyphering Egyptian hieroglyphs. Since 1802, Rosetta Stone belongs to the British museum. In the image below, you can see a copy of Rosetta Stone in Rashid (Rosetta), Egypt.
The scientists found an Egyptian dictionary under it
The text on the stone was written in several languages
There was a map on the stone which the scientists used to find a library
The stone was sold and the money was used to fund an expedition
In 1974, near the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, archeologists found 8,100 terracotta warriors . How were they supposed to serve their emperor in the afterlife?
The famous terracotta army was buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang in year 210 BC. According to a Chinese historian Syma Zhian, a year after ascending the throne in year 246 BC, a 13-year-old Ying Zheng (the future Qin Shi Huang) started to build his tomb. He wanted this warriors to accompany his to the underworld. This way, he wanted to maintain his powers and ambitions even after death. More than 700,000 people participated in the building of the legendary tomb that lasted 38 years. The outer wall of the tomb is 6 km in perimeter.
To entertain him
To show him the path
To protect him
To teach him
At the beginning of the 20th century, among the ship wreckage near a Greek island Antikythera (or Anticythera), a 2000-year-old device was found. According to some experts, it could be the first scientific...
Using dozens of gears, this device can accurately determine the position of the Sun, the Moon, and planets. Although its application is the subject of continuous disputes, this mechanism is a direct proof that 2,000 years ago, the human civilization was making its first steps in mechanical engineering. In the photo below, you can see a replica of the ancient device.
Radio
Calculator
Compass
Electric kettle
Qumran Caves Scrolls are ancient Jewish religious manuscripts containing the second-oldest known surviving copies of works later included in the Hebrew Bible canon (150 years BC). What is the other name used for these valuable manuscripts?
The Dead Sea Scrolls (also Qumran Caves Scrolls) refer to the ancient religious manuscripts found in 1947 in the Qumran Caves located about one mile (1.6 kilometres) west of the northwest shore of the Dead Sea. According to some archeologists and historians, the scrolls were written by priests in Jerusalem, or Zadokites, or other unknown Jewish groups.
Dead Sea Scrolls
Mediterranean Sea Scrolls
Red Sea Scrolls
Aegean Sea Scrolls
In 1986, under Mount Owen in New Zealand, an expedition discovered a foot of moa, a now-extinct flightless bird endemic to New Zealand. Identify this bird in the images below.
In image # 1, you can see the Haast's eagle. In image # 2, you can see a Dodo bird. The bird in image # 3 is Titanis walleri. Moa is depicted in image # 4.
№ 1
№ 2
№ 3
№ 4
In the mid-30s of the 20th century, near Baghdad, Iraque, a couple of vessels were found. A German archeologist named Dr. Wilhelm Koenig believed that the vessels had been used as...
In his book “Lost In Paradise”, Wilhelm Koenig meticulously described the discovery: “The upper end of the rod about an inch protrude above the cylinder and was covered with a thin, light yellow, fully oxidized layer of metal that looks like lead. The lower end of the iron rod did not get to the bottom of the cylinder, on which was placed a layer of asphalt thickness of approximately three millimeters”.
Washing machine
Steam engine
Galvanic element (battery)
Air conditioner
This settlement was founded in 6 BC as a Roman colony. The settlement got famous for its port and resort area. It boasted a variety of temples, theatres, and other buildings. Plus, the settlement had a gorgeous amphitheater (forum). Identify the painter who depicted an event that happened in the city on August 24th of 79 AD.
Mount Vesuvius, a stratovolcano in modern-day Italy, erupted on August 24th of 79 AD. Several Roman settlements were obliterated and buried underneath massive pyroclastic surges and ashfall deposits, the best known being Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pompeii was completely destroyed. Until 1599, the ancient city was buried under thick layers of lava. However, the excavations only began in 1748. Pompei was a fine example that illustrated the life of ancient Romans. During the excavations, the scientists got answers to many questions.
Ivan Aivazovsky
Karl Bryullov
Ilya Repin
Alexey Savrasov
This thing was commonly used for writing before the advent of mass production of paper. What was it?
In July of 1951, in the city of Novgorod, an expedition discovered a manuscript scratched in soft birch bark (beresta). Evidence of birch bark for writing goes back many centuries and in various cultures.
Pergament
Papyrus
Beresta
USB flash
In November of 1974, archeologists found several hundred pieces of bone fossils of Australopithecus. It remains one of the greatest archeological discoveries up to date. The Frech-American expedition discovered the skeleton in Africa, near the village Hadar in the Awash Valley of the Afar Triangle in Ethiopia. The archeologists decided to name the specimen after a popular Beatles song. Which name did it get?
The Lucy specimen is an early australopithecine and is dated to about 3.2 million years ago. The creature died at age 25-30.
Lucy
Mary
Anna
Samantha
Time-tested technologies are back in fashion. Today, many people adorn their teeth with diamonds. The Native Americans living in the south of North America cut out holes in their teeth and inserted semiprecious stones instead. What else is known about this procedure?
Ancient "dentsists" used borers made of obsidian to make holes in the teeth. They attached stones to the teeth using a glue made of natural resin and ground bone. This fashion was particularly popular among men.
This fashion was popular among men
This procedure was done exclusively by women
They attached stone with cement
This was a way to demonstrate your social status
In 1929, during the reconstruction of the sultan's palace, archeologists discovered a unique map created in Constantinople in early 16th century. The map featured the American continent. What makes this map unique?
At that time, map makers (in this case, it was a Turkish admiral) already knew how to create detailed geographic maps. The unique thing about this map is that it's very detailed and depicts the lands that had not been yet discovered by that time.
The map depicted a fictional island of Atlantis
The map was made of materials that can't be found on Earth
It's the only 16th century map that made it to present day
The map contains writings in an unknown language that hasn't been decyphered yet
Aspiring archeologist
We're sure you can do better! You should find the time to refresh your knowledge in archeology. On the brighter side, you've learned so many curious things! Now you know what Rosetta Stone is famous for, why a Chinese emperor was buried with his soldiers, and what the name of the first australopithecus was. Did you like the quiz? Share it with your friends and see how well they know archeology!
Archeology fan
Wow! You know a lot! We bet your dream is to go on an archeological expedition. Or have you already done that? Nonetheless, we hope you found our quiz entertaining. You've learned so many curious things! Now you know what Rosetta Stone is famous for, why a Chinese emperor was buried with his soldiers, and what the name of the first australopithecus was. Did you like the quiz? Share it with your friends and see how well they know archeology!
Archeology expert
Is there anything archeology-related you don't know? If you're not a professional archeologist, you're wasting your talent! You know what Rosetta Stone is famous for, why a Chinese emperor was buried with his soldiers, and what the name of the first australopithecus was. Did you like the quiz? Share it with your friends and see how well they know archeology!
