Top 20 Greatest Archeological Discoveries Ever

Summary

This video highlights groundbreaking archaeological discoveries that have shaped our understanding of ancient history. Key findings include the *Epic of Gilgamesh* from the library of Ashurbanipal, revealing the oldest known piece of literature; Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old fossil that shed light on early human evolution; and the Rosetta Stone, which unlocked the mysteries of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. These discoveries have provided invaluable insights into early civilizations, human evolution, and lost languages, offering a deeper connection to our past.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Library of Ashurbanipal contained crucial information about ancient Middle Eastern civilizations, including the 7th-century BCE Epic of Gilgamesh.
• 😀 The Epic of Gilgamesh is considered the oldest known piece of literature, inscribed on crumbling clay tablets over 4,000 years old.
• 😀 Fossils like the Tong Child and Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis) have changed the understanding of human evolution, particularly the development of bipedalism.
• 😀 The Tong Child, discovered in 1924 in South Africa, was initially misinterpreted but ultimately shown to be an important link in human evolution.
• 😀 Lucy, the 3.2 million-year-old remains found in Ethiopia in 1974, provided significant evidence about early human development, particularly in terms of bipedalism and brain size.
• 😀 The discovery of 400 specimens of Australopithecus afarensis expanded our knowledge about early hominins, including their size differences between males and females.
• 😀 In 1994, the discovery of Artie, a 4.4-million-year-old Ardipithecus ramidus skeleton, furthered the study of human evolution, showing evidence of early bipedalism.
• 😀 The Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799, played a pivotal role in deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics by providing a bilingual text in Greek and Egyptian scripts.
• 😀 The Rosetta Stone helped scholars understand ancient Egyptian writing by providing the Greek translation of the same passage as the hieroglyphic text.
• 😀 The deciphering of hieroglyphics via the Rosetta Stone opened up a wealth of knowledge about ancient Egyptian civilization and its history.

Q & A

What was the significance of the Library of Ashurbanipal?

The Library of Ashurbanipal, discovered in Nineveh, was one of the most important archaeological finds. It contained thousands of clay tablets, including the Epic of Gilgamesh, which is considered the oldest known piece of literature in human history.

How did the discovery of the Rosetta Stone change our understanding of ancient Egypt?

The discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 allowed researchers to decode Egyptian hieroglyphics by using its Greek translation. This breakthrough opened up the understanding of ancient Egyptian writing and culture.

Why was the Tong Child initially considered the missing link between humans and apes?

The Tong Child, an australopithecus skull discovered in 1924, was thought to be the missing link because it appeared to combine characteristics of both apes and humans. However, some researchers initially dismissed it as a baby gorilla.

What role did the discovery of Lucy play in human evolution?

Lucy, the 3.2 million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis skeleton discovered in Ethiopia in 1974, provided key insights into human evolution, particularly in understanding bipedalism and the development of brain size.

What is the significance of the Epic of Gilgamesh in human history?

The Epic of Gilgamesh is considered the oldest piece of literature, offering valuable insights into the ancient Mesopotamian worldview, including themes of mortality, friendship, and the quest for immortality.

What was the challenge in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics before the discovery of the Rosetta Stone?

Before the Rosetta Stone, scholars had no starting point to understand Egyptian hieroglyphics. The language was complex, and there were no known translations, making it nearly impossible to interpret the inscriptions on Egyptian monuments.

How did the team that discovered Lucy name her?

Lucy was named after the Beatles song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,' which the research team was playing on repeat during the excavation in 1974.

What were the primary features of the Rosetta Stone that made it so important?

The Rosetta Stone contained the same passage written in three languages: Ancient Greek, Demotic, and Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Greek text, which was well understood, enabled researchers to use it as a key to decipher the hieroglyphs.

What is the significance of the 1994 discovery of Ardipithecus ramidus?

The discovery of Ardipithecus ramidus in 1994, a 4.4-million-year-old skeleton, was groundbreaking because it showed evidence that early humans were bipedal, a major step forward in understanding human evolution.

What does the discovery of these early hominid fossils tell us about human evolution?

The discoveries of fossils like Lucy and Ardipithecus ramidus provide critical evidence of the evolution of bipedalism and other traits in early human ancestors, helping to chart the biological and behavioral changes that eventually led to modern humans.