The hottest Artifacts Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top History Topics

2,000-year-old wine and the uncanny immediacy of the past

Res Obscura • 5287 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
💾 History Archaeology Artifacts Ancient Civilizations Cultural heritage Historical Analysis
  1. Ancient artifacts like the Carmona Wine Urn help us connect with the past. They remind us that people long ago lived lives similar to ours.
  2. Discoveries like the oldest known wine show how well-preserved objects can teach us about history. They tell us more than famous artworks or historical figures.
  3. Historical artifacts like the Pazyryk Rug and the Sword of Goujian highlight everyday life in the past. They help us imagine what it was like for ordinary people back then.

King Tut's meteorite dagger: A weapon from the heavens

The Exformation Newsletter • 157 implied HN points • 16 May 23
💾 History Minerals Ancient Civilizations Artifacts Archaeology
  1. King Tut's iron dagger made from a meteorite was more valuable than his gold one, showcasing the significance of minerals in history and power.
  2. Ancient Egypt's peak power was not during the time of the pyramids, but between 1550 BC and 1200 BC when they were a Great Power expanding their empire.
  3. Minerals like tin were crucial for advancements like bronze, highlighting their importance in shaping ancient civilizations and trade patterns.

Omens

backstory • 193 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🏝 Travel Adventure Cultural Exploration Memories Artifacts
  1. Discovering old items can evoke strong memories and emotions, connecting us to our past experiences and travels.
  2. Objects collected over time can create a tapestry of memories, serving as a personal museum of experiences and encounters.
  3. Each item found, no matter how seemingly ordinary, can carry a story or history that adds to the richness of our personal narratives.
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An Astronomical Archaeology

Orbis Tertius • 86 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
💾 History Archaeology Astronomy Artifacts
  1. The Golden Records sent aboard the Voyager probes contain information for potential extraterrestrial encounters, including a map of our solar system.
  2. The Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient device, was ahead of its time in predicting solar eclipses and movements of the sun and moon.
  3. Artifacts like the Nebra Sky Disc and Phaistos Disc offer unique insights into ancient astronomical knowledge through complex inscriptions and depictions.

#96 Puzzling design

Design Lobster • 179 implied HN points • 29 Nov 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Artifacts Quotes Puzzles
  1. Jigsaw puzzles were invented by John Spilsbury, starting as educational tools for children which later became popular as a therapeutic activity during the Great Depression.
  2. Puzzle jugs from the 18th century were designed with hidden tricks to prevent spills, showcasing how designs can incorporate elements of surprise and challenge for users.
  3. Design should aim to reduce clutter and confusion, but intentional puzzlement in design can sometimes offer satisfaction and intrigue to users.

Detecting Deepfakes in a cheap and effective way [StoryTime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 04 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Deepfakes Detection Research ML models Artifacts
  1. Deepfakes have serious legal and social consequences, especially with advancements in creating synthetic audio and video.
  2. There are cheap and effective ways to detect Deepfakes by looking for 'fingerprints' left by image tampering.
  3. Research shows promise in using simple models to detect Deepfakes by identifying differences between generated and real images.