Unprecedented diamond of monstrous size, age-old lipstick, and sensual Roman frescoes: 15 extraordinary finds of 2024 (paraphrased)
Here are some of the most significant historical and archaeological discoveries of the year, presented in a different perspective:
The Big Roman Twelve-Sider
An intriguing archaeological riddle took a new twist when hobby archaeologists in England unearthed a substantial Roman twelve-sided figure — one of only 130 such twelve-sided ancient relics discovered globally, with their original functions now lost to time. Measuring 3 inches across, it's among the largest examples discovered to date and is "completely unique," as described by Richard Parker, secretary of the Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group, which discovered the artifact. "It's intact, undamaged, and it clearly held immense value to who created it and to those who used it," Parker commented. The object is void of depictions in art or descriptions in literature, making Roman twelve-sided figures an ongoing enigma. Parker hypothesizes that it was a religious artifact. "It's an intricate story that's just beginning to unravel," he stated.
Chopin's Secret Waltz
The summer was marked by Charli XCX's "brat" vibes, but autumn brought an unexpected musical surprise: a new release attributed to the famed Polish composer Frederic Chopin, who passed away 175 years prior. A widely-known curator at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York came across the discovery, marking Chopin's first unknown work discovered in nearly a century.
The French composer penned the short, complete waltz on a miniature manuscript as a twentysomething, and although it appears to have initially been intended as a gift, Chopin didn't sign it, suggesting he may have changed his mind. Hearing the piece for the first time is set to be an exciting moment for the classical piano world, said Robinson McClellan, the curator who made the discovery.
Magic Marks in the Haunted Manor
Just in time for Halloween, the charity English Heritage announced a spooktacular discovery: an extraordinary collection of witches' symbols were found on the walls of a Tudor manor house in Lincolnshire. The carvings, also known as apotropaic marks, were discovered by an English Heritage volunteer and date back to the turn of the 17th century. With many of the symbols found in the servants' wing, they include protective circles aimed at trapping demons, along with overlapping Vs, which could have been a call for divine protection from the Virgin Mary. The name of the manor's former owner is also featured, but written upside down, potentially serving as a curse.
The Picasso Puzzle
In 1962, an old Italian antique dealer stumbled upon a rolled-up canvas in the basement of a villa in Capri, depicting an asymmetrically-painted woman in a blue dress. Unbeknownst to him at the time, the piece could potentially be an original Picasso worth €6 million ($6.6 million), as experts now believe. The junk dealer's son, Andrea Lo Rosso, spent years attempting to authenticate the artist's signature, but the Picasso Foundation in Paris has yet to officially validate the work. The painting was stored in a vault for multiple years and managed to survive the unexpected circumstances that led to its discovery.
Dali Lithographs Unearthed
A London auctioneer made a surreal discovery while assessing antiques: ten signed Salvador Dalí lithographs. The owner, who had acquired the pieces during a gallery's closing sale in the 1970s, had stored them in their garage for years before recent interest sparked their reevaluation. The lots all exceeded their expected selling prices by several hundred dollars during the September auction, bringing in a grand total of £19,750 ($25,158).
The Sewer-Stashed Sculpture
A marble statuette of the Roman god Hermes was hidden away for 1,600 years in a sewer system and was discovered this past summer during an archaeological dig in Bulgaria. The well-preserved statue, which measures about 6.8 feet tall, was likely concealed underground following an earthquake in 388 A.D. to protect it from further damage.
The city of Heraclea Sintica, where the statue was found, entered a period of decline following the earthquake and was abandoned around 500 A.D. The statue's discovery is a testament to the amazing preservation capabilities of ancient sewer systems.
An ancient tomb over 4,300 years old unveiled a glimpse into daily life of the era when researchers found a set of vibrant murals. Known as a mastaba, the tomb lies within the pyramid necropolis of Dahshur, which the German Archaeological Institute Cairo has been excavating since 1976. Carvings on a limestone entrance door to the mastaba reveal it belonged to an administrator named Seneb-nebef and his wife, Idut, and archaeologists have dated it to around 2,300 B.C..
Describing the people and animals depicted in the murals as having “graceful forms and flawless execution,” Stephan Seidlmayer, who headed the expedition, said to CNN at the time that “the pictures provide solid proof of the artistic environment of the capital region of the developed Old Kingdom.”
The accidental burial site
A construction worker had an unexpected encounter when he stumbled upon a carved marble head of a woman while constructing a parking lot at a 16th-century English estate. It turned out to be an 1,800-year-old Roman sculpture. Yet, another surprise awaited — the headless statue of the woman was discovered nearby two weeks later when archaeologists started working on the site.
It is now speculated that the estate's 18th-century owner, Brownlow Cecil, the ninth Earl of Exeter, brought the sculpture back during an Italian tour in the 1760s — but the reason for its burial remains an enigma.
Archaic beauty routine
A tiny container discovered in southeastern Iran revealed that contemporary MAC lip colors may not be too different from their ancient counterparts — 4,000 years ago. The stone container filled with a dark red mixture of minerals — mainly hematite, along with manganite, braunite, and vegetable-based waxy ingredients — is believed to be the earliest instance of lipstick to have received scientific analysis, researchers reported in February.
The investigators noted that the intensity of the red coloring minerals and the waxy substances are surprisingly similar to those used in contemporary lipsticks. They also suggested that the vial's shape and contents suggested it was used on the lips but may have had other purposes as well, such as a lipstick-blush combination kit.
History-making cave art
Researchers from Argentina and Chile discovered the earliest-known cave paintings in South America, located nearly 700 miles southwest of Buenos Aires. Dating back 8,200 years, the 895 works of art come from Huenul 1 cave, a large rock shelter of around 6,700 square feet.
Scientists dated four black charcoal patterns within the system, which showed they were repeated for a period of at least 3,000 years. The cave art provides insight into the artistic ability and communication among hunter-gatherers during the middle Holocene period.
Majestic seaside mansion
In January, a playground construction project in Italy led to the uncovering of the remains of a statuesque beach house from 2,000 years ago, potentially belonging to a legendary owner. The opulent cliffside mansion, with its 10 spacious rooms, tiled walls, and expansive terraces, dates back to the 1st century and has been partially submerged due to repeated volcanic activity that lowered the land.
Experts suggest that its occupant could have been the renowned natural philosopher and naval commander Pliny the Elder, who commanded a fleet of 70 ships nearest the Roman port at Misenum.
“It is probable that the magnificent villa offered a 360-degree view of the Gulf of Naples for strategic military purposes,” Simona Formola, lead archaeologist at Naples’ art heritage, stated to CNN at the time. “Exploration of deeper layers could reveal more rooms and perhaps even frescoes — potentially also valuable artifacts.”
The colossal firework
Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp. announced in August that it had found what it believed to be the second-largest diamond ever unearthed, weighing approximately 2,492 carats. The stone was discovered at the Karowe mine in Botswana, which already holds the current second-largest record-holder, the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona, which sold for $53 million two years ago. (The world's largest known diamond, the Cullinan Diamond, was found in South Africa in 1905, weighing 3,106 carats.)
The mining company used a sophisticated tool for the task: the Mega Diamond Recovery (MDR) X-ray Transmission (XRT) machine, which was developed to find and recover the world's remaining massive gemstones.
The missing Tudor portrait
A British fine art researcher made an astonishing discovery when he saw a distinctive portrait of Henry VIII in the background of a photograph posted to X. The image showed a gathering in Warwickshire, England, in the building complex where the Warwickshire County Council is headquartered. There, in the background, Adam Busiakiewicz spotted a painting with a “distinctive curved top.” It seemed to be one of a set of 22 portraits depicting significant historical figures commissioned during the 1950s, many of which were dispersed following private auctions.
In a press statement sent to CNN, Busiakiewicz mentioned that the curved top was a distinctive feature of the Sheldon set, while the painting's frame was identical to other preserved examples. Majority of these works, he further added, have yet to be traced.
Sexually Explicit Findings in Pompeii's Pompadour
An unsuspecting home in Pompeii revealed an intriguing secret, housing a multitude of detailed and carnal murals. Archaeologists unearthed this residence in the city's central district, which met its demise due to a volcanic eruption in AD 79, subsequently preserving it beneath layers of ash. Despite its humble dimensions and lack of key architectural components of larger Roman dwellings, such as the central open-air atrium, this home showcased that even the most modest of abodes could boast extravagant decor. The mythological scenes, rich in erotic undertones, depicted the seductive figure of Venus alongside her mortal lover, Adonis. Additionally, the son of Theseus, Hippolytus, who spurned his stepmother Phaedra's romantic pursuits, was also depicted.
This discovery was not the only sign of artistic grandeur that Pompeii unfurled this year: During the spring months, archaeologists excavated a banquet hall adorned with striking black-painted walls, showcasing an ensemble of mythological characters connected to the Trojan War.
Plato's Final Moments, Unveiled
Unconventional Plato revelations have emerged from charred papyrus scrolls, as per Italian researchers, who have been analyzing a set of scrolls buried under volcanic ash in Pompeii. The deciphered text is part of 1,800 carbonized scrolls, dating back to the 18th century, collectively known as the Herculaneum scrolls. Researchers have utilized AI in conjunction with other advanced imaging technology to decipher these scrolls, which have suffered substantial damage.
So what's the intrigue? The Greek philosopher's final resting place—a secluded garden nestled near a hallowed shrine inside the Platonic Academy of Athens (which was destroyed in 86 B.C.). And there's gossip as well: Plato was rumored to have reveled in the music played during his final moments. However, the scrolls suggest otherwise. Plato reportedly found the musical melodies played on the flute to be devoid of rhythm, as experts elucidated during a Naples-based presentation, highlighting these unexpected details, spring 2022.
The discovery of the Roman twelve-sider raised questions about its potential use in religious rituals, suggesting that the style of art and artifact collection in ancient Rome may have been deeply intertwined with their religious practices.
The discovery of Chopin's secret waltz added a new layer of complexity to the study of his music, as the style and composition of the piece may provide insights into his artistic evolution.
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