The Staffordshire Hoard may look like movie props, but the beautiful treasures were actually found in 2009 on farmland near Lichfield, Staffordshire. The Hoard is considered the largest Anglo-Saxon collection of gold and silver found to date and contains both pagan and Christian symbols.
Many of the objects are intricate, geometric patterns and animals. It is thought that treasures belonged to a male warrior or high status, but very little is known about the circumstances surrounding these abandoned objects.
The Grave of Richard the Third
The grave of Richard the Third was discovered in a parking lot in August of 2012 by archaeologists from the University of Leicester. It is thought that the English king had been buried there for over 500 years. Richard the Third is said to have died at the Battle of Bosworth and was only 32 years old.
What was notable for archaeologists was how the king appeared to be buried without the traditional respect in which a royal would be laid to rest. By the looks of his remains, archaeologists believe he was buried with no ceremony or even in a coffin. Historians assume that, whoever buried him, were not supporters of the royal.
Cave of Altamira
The Cave of Altamira is located in the north of Spain and contains some prehistoric engravings and paintings that were discovered in 1868. The cave was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985 and is covered in paintings and engravings of bison, cryptic symbols, and horses.
The validity of the paintings and engravings have been called into question in the past but are generally considered to be about 22,000 years old. Because of the delicate state of the paintings, tourists were at one time only allowed to see a replica of the paintings and engravings in a museum.
Valley of the Kings
Located in Luxor, Egypt, the Valley of the Kings holds over 60 tombs of Egypt’s pharaohs. Here you can find the final resting places of pharaohs from the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties, including Tutankhamun, Nefertiti, Ramses the Second, and Seti the First, among others.
Tutankhamun, Nefertiti, Ramses the Second, and Seti the First, among others. The tombs are elaborately painted with scenes of the deceased royal with gods of the afterlife. The tombs were also, at one time, filled with all the necessities that Egyptians thought were needed for the afterlife.
Megalopolis
The Megalopolis is located in Arcadia, Greece, and is thought to have been established in 371 BC as one of the first urban cities in the region. This ancient town of Megalopolis spans between Tripoli, Kalamata, and Sparta.
It contains a theatre that would have held around 20,000 people and is believed to have been built by the ancient Greek architect Polykleitos the Younger. Over many years, the ancient city has seen wars and invasions, but the ruins have survived. Today, Megalopoli (as it is called today) contains the usual, modern-day comforts of hotels, shops, and other attractions.