Images

This ancient Egyptian sculpture made of basalt dates from the 13th century BCE and depicts a seated baboon. The baboon was associated with Thoth—the god of wisdom, science, and measurement. Baboons were thus often represented with water clocks...

A funerary garment from the Han dynasty (2nd century BCE - 2 century CE). Made from hundreds of small rectangles of jade stitched together using gold and silver wire, they were used to completely encase the body of deceased royalty. (On...

A gilt bronze oil lamp in the form of a kneeling servant girl; her arm acts as the lamp's chimney. Han dynasty, late 2nd century BCE, from the tomb of Prince Liu Sheng and Princess Dou Wan at Mancheng. Height: 48 cm. (Hebei Museum, Shijiazhuang...

A detail of a basket dating to the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE) showing two rows of famous historical figures. The Han dynasty period was the first time that Chinese artists attempted portraiture. (Central History Museum, Pyongyang, North...

Clovis points made by hunter-gatherers. These were found at the Rummells-Maske Site, 13CD15, Cedar County, Iowa, and are now part of the Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist collection.

Biface from Blombos Cave, South Africa. It belongs to the Africa Middle Stone Age (MSA) tool culture and has been dated to c. 71,000 years old.

The jade dragon from Hongshan, Inner Mongolia, China. Dating to between 4500 and 3000 BCE, it is the earliest known depiction of a dragon. National Museum of China, Beijing. Image by David Owsley Museum, used with permission.

A carved jade dragon. Han dynasty, 2nd-1st century BCE. The British Museum, London.

A gold sword hilt decorated with interlaced dragons. Eastern Zhou dynasty, 6th-5th century BCE. The British Museum, London.

A glazed ceramic roof tile depicting a dragon. Nanjing, Ming dynasty, 1366-1400. The British Museum, London.