Images

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.

A painting by Caravaggio (1571-1610 CE) of David, the future king of Israel, with the head of the giant Goliath whom he slew with a sling stone. (Galleria Borghese, Rome)

A 12th century CE stained glass window depicting King David of Israel and his son and successor Solomon. Strasbourg Cathedral, France.

A Chinese woman of the early 20th century CE with feet made smaller by the ancient practice of foot-binding. (From 'Women Of All Nations' published by Underwood & Underwood, 1911)