We can’t remember the last time a shoe lasted for more than one winter. However, keep in mind that today, most of us don’t walk for more than a mile or two on an average day. But imagine a boot that was used to track thousands of mountains in the winter snow, being preserved almost perfectly for over 2,300 years.
The boot in the picture dates back to 300 BCE and was used by travelers in the Altai Mountains. It was preserved thanks to the freezing cold, which kept it in perfect condition for researchers to admire. The boot contains various materials, such as pewter, pyrite crystals, gold foil, and glass beads. While it doesn’t look like anything we’d ever wear, you can’t help but appreciate its beautiful craftsmanship.
This Diving Suit Prototype, Originally Created in 1882
This design was originally created during the Victorian Era and was built as a deep-diving prototype. The diving suit was made entirely of metal and weighed over 800 pounds, making it impossible to travel with. Initial driving tests were all unsuccessful, as the suit always ended up filling with water when submerged.
It’s easy to look back today and point out just how clumsy this invention was, but unfortunately for Victorians, this was the top of the line when it came to diving equipment at the time. This design was built by the Carmagnole brothers of Marseilles, France. It took almost six more decades before the world’s first fully-functioning scuba gear was invented by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Émile Gagnan.
The World’s Oldest Functional Sunglasses
Most people don’t know that the sun is actually a lot harsher on the eyes in snowy, cold areas rather than in scorching hot deserts. The Inuits were more than aware of this fact as they trudged through snowy regions more than 4,000 years ago.
Back then, Inuits couldn’t just stroll into a Ray-Ban store and pick up a pair of sunglasses. So they carved their own out of various rocks and wooden objects. These sunglasses worked in principle, as they helped limit the sun’s exposure to their eyes. Unfortunately, they also severely limited the wearer’s line of sight, which often resulted in some very unfortunate accidents.
This Roman Warrior’s Skull, Which Dates Back to 52 BC
The Gallic Wars were a series of battles led by Romans on behalf of Julius Caesar. The Romans secured an easy victory over the Celtic tribes due to their vast military superiority. More than 30,000 Romans died during the wars, which doesn't sound like such an astounding number after considering that over a million Celts died as well.
These victories paved the road for Caesar to become the sole ruler of the Roman Republic. The skull shown in the picture above belongs to one of the fallen Roman soldiers who fought in the Gallic Wars. He was impaled by a spear through the brain, which was most certainly his cause of death. His skull remains perfectly preserved to this day, with the same spear still inside it.
This Victorian-Era Hearse is Still Fully Functional
This Victorian-Era hearse was found in Dresden, Germany, and is still fully functional more than two centuries later. It featured gorgeous carved angels and an art style that is almost non-existent in this day and age. The identity of this hearse’s owner remains unknown and will likely never be discovered.
It wasn't until the '20s and '30s of the 20th century that Ford's Model T began populating the roads, replacing horses and carriages. Despite how beautiful these hearses were, there were highly unhygienic. Imagine having hundreds of horses roaming around and going to the bathroom all around your city. Luckily, cars today don’t ever need the bathroom.