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.
This Boot, Perfectly Preserved for More Than 2,300 Years
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 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.
These Gloves, Worn by a Holy Roman Emperor
You may notice that these gloves look almost exactly like the ones Sauron from "Lord of the Rings" wore throughout the trilogy. However, these metal gloves were worn by Maximilian I, a Holy Roman Emperor. He received them in preparation for war and kept them on for more than a decade.
Some speculate that the Holy Roman Emperor wore these gloves in battle, while others believe that they were on his hands at all times. Gauntlets were an important piece of armory back in the day, as sword-wielders had to defend themselves with them. Dismemberment would surely make a fight harder to win, which is why a pair of these was so important.
These Horses and Their Carriage, Which Belonged to the Thracians
Archaeologists have found these 2,500-year-old remains of two horses and their chariot, along with perfectly preserved wheels, a seat, and a boot. These are believed to have belonged to the Thracian nobility. This discovery was made in a Thracian tomb along with other expensive artifacts of the time. The tombs were located in northeast Bulgaria in the village of Sveshtari.
These are the single most well-preserved remains of horses and a chariot, and it's unlikely that a better one will ever be discovered. The Thracians were a group of Indo-European tribes that spread across Eastern Europe. It's believed that the first Greek Thracian colonies were founded in 800 BC.