Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. They developed a process, called mummification, to preserve the body after death for its use in the afterlife. During embalming, the process used to create a mummy, specific internal organs were...
Paleo-Indians; Paleo-Indians--Implements; Indians of North America--Implements; Indians of North America--Antiquities
Archaeologists disagree about who carved stones like this one, generally called bannerstones, as well as what these stones were used for by prehistoric Native Americans. Some believe they were made for creating rope, starting a fire or as drilling...
In Ancient Egypt, there were many types of breads including pastries and cakes. Because sugar was not available, the wealthy people used honey as a sweetener, while the poor used dates and fruit juices. Pastry cutters were used to cut a piece of...
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865; Soldiers -- United States -- History -- 19th century; Soldiers; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Equipment and supplies;...
The Civil War soldier’s essential equipment was made of leather. The cartridge box was slung over the left shoulder on a leather sling and held 40 rounds of ammunition. The brass “US” was to help weigh the flap down. The cap pouch was hung on...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Northwest Coast of North America; Haida indians; Haida Indians -- Social life and customs; Implements, utensils, etc.; Sheep; Mountain Goat; 19th Century
For hundreds of years the Northwest Coast cultures used their abundant natural resources to create useful objects. Spoons were made from the horns of both sheep and mountain goat. They were used to transfer ceremonial food from serving bowls and...
In Ancient times, written numbers did not exist. The earliest counting device was the human hand and its fingers. Then, as larger quantities were counted, various natural items like pebbles and twigs were used to help count. Merchants who traded...
For thousands of years, herbal incense has been used for religious rituals, covering unpleasant smells, expelling evil spirits and for medicinal purposes. Incense has traditionally been composed of frankincense and myrrh, as well as aromatic woods,...
Before pocket calculators, the most common device used to perform mathematical operations by scientists, engineers, and students was the slide rule. A basic slide rule can be used to multiply and divide, while others can be used for more complex...
This toothpick sculpture is a model of the "Huey Hog" helicopter used during the Vietnam War. Terry Woodling used over 8,500 toothpicks in 1991 to finish his model. As a teenager, Terry taught himself to build airplanes. Few people build...
Telescopes; Scientific apparatus and instruments; 19th century
A telescope is a magnifying tool used to look at distant objects. Historically, they have been used to look at objects on land, sea, and in space. This telescope was made by Spencer in Glasgow, Scotland around 1880, and was possibly used for...
Microscopes; Scientific apparatus and instruments; 1900s; Bowen, Otis R.
A microscope is a magnifying tool used to look at very small objects. They are often used by people studying or working in the fields of biological and medical sciences. This microscope was made by Bausch and Lomb around 1900. It originally...
A patriotic parasol! This parasol looks like a flag and could have been used on July 4th in the heat of the day. While an umbrella is used to keep rain off, a parasol is used to keep the sun off. In the 1800s, it was desirable for a woman to have a...
Boxes; Gold Coast; Akan (African people); Akan (African people)--Ghana--Social life and customs
The trade in gold across Africa’s Sahara desert, called the Trans-Saharan gold trade, dominated West African commerce from the 7th to the 14th centuries. In search of gold for coinage, Arabs from the Mediterranean made annual camel treks across...
Scales (Weighing instruments); Weights and measures; Gold Coast; Akan (African people); Akan (African people)--Ghana--Social life and customs
The trade in gold across Africa’s Sahara desert, called the Trans-Saharan gold trade, dominated West African commerce from the 7th to the 14th centuries. In search of gold for coinage, Arabs from the Mediterranean made annual camel treks across...
Tin; Tinsmithing; Santa Claus; Hot air balloons; Mexico; Oaxaca (Mexico : State); Santa Claus in art; San Miguel de Allende (Mexico)
Originally, gold, silver and copper were the only metals used by craftsmen in Mexico. Tin, although easily accessible, was used only sparingly as currency. Due to the influence of the Spanish following their conquest of Mexico (1519-1521), tin...
Bottles; Perfume bottles; Egypt--Civilization--To 332 B.C.; Egypt--Social life and customs--To 332 B.C.; Egypt--Antiquities; Alabaster
Much like us, Ancient Egyptians took great care to look their best. Both men and women used cosmetics, including white make-up, black make-up made with carbon or manganese oxides and green make-up created from malachite and other copper-based...
Paleo-Indians; Paleo-Indians -- Implements; France; France -- History; Hominids; Homo erectus; Homo sapiens; Neanderthals; Europe -- History; Asia -- History; Africa -- History
The use of stone tools by prehistoric peoples developed slowly over millions of years. Archaeologists have defined different types of tools and attributed them to certain time periods and groups, called tool industries. These reproduction tools...
Ghana; Ghana--Social life and customs; Gold Coast; Weights and measures; Measuring instruments
The trade in gold across Africa’s Sahara desert, called the Trans-Saharan gold trade, dominated West African commerce from the 7th to the 14th centuries. In search of gold for coinage, Arabs from the Mediterranean made annual camel treks across...
Marbles (Game); Marbles (Game objects); Polar Bear; 19th Century
In 1846 Elias Greiner Vetters Sohn invented special scissors in Lauscha, Germany that allowed glass blowers to form rounded glass pieces used in children’s toys as eyes. Not long after, artisans began making a wide variety of marbles including...
Scales (Weighing instruments); Weights and measures; Ghana; Gold Coast; Akan (African people); Akan (African people)--Ghana--Social life and customs
The trade in gold across Africa’s Sahara desert, called the Trans-Saharan gold trade, dominated West African commerce from the 7th to the 14th centuries. In search of gold for coinage, Arabs from the Mediterranean made annual camel treks across...
