Mental Floss

STONES, BONES, AND WRECKS









Some priceless pieces were found by amateurs.

From the Alfred Jewel to the Sutton Hoo treasure, these priceless artifacts made for some royally exciting finds.

Samantha Arrowsmith


A number of Fabergé eggs owned by the Romanov family (though not this one) disappeared after the Russian Revolution.

From lost pieces of media to irreplaceable works of art to literal pirate booty, these are the amazing and tragic stories behind valuables that seem to be gone forever.

Michele Debczak




The Antikythera mechanism.

From seriously aged cheese to the world’s first analog computer, shipwrecks have produced some fascinating—and sometimes disgusting—artifacts.

Michele Debczak










Drone image above the H.M.S. Erebus shipwreck.

Sunken vessels captivate us. They inspire grief, wonder, romance—and horror. Here are stories of famous ships that went under, leaving a changed world in their wakes.

Mark Mancini