What Is the Oldest Artifact at the Metropolitan Museum of Art?

Art|Art Museum

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world’s largest and most important art museums. It houses an extensive collection of artworks from all over the world, spanning from ancient times to modern day.

Among these works are some of the oldest artifacts in existence, including some of the earliest examples of human creativity.

One of the oldest artifacts at the museum is a set of stone tools dating back to about 250,000 years ago. These tools were used by early humans for various tasks such as cutting, scraping and hammering.

They are believed to be among the first examples of human tool making and demonstrate our ancestors’ ingenuity and resourcefulness.

The museum also houses a number of ancient sculptures, including some that date back thousands of years. These include two ancient Egyptian statues – a seated female figure known as The Seated Scribe and an Egyptian sphinx – both dating to around 2500 BC. Both pieces were found in tombs in Egypt and are among the oldest surviving pieces of sculpture in existence.

In addition to sculptures, the Metropolitan Museum also holds artifacts from many other cultures around the world. One example is a Chinese bronze vessel from around 1000 BC. This piece is believed to have been used for religious rituals and is decorated with intricate designs that show its high level of craftsmanship.

The oldest artifact at The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an ivory figurine from about 35,000 BC, which was discovered in Germany’s Hohle Fels Cave in 2008. This statuette depicts a woman with exaggerated features that suggests it was created for ritual purposes or as a fertility symbol.

Conclusion:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses many artifacts that span thousands of years ago, including stone tools dating back 250,000 years, two ancient Egyptian statues from 2500 BC, and a Chinese bronze vessel from 1000 BC. The oldest artifact at The Metropolitan Museum is an ivory figurine from 35,000 BC discovered in Germany’s Hohle Fels Cave in 2008.