Historical finds on school and university campuses

Contents:

• Antique coin
• Babylonian tablets among documents
• 18th-century crown and unique photo archive
• Ancient icebox, gaiters and wigs
• 19th-century market and observatory
• Bicentennial tombs
• Bicentennial toy and medal from the time of Nicholas II
• Mummies and skeletons
• Frescoes for plasterboard
• Time capsules

Many of us dream of stumbling upon a treasure chest during renovations or finding a treasure trove in our own garden. Interesting artifacts are also often found on the grounds of educational institutions. These finds can be unexpected for such places or represent forgotten chapters in the history of the educational institutions themselves. We've collected several examples from around the world, including both pleasant surprises and terrifying discoveries.

Antique Coin

In 2022, in Bremen, Germany, an eight-year-old boy, playing in a sandbox in the schoolyard, discovered a shiny object. It turned out to be an old coin of an unusual shape, covered in a layer of sand. After school, he showed the find to his parents, who, intrigued, decided to have it examined by archaeologists. Experts confirmed the coin's historical value, making the find particularly significant for local heritage and German archaeology.

An ancient Roman silver denarius dating back approximately 1,800 years was recently discovered. Detailed analysis shows that the coin was minted during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, between 161 and 180 AD. Scientists are still unable to explain how this artifact ended up in Bremen, especially on a playground near a school. It is worth noting that two similar coins were previously found in the city, which underscores the historical significance of this region.

Babylonian Tablets Among the Documents

In 2021, Pacific University in the United States underwent renovations to the Gothic Burns Tower, built in the 1960s. The purpose of the renovation was to create a meeting center for new students and their families. During basement cleanout work, an ancient safe that had remained locked for nearly fifty years was discovered. This unexpected artifact was a fascinating find, potentially drawing attention to the university's history and architectural features.

Firefighters were called in to open the safe. Even experienced specialists spent considerable time opening it, using specialized equipment typically used to extricate victims from cars after accidents.

Documents found inside the safe predate the tower itself by a century. Among them were a handwritten university journal from 1851, the university constitution, a student honor code, financial reports, and even a diploma dated 1862, printed on leather instead of paper. These finds provide a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of the university and see how the values ​​and traditions of the educational process have changed over the centuries.

Personal belongings of former university president Robert Burns, after whom the tower is named, were found in this safe. Among the finds were a set of knives and several Babylonian tablets dating back approximately four thousand years. These tablets were once sent to Burns by renowned archaeologist Edgar James Banks, considered the real-life inspiration for Indiana Jones. Such finds highlight the university's rich history and its connection to archaeological discoveries.

In one of the schools A unique find was discovered in the British town of Letchworth: a chest containing the archives of Howard Hance, who served during World War I. Inside were photographs, awards, maps, newspapers, clothing, and various household items. Teachers were unable to determine exactly how the chest ended up at the school, but speculated that it may have been donated by Howard's heirs. The items found in the chest were donated to a museum created by the school's staff and students, preserving the historical memory of Howard Hance and his contribution during the war.

An 18th-Century Crown and a Unique Photo Archive

Universities often face the loss of portions of their archives, but sometimes these materials are rediscovered. An example of this is the discovery that occurred in the mid-2000s during restoration work in the Imperial Hall of Moscow State University on Mokhovaya Street. A plaster imperial crown was discovered under the floor; it had previously been part of a bas-relief on the building's pediment when the university held imperial status. After the revolution, the original bas-relief was replaced with a new one, and the old decoration was considered lost until its fragments were found by construction workers. This discovery underscores the importance of the historical heritage of universities and their connection to the past.

The plaster crown, previously stored in the Moscow State University restoration workshop and used for student teaching, is now available to a wider audience. In 2023, it was transferred to the university museum and presented for the first time at the exhibition “Findings in Restoration”. This event allows visitors not only to see a unique artifact, but also to learn about its significance in the context of restoration and preservation of cultural heritage.

Other interesting discoveries have been made at Moscow State University. In 2016, a unique photographic collection consisting of more than three thousand images dating back to the late 19th century was found in a storage room. Since the 1950s, this collection had been considered a lost heritage. It was assembled by anthropologist Dmitry Anuchin, who brought back the photographs from his expedition across Russia. This find is important not only for the history of Moscow State University, but also for the study of the country's cultural heritage.

The value of these photographs lies not only in their "venerable" age, but also in the images they depict of vanished cities and peoples. Historians are forced to study them, analyzing every detail, which makes the process extremely complex. Among the most valuable specimens are photographs of a team of gold miners associated with the "Amur California" and the "Zheltugin Republic." This republic was founded in the late 19th century in what is now China, near the border with Russia, although its existence was short-lived. These unique images provide an important source of information about the cultural and historical aspects of the region, providing a better understanding of vanished communities and their heritage.

Experts estimate that it will take approximately ten years to analyze and process the archive.

Ancient icebox, leggings and wigs

Staff from the archaeology laboratory at St. Petersburg State University made amazing discoveries during renovation work on the building of the First Cadet Corps in St. Petersburg. Today it houses a museum, but for several centuries the building served as a place of instruction for various educational institutions. In tsarist times, it housed a military academy, and in the Soviet era, adult education courses. These finds highlight the importance of historical heritage and provide a deeper understanding of Russia's educational traditions.

During restoration work, archaeologists uncovered more than 10,000 artifacts, which required them to carefully sift through construction debris and centuries-old dust. All the finds date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Two artifacts were of particular interest to the researchers. The first is a legging dating to the reign of Peter the Great. At this time, special stockings made of thick fabric, often sewn from old tents, became fashionable in military circles. Until 2019, historians had only descriptions and illustrations of these items, which makes this find especially valuable for understanding the fashion and everyday life of that era.

The second find proved significantly more significant – a wooden icehouse from the time of Peter the Great. At the time, such structures were used for food storage. The icehouse was constructed as follows: large blocks of ice were brought into the basement and stacked in a parallelepiped shape. The ice was then covered with boards or straw, on which the food was placed. The gradual melting of the ice preserved the food throughout the warm season, and water drained through a special hatch. The icehouse is currently undergoing restoration with the goal of preserving it as a valuable historical monument.

The discoveries provided a unique opportunity for anyone interested in becoming historians and researchers. In 2020, Saint Petersburg State University (SPbU) invited interested parties to help specialists determine the origin of a number of discovered artifacts.

19th-Century Market and Observatory

Archaeological discoveries sometimes involve large objects, such as the remains of historical buildings. For example, in 2019, fragments of the Novo-Aleksandrovsky Market, which was built between 1865 and 1868, were discovered on the grounds of a dormitory at the Saint Petersburg University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. This market was a large shopping arcade housing approximately 800 shops selling clothing, antiques, and furniture. However, in 1932, the market was dismantled. During the excavations, archaeologists found not only foundation fragments but also fragments of stove tiles, old tiles, and various household items that provide insight into people's lives during that era. These finds help reconstruct the historical context and better understand the cultural heritage of St. Petersburg.

The fate of this valuable find raises many questions. On the one hand, city authorities recognized it as a cultural heritage site of regional significance. On the other hand, in 2020, the surviving fragments of the market were buried. In 2021, the newspaper "Peterburgsky Dnevnik" reported on plans to preserve these fragments and include them in a museum exhibition, but details about what this exhibition will look like have not yet been disclosed by either the relevant city departments or the university. Initially, an educational complex was planned for construction on this site, which underscores the complexity of the situation and the importance of preserving historical heritage.

In the summer of 2023, during renovations at Michigan State University (USA), part of a small observatory building, built in 1881 by a university professor, was accidentally discovered. The construction workers encountered stones they were unable to drill through and, for safety reasons, reported the discovery to specialists from the university's archaeology program. Following excavations and research, as well as analysis of old maps involving students, the identity of the discovered remains was established. This turned out to be the foundation of an ancient observatory, where astronomical observations were carried out more than a hundred years ago. The discovery of such a historical artifact highlights the importance of preserving the university's heritage and its contributions to astronomy.

Bicentennial Tombs

In 2015, two ancient tombs were discovered on the New York University campus during work installing a new water pipeline. Archaeologists knew about one of them, but the exact location remained unknown. The tomb was initially discovered in the 1960s, when construction workers uncovered it, but the location was not properly recorded at the time. These discoveries highlight the historical value of the university territory and the importance of archaeological research in the urban environment.

The tomb was built of brick and decorated with arched vaults. However, the graves discovered during a second examination were destroyed: bones were scattered across the floor along with debris. At the same time, the second part of the catacombs was much better preserved, where 20 coffins of various sizes were found. These findings confirm the historical value of the tomb and highlight the importance of further archaeological research.

The discovery is explained by the fact that the territory of the modern campus previously housed a cemetery associated with one of the city's churches. Burials took place there in the early 19th century.

In New York City, discoveries of ancient graves have become commonplace. City policy dictates that these sites not be disturbed, out of respect for the deceased. As a result, the pipe laying project was modified to accommodate these important archaeological finds. This underscores the importance of preserving historical heritage and adhering to regulations regarding the protection of cultural artifacts in the urban environment.

A bicentennial toy and a medal from the time of Nicholas II

In 2020, archaeologists conducted excavations on the site of a planned new building for Gymnasium No. 17 in Perm. Artifacts dating from the 17th to 20th centuries were discovered during the research. The finds included a children's toy, aged between 100 and 200 years, a medal from the time of Nicholas II, as well as a variety of household items, including dishes, buttons, keys, and coins. All these valuable finds are planned to be transferred to the Perm Museum of Local History and the Gymnasium Museum, which will help preserve the historical heritage of the region and enrich cultural collections.

Mummies and Skeletons

In 2012, unusual artifacts were discovered at the St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI," among which a mummified fragment of a hand attracted particular attention. This find generated widespread interest, as, according to research, the remains likely belong to a child who lived more than a hundred years ago, at the beginning of the 20th century. Evidence of this was found in the form of a fragment of clothing—trousers and a cap. Journalists have suggested that this child could have been a student at the Alexander-Mariinsky School for the Blind, which was located in this building at the turn of the 20th century. The circumstances of his death remain a mystery, adding an additional layer of mystery to the discovery and generating interest in the history of the institution and its former alumni.

In 2018, a remarkable discovery was made at the University of Sydney: the mummy of an ancient Egyptian priestess. This sarcophagus, acquired by the university approximately 150 years ago, was long thought to be empty, and its lid had not been opened. The discovery of the mummified priestess was a real surprise for researchers and historians, sparking significant interest in ancient Egyptian culture and its rituals. This event highlights the importance of archaeological research and historical preservation, opening new chapters in the study of the ancient world.

In 2015, an unusual incident occurred at an old English school in Liverpool, involving the discovery of a box containing a skeleton. At first, it seemed like a standard visual aid for biology and art lessons. However, the art teacher suspected the bones might be real. Upon examination, it was discovered that the skeleton belonged to a young man of about 25 years of age, originally from India, who lived in the early 1900s. The school was unable to preserve the human remains, so they were buried in a local cemetery with full honors. The ceremony was attended by schoolchildren, and the funeral home provided its services free of charge. This case raises important questions about the preservation of historical finds and the ethical aspects of their handling in educational institutions.

In 2022, a similar ceremony was held in Germany, during which it was discovered that an old skeleton used in a biology class was genuine. Such educational materials were common in schools in the 19th and early 20th centuries. At that time, bones were freely purchased in colonial India. Even after India gained independence, this business continued until 1985, when the sale of human remains was finally banned. Typically, universities purchased skeletons and then donated them to schools. Decades later, new teachers and students often did not think about the origins of these exhibits, which highlights the importance of understanding the history and ethical aspects of using human remains for educational purposes.

Frescoes behind plasterboard

During renovations at the Civil Engineering Institute of Siberian Federal University, a well-preserved fresco dating from the early 1980s was discovered on the wall of the dining hall. It was later discovered that there were several such frescoes. The university assumed that they could have been created by students and began searching for the authors of the works.

The frescoes, although not considered ancient works, are of significant value to the history of this educational institution. Therefore, it was decided to preserve this find, and in the future it is planned to protect it with bulletproof glass. This will not only preserve the frescoes in good condition, but also draw attention to the cultural heritage of the university, emphasizing its uniqueness and historical significance.

Time Capsules

A time capsule is a container used to store messages for future generations. In the late Soviet Union, it became popular to create such letters, which reflected the thoughts and feelings of people of the time. The text of such messages was typically pompous, but simpler versions were also common. For example, during renovations to a classroom at Chisinau University, a modest message from the organizers of a student disco held on March 5, 1983, was discovered. This letter, addressed to "grateful descendants," contained only information about those who helped organize the event. Such finds demonstrate how simple moments in life can remain in the memory of future generations.

Workers renovating a building at Montclair State University in New Jersey stumbled upon an unusual find. While working, they discovered a letter dated July 3, 1907, sealed in a bottle and embedded in a brick wall. The message belonged to the masons, who left their names when they left it. This discovery highlights the building's historical value and provides a glimpse into the past, preserving the memory of the people who labored on its construction.

At the University of Portsmouth (United Kingdom), another message from construction workers was found, this time hidden in a metal pipe. Inside were several newspapers, including The Times from 1949, a coin from the time of George VI, a list of construction participants with their signatures, and various artifacts related to the building's construction. This discovery highlights the historical value and cultural heritage preserved during the university's construction.

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