1. Ancient Chinese Drilling Rig (2nd–3rd Century CE)

Salt was one of the most essential resources in antiquity, especially for preserving food long before refrigeration. Around 2,000 years ago, the Chinese developed an advanced drilling technology to extract salt directly from underground deposits. They engineered a bamboo drill with a heavy, rhythmically pounding drum capable of reaching depths of up to 600 meters.

Sometimes, during drilling, they encountered methane pockets—and eventually, these early engineers learned how to harness that gas too. It’s an astonishing example of technological ingenuity far ahead of its time.

2. The Greek Steam Engine (1st Century CE)

While the first practical steam engines appeared in the 17th century, a Greek inventor named Hero of Alexandria had already envisioned steam-powered motion centuries earlier. In his writings on mechanics, Hero described several fascinating devices—including the “aeolipile,” often referred to as the Hero’s engine.

This early steam turbine consisted of a metal sphere with bent tubes that rotated as steam escaped under pressure. Though too small and inefficient for practical use, Hero had already uncovered the basic principles of steam power—over a thousand years before the Industrial Revolution.

3. Byzantine Flamethrower (7th Century CE)

Flamethrowers might sound like a 20th-century invention, but the Byzantines were using something very similar over a millennium ago. Known as “Greek fire,” this terrifying weapon was used in naval warfare, and its exact composition remains a mystery to this day—though historians suspect petroleum was a key ingredient.

To deploy it, the Byzantines first created rudimentary grenades, and eventually developed a mechanical flamethrower. Astonishingly, these deadly machines used principles still found in modern flamethrowers: a pump, a fuel tank, and a lit fuse.

4. The Iron Pillar of Delhi (circa 400 CE)

During the Middle Ages, some artisans had mastered metal-coating techniques that even today are considered advanced. One remarkable artifact from that era is the Iron Pillar of Delhi—a seven-meter-tall column that has resisted corrosion for over 1,500 years.

What’s the secret? The pillar was forged with a high phosphorus content, which acts as a natural rust inhibitor. This exceptional level of metallurgical knowledge has left modern scientists both impressed and perplexed.

5. Viking Compass (11th Century CE)

Navigation in ancient times was notoriously difficult, relying heavily on the stars and the sun. So how did the Vikings manage to sail reliably between Norway and Greenland in the Middle Ages?

The answer may lie in a curious artifact known as the Uunartoq disc—an ancient solar compass. Historical texts mention that this device contained a “magical crystal.” Today, researchers believe that polarizing crystals (like Iceland spar) could have helped Vikings navigate even in low light, leading to myths of magical guidance that were likely based on real optical science.

6. The Baghdad Battery (2nd Century BCE)

The so-called Baghdad Battery, discovered in modern-day Iraq, is a ceramic pot containing a copper tube wrapped around an iron rod—capable of producing a small electric charge. Essentially, it's an ancient battery, albeit a primitive one.

Acidic liquid inside the jar likely triggered an electron flow from one metal to the other, just like in today’s batteries. But what was it used for? That remains a mystery. Theories range from electroplating metals to religious rituals involving electric shocks to awe or punish the unfaithful.

Conclusion:
While modern technology continues to advance at breakneck speed, these ancient innovations remind us that humanity’s inventive spirit has deep roots. From steam power to chemical warfare and electricity, our ancestors were thinking ahead—often much further than we give them credit for.