Five of the Most Impressive War Machine Artifacts Ever Recovered

The battlefields of history were not just sites of warfare; they represented the creativity of our military engineers as they invented deadly machines to demolish city walls, sink enemy ships and seize control of the battleground. Ancient texts document the existence of many of these types of weapons, but only a small number of physical examples remain today; thus, any archaeological discoveries associated with these machines are extremely valuable.

Some of the best examples of military technology found are remnants of early artillery, complex designs for crossbows and other advanced weaponry, and also examples that prove the existence of rapid-fire designs that show true technological mastery by our ancestors.

1.Terracotta Army Crossbow

One of the finest examples of military technology from the ancient world is undoubtedly the fully functional crossbow from China's Terracotta Army. Archaeologists working at Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb in 2015 discovered an incredibly preserved crossbow dating back more than 2200 years. 

The most complete ancient crossbow to date was discovered in the terracotta army pit one in Xi’an, Shaanxi province. (Credit: Chinanews.com)