Archaeologists spend their days uncovering buried treasures from ancient civilizations.
Some of their discoveries are worth a few dollars, while others are priceless.
Here are seven of the most expensive artefacts in the world today.
When you visit Egypt, you will notice significant links to pagan beliefs that date back millennia.
Isis is one of the most well-known Egyptian gods. She is a divinity linked with healing, funeral ceremonies, and motherhood.
A greywacke figure was sculpted as a cult relic during 664-525 B.C.
It is thought that it was placed in a public spot in Alexandria so that worshipers might petition for healing and consolation blessings.
It was purchased by a French aristocratic family somewhere in the nineteenth century and then auctioned off in a fierce bidding battle that boosted the price to about $6 million!
While the term "commode" is frequently used to refer to a toilet, antique commodes are lovely, ornamental chests of drawers.
One of the most renowned and valuable in the world originates from the Earl of Harrington's collection in the 1700s.
He got it from Chippendale, a specialist business that used to make closets, cupboards, and other furniture that only the wealthy and privileged could afford.
It cost over $6 million when it was built, therefore it is practically priceless now.
You might not believe a secretary desk is worth $12.1 million, but this Quaker-made piece of furniture did in 1989.
The item is a hand-crafted mahogany desk from 1760.
With simplistic carvings and a block-front shape, the design is iconic in the Quaker style.
The worth stems from the fact that it is one of just nine Goddard-Townsend desks in existence.
It has the highest price tag of any American antique piece of furniture in history.
This Chinese vase sold for $85.9 million (after tax) at a private auction in London, making it one of the most expensive antiques ever sold.
This vase is one of a kind, with amazing craftsmanship. It has the imperial seal, indicating that it was most likely created for Emperor Qianlong in the late 18th century.
It's unclear how the vase got from China to London.
When it was discovered, it was thought to be worth about $1,000, but after being authenticated, archaeologists determined it was worth millions.
Here's another Egyptian gem with a fascinating backstory. It's written in minuscule hieroglyphics, ancient Greek, and Egyptian demotic.
This 2,200-year-old black basalt stone was discovered at Rosetta, Egypt in 1799.
It is thought to hold the secret to understanding ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
In 1799, a French officer discovered and retrieved the Rosetta stone from its Egyptian origin, bringing it back to England with him.
When the British overcame the French in 1801, it was reclaimed and sent to the British Museum, where it still stands today.
Unfortunately, Egypt's desire to repatriate the stone to its rightful location was denied.
When the Windsor Duchess married King Edward VIII in 1937, the public was outraged that a duke was marrying an American divorcee.
He was willing to give up the crown to marry her, but since that wasn't necessary, he wanted to offer her a very unique gift as a mark of his love.
He had a one-of-a-kind bracelet composed of black and white diamonds manufactured for him.
It was fashioned into the form of a long, sprawled-out jaguar, complete with green eyes. It cost $7 million to build at the time of its commission.
The bracelet is potentially worth billions of dollars over a century later.
Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte led his men in a surprise attack to push the Austrians out of Italy at the famous Battle of Marengo in 1800.
He clutched an elegant, gold-encrusted sword in his hand, the same sword he used throughout his war in Egypt.
This sword's value stems from more than simply its gorgeous golden design.
Its historical significance makes it one of the most precious things on the planet, with a value of $6.5 million when it was last auctioned in 2007.
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