A clay jar found near Baghdad holds a copper tube and an iron rod. Filled with vinegar, a replica makes a small electric current. Some think it was used for electroplating. Most archaeologists think it simply stored scrolls.
Truth label: Debated. Serious people disagree. You get both sides.
Go deeper
The case for
The parts match a basic battery, and replicas really do produce about half a volt.
The case against
No wires or other electrical parts were found, and similar jars held sacred scrolls that had rotted away.
Learn
- When it is from. It is usually dated to the Parthian or Sasanian era, roughly 2,000 years ago.
Test yourself
What do most archaeologists think the jar held?
Scrolls. Similar jars were used to store sacred scrolls.
Sources
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