Historical Treasures Discovered by Accident

Most archeologists will admit that a healthy dose of luck is often a crucial part of tracking down historical objects. In fact, many of the world’s greatest treasures were only discovered when nonprofessionals stumbled upon them by accident. Some of these serendipitous finds had been sought after for centuries, but others were previously unknown and helped lead to radical reinterpretations of history. Below, get the stories behind seven chance encounters that led to the discovery of priceless historical relics.