The impact of coronavirus and the ongoing restrictions in some parts of the globe haven't stopped avid treasure hunters from unearthing long-lost gems and artefacts that have dazzled the world. Click or scroll through to see the greatest treasures finds of 2021 so far.

Construction workers in Manchester, England unveiled more than they’d bargained for in January when they found the remnants of a Victorian bathhouse while clearing a plot of land to make space for a public park. Experts had expected to find traces of Mayfield Baths (pictured) in the vicinity of the works, but the excellent condition of the remaining tiles came as a shock, as the area had been badly bombed during World War II. The bathhouse first opened in 1857 and it would have been an essential amenity for textile workers in the local area, who would have lived in cramped and insanitary conditions. The tiles have since been excavated and will be incorporated into designs for the £1.4 billion ($1.95bn) rejuvenation of the neighbourhood. 

Archaeologists discovered the world’s oldest known cave painting in Indonesia in January, and it is believed to date back an incredible 45,500 years. It depicts a wild pig painted using a dark red ochre pigment. The ancient artwork provides evidence of early human settlement in a remote valley on the island of Sulawesi. The painting measures 136cm by 54cm and is similar in style to the reproduction pictured. Two hand prints accompany the artwork, and the animal appears to be facing two other pigs, which are only partially preserved.

The ancient land of Egypt is a rich source of incredible treasure finds, and in January 50 coffins were recovered from the Saqqara necropolis site just south of Cairo. The sarcophagi are made of wood and are believed to be more than 2,500 years old, dating back to an era known as the New Kingdom period. The exquisitely preserved coffins were found between 10 and 12 metres (32 to 39 feet) below the ground’s surface. This discovery comes just months after more than 100 sarcophagi were unearthed in November, in the most exciting Egyptian treasure find of 2020.

Around 111 miles (180 kilometres) north of Cairo, archaeologists discovered more ancient mummies in the city of Alexandria. While these mummified bodies weren’t in the best condition, experts did note one standout feature: golden tongues. Pieces of gold foil were traditionally placed in the mouths of the deceased to allow them to speak to Osiris, the Egyptian god of the afterlife, and remarkably the precious metal was still visible around 2,000 years after the burial. Experts working on the site were also pleased to find a female funeral mask during the excavation.  

Israeli archaeologists have found remnants of purple dye dating back to the reign of Biblical King David at a site in Timna, 137 miles (220km) south of Jerusalem. While it may sound insignificant, the purple dye was actually more valuable than gold at the time, and so unsurprisingly was linked to royalty and those of noble standing. Carbon dating has found that the fragment is from around 1,000 BC, the time of King David. In fact, purple is mentioned in reference to clothing worn by King David in both the Jewish and Christian Bibles. It's actually the first time dye from the time has been found on a piece of fabric, with previous discoveries found on mollusc shells and pottery. 

The demolition of student accommodation buildings at the University of Cambridge in England led to what has been described as “one of the most exciting finds of Anglo-Saxon archaeology since the 19th century”. The medieval cemetery that was uncovered housed more than 60 graves containing around 200 artefacts, including bronze brooches, short blades, bead necklaces, pottery and swords. Most of the items were remarkably well preserved thanks to the alkaline soil in the area, and experts hope to analyse the objects to reveal information about those who were buried there, including their DNA and their diet, to trace their heritage. 

Not all treasure is hauled out of the ground – some fantastic finds are stumbled upon in unlikely locations, such as goodwill stores. Dr Liz Allen was astonished to see a pair of blue Manolo Blahnik shoes perched on the shelf at her local Vinnies store in Canberra, Australia in January, with a price tag of just AU$35 ($27/£19.50). New, a pair of these designer heels would cost $995 (£795). This style became popular after Sex and the City's lead character Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, donned a pair for her wedding in the first movie of the franchise. There was speculation as to whether the shoes were genuine Manolo Blahniks, but either way they were quickly snapped up after Allen posted about her find on Twitter.

Now discover who is the richest star from Sex and the City?

The ancient site of Stonehenge sits on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, and excavation work is currently underway amid controversial plans to build a new road tunnel in the area. In February the work led to the discovery of 4,000-year-old Bronze Age graves and Neolithic artefacts, including part of what is believed to be a staff or a club. While archaeologists were excited by the find, it highlights concerns that the intrusive construction work could cause serious damage to the ancient site and as-yet-undetected pockets of history.

The ancient site of Olympia in Greece has been the hiding place of a myriad of treasures over centuries gone by, and the latest to be unearthed is a bronze figurine of a bull, which was discovered in February. A heavy downpour unveiled the small statuette covered in scorch marks, leading archaeologists to believe it may have been offered as a sacrifice to Greek god Zeus. Experts estimate that the tiny animal figure is around 2,500 years old, dating it to the Geometric period of Greek art, which falls between 1050BC and 700BC. 

Teams of archaeologists have been scouring caves around Qumran in Israel for decades after the first Dead Sea Scrolls were recovered from the area around 70 years ago. This March, the Israeli government revealed that new fragments have recently been found, and they bear verses from the books of the prophets Zechariah and Nahum written in Greek. The recovered pieces of scroll are among the most important scriptural finds ever unearthed, as they contain the oldest versions of the Hebrew Bible and other Jewish texts dating back to the time of Jesus Christ. Also discovered in the area was a 6,000-year-old skeleton of a child, rare coins and a 10,500-year-old basket believed to be the oldest in the world.

In early April it was revealed that excavation work on the site of a new housing development in Scarborough, England had revealed a sprawling Roman villa. The Roman ruins depict a circular central room leading into several other rooms and a bathhouse, and experts have deduced that the space was a villa for rich Romans or perhaps a religious community building. The layout of the villa is the first of its kind to be discovered in Britain, and it was a surprising find as archaeologists hadn’t thought that Romans had permanently settled in the north Yorkshire town. Houses will no longer be built on the plot and Historic England will fund further analysis of the site.

In early April archaeologists revealed the discovery of the largest ancient city ever to be discovered in Egypt, known as “The Rise of Aten”. The 3,000-year-old city was found beneath the sand in Luxor, which sits on the east bank of the Nile, and intact walls up to 10 feet tall and rooms filled with tools show clear signs of administrative and industrial settlement in the area. The team of archaeologists was even able to identify a bakery equipped with ovens, as well as skeletons and individual items such as pottery pieces and rings. Experts believe the site dates back to the reign of King Amenhotep III, who ruled Egypt between 1391 and 1353 BCE. 

Stone Age tools have been found in Deeside in the Cairngorms mountain range in Scotland. Revealed in early April, the discovery included stone tools, traces of firepits and shelters that would have been used after the end of the last Ice Age, around 10,000 years ago. Artefacts from the Mesolithic period are more commonly found in the lowland areas, and so these objects join just a handful of discoveries that suggest communities also inhabited the more mountainous landscapes.

Now discover the best treasure finds from the last year