In 1831, a man digging in a Scottish sand dune found a "frozen" crowd of ivory faces that changed history

In 1831, a sand-clearing resident on the Isle of Lewis unearthed 93 elaborately carved figures, the Lewis Chessmen, made of walrus ivory and whale teeth. These 12th-century Norwegian-crafted pieces, resembling humans with distinct emotions, revealed a sophisticated medieval trade network. Now housed in London and Edinburgh, their expressive nature continues to captivate audiences worldwide.