In the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, an ordinary-looking pottery jar has captured the attention of scientists. Despite being around two thousand years old, the copper tube, iron rod, and asphalt fragments inside the jar have led archaeologists to speculate that it may be one of the earliest batteries known to man.
In 1936, archaeologists discovered this mysterious jar while excavating a Parthian burial site near Baghdad. The jar contains a copper tube with an iron rod inside, along with some asphalt debris. Walter Wintle, a physicist from the Science Museum in London, conducted an in-depth study of the jar and concluded that by adding an acidic substance to the copper tube, it could generate voltage and current.
Wintle's conclusion was that the jar is indeed a battery. He pointed out that if multiple such jars were connected in series, they could form a battery pack capable of powering bells, lighting bulbs, or even driving small electric vehicles. Although Wintle found other similar jars, he could not determine their exact purpose. Some believe these jars may have been used by ancient physicians for local anesthesia, while others think they were used for electroplating metals.
Through numerous experiments, researchers discovered that filling the copper tube with acetic acid, sulfuric acid, or citric acid could produce about 1.5 volts of current, lasting up to 18 days. However, how people two thousand years ago actually used this battery remains a mystery.
Nevertheless, experts speculate that these batteries may have been used in metalworking, particularly in electroplating processes. In ancient times, the technique of electroplating may have been passed down through oral traditions. To this day, people continue to explore the technological secrets of ancient civilizations.
