The Top 10 Indiana Jones Artifacts
As one of pop culture’s most iconic heroes, Indiana Jones has been cracking jokes, whips, and Nazi skulls alike for over 40 years. While the intrepid Dr. Jones is perhaps best known for his appearance in five films (including his most recent outing in The Dial of Destiny), he’s also appeared in numerous comic books, novels, video games, and a short-lived TV series.
Yet one of the key elements of the Indiana Jones mythos is the incredible artifacts. Each rare item possesses unique historical value and, in some cases, face-melting supernatural powers. These treasure hunts drive Indy’s adventures forward and have helped make the series so popular over the decades.
That’s why we’ve dug up this list of the 10 best Indiana Jones artifacts. From ancient relics to magical weapons, they all share one thing in common: They belong in a museum!
10. The Cross of Coronado
First appearing in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, this golden cross was owned by real-life Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado before winding up in a cave in the wilds of Utah.
In the film, a young Indie (played by River Phoenix) risks life and limb to stop a group of grave robbers from getting their hands on it. Decades later, an older and wiser Dr. Jones tracks down the cross, barely escaping with it and his life. In the process, the cross becomes a key artifact in the annals of everyone’s favorite fedora-loving archeologist.
9. The Spear of Destiny
First appearing in Indiana Jones and the Spear of Destiny — a four-issue comic book mini-series originally published by Dark Horse in 1995 — this legendary weapon supposedly pierced the side of Jesus during his crucifixion and contains incredible mystical powers.
Following the events of The Last Crusade, Indy and his father join up again to hunt down the spear. Of course, the Nazis want to get their hands on it first, leading to a globe-hopping adventure that combines the best elements of a good Indiana Jones story with one of the best comic book adaptations of the character.
8. The Sankara Stones
Appearing in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, these five legendary stones were created by the Hindu god Shiva as a way to battle evil. Each stone contains a diamond which glows when they’re brought together, in addition to bestowing the owners with incredible powers.
In the film, the stones are stolen by an evil Thuggee cult. It’s up to Indy to recover these precious artifacts while rescuing a legion of kidnapped children, dodging runaway mine carts, and avoiding getting his heart ripped out of his chest.
7. The Crystal Skull of Akator
Sure, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull might have jumped the shark (or make that, nuked the fridge) when it comes to the franchise. That being said, the central artifact that drives the story is still pretty cool.
The legendary Crystal Skull (which is based on a real life Maya artifact) belongs to an interdimensional alien who appeared in ancient Mesoamerica and possesses powerful psychic abilities. Indy finds himself on the hunt for the artifact in the jungles of Peru, while taking on Soviet spies, flesh-eating ants, and some questionable CGI choices.
6. The Dial of Destiny
This most recent Indiana Jones artifact to appear on the big screen, the Dial of Destiny (also known as the Antikythera) is a powerful device built by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes with the ability to manipulate time.
In The Dial of Destiny film, a grizzled Indy finds himself chasing after the legendary artifact in the swinging ’60s, while battling former Nazi scientists, government agents, and old age itself.
5. The Colossus of Atlantis
While Indy has hunted for some pretty incredible treasures over the course of his career, the Colossus might be the biggest of them all. The legendary machine appears in the classic 1992 point-and-click adventure game, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. The device — which is a massive, room-sized artifact — essentially has the capability to turn a human being into a living god.
It’s a larger-than-life treasure that stands out in the Indiana Jones mythos. Plus, it’s also a key element of an early PC game that set the bar in terms of immersive storytelling.
4. The Babylonian Great Engine
An ancient device with the power to open portals to other dimensions, the Babylonian Great Engine also just happens to be the primary focus of the 1999 action-adventure video game Indian Jones and the Infernal Machine.
The intrepid Dr. Jones finds himself hunting the artifact shortly after World War II and is soon dealing with deadly traps and trigger-happy Soviet agents. Notably, the game was also the very first 3D Indiana Jones adventures, and remains a classic experience that would inspire numerous other games after it.
3. The Chachapoyan Fertility Idol
First appearing in Raiders of the Lost Ark, this iconic golden statue is also one of the most instantly recognizable movie props of all time. Based on the real-world Dumbarton Oaks birthing figure, this simple six-inch figure depicts a powerful Incan goddess of fertility.
Though the artifact might not possess any magical powers, it does result in one of the most epic action sequences ever filmed, making it a key part of the history of both Indiana Jones and Hollywood itself.
2. The Holy Grail
There’s a reason why people refer to something as the “holy grail.” But when it comes to Indiana Jones, the holy grail of artifacts really is the Holy Grail.
Appearing in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the sacred chalice was allegedly used by Jesus himself during the Last Supper and has the power to grant immortality and cure wounds. The end result is one of the most iconic and impressive treasures in the entire series.
1. The Ark of the Covenant
If there’s one Indiana Jones artifact that stands out from all the others, it’s undoubtedly the Ark of the Covenant. Appearing in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the ancient golden chest is said to have contained the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God himself.
It also contains the power to summon supernatural beings, call down fire from the heavens, and reduce Nazi faces to grilled cheese. If that doesn’t make it the greatest Indiana Jones treasure of all time, nothing does.
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