The "Baghdad Battery"

The claim

"A clay jar with a copper tube and iron rod was an ancient battery, maybe from visitors."

Where the idea comes from

German museum director Wilhelm König described it in 1938 and suggested it might be a galvanic cell for gilding.

What the evidence shows

1. No wires, conductors or electrical devices were found with it or anywhere in the region from that period.
2. The copper cylinder was sealed with asphalt, which would make it awkward to refill or connect as a battery.
3. Similar jars from nearby sites held rolled scrolls, and the residue inside fits decayed organic material such as parchment.
4. Replicas only produce about half a volt, and only after someone adds an acidic electrolyte like vinegar.

What is still open

Its exact use is uncertain because the original was poorly documented. Even if it were a battery, it would show clever humans, not aliens.

Our verdict

Explained Most likely a storage jar for sacred scrolls.

Sources

• Baghdad Battery (Wikipedia)

Checked 31 October 2026. Spotted a newer source? Tell us.