I was going to post about the Voynich Mechanism but i see that it's already an old story...
So, i'll post another curiosity...In 1901 (which is not so far from CoC settings), the finding of an ancient greek ship wreckage yield to the discovery of a stunningly complex device, clearly dated around 80 b.c., which employed mechanisms never found elsewhere in greek science. This device is the "Antikythera Mechanism", and it is now conserved in the Greek National Archaeological Museum, in Athens.
It was apparently an astronomical clock, thus designed to keep track of the movement of stars and planets.
:cthulhufhtagn:Some info:
http://www.giant.net.au/users/rupert/ky ... ythera.htm
http://www.giant.net.au/users/rupert/ky ... thera3.htm
Enjoy!
