I would say this is a great artifact in the history of the very beginning of cinematography. It is a continuous 46 second film of "Workers Leaving A Factory". No one had seen anything like this before which is why it was so popular at the time. This clip is a great leap forward in film making because it was the first clip that was longer than five seconds. It is a clip made from the Lumiere cinematographe that allowed for several people to watch the film at the same time. This inspired future filmmakers to see the potential in this new medium. 

Although the film (Artifact) is simple, it was the gateway to story telling of the future. Film maker  George Melies who saw the Lumieres' cinematographe in action new immediately the potential of it as a mass media entertainment. Melies perfected the movies even adding color tint. He was the subject of Martin Scorsese blockbuster film Hugo.

So, this clip brings us back to where it all started for movie making and entertainment.