And the discoveries never cease to amaze both the researchers themselves and people far from scientific research. Sometimes they are so fantastic that they become the subject of many years of debate among pundits from all over the world.
Swiss watch in an ancient burial
In 2008, when filming was underway in the Chinese province of Guangxi documentary film about the autopsy ancient tomb, which belonged to the Ming Dynasty, some unusual finds were discovered. However, the most amazing of them turned out to be... Swiss watches! The amazement of journalists and archaeologists themselves knew no bounds. According to Jian Yan, a former curator at a local museum who also participated in the excavations, a small piece of rock bounced off the surface of the coffin after the soil was removed. He fell to the floor, making a characteristic metallic sound.
When the item was picked up, it was discovered that it was a ring. After thoroughly cleaning it from the soil, it turned out that there was a miniature dial on it. WITH inside The ring had an engraved inscription Swiss, i.e. “Switzerland”. And as you know, the Chinese ruled the country until 1644, so it was simply impossible to create such a small mechanism in those days, and Switzerland as such did not yet exist. But local experts assured everyone present that this tomb had never been opened in almost 400 years.
Crystal Skull
Sometimes archaeologists discover unusual finds even in the most impenetrable jungles. An example of this is a certain artifact discovered in Belize in 1927. It is a life-size human skull skillfully crafted from the purest rock crystal, weighing about 5 kg. The Indians living in the surrounding villages immediately learned about this find. They turned out to be descendants of that same Mayan tribe. The Indians said that, according to ancient legend, this is one of thirteen existing crystal skulls. If you find and collect them in one place, you can comprehend all the secrets of the universe.
The Crystal Skull has been thoroughly examined in laboratory conditions. As a result, scientists concluded that the artifact was made using a technology unknown to them, which does not fit into any of the laws of physics or chemistry. In other words, this item cannot be created even with the most modern high-tech equipment, let alone by the ancient Mayans.
Prehistoric bird paw
Perhaps the most unusual finds are the remains of creatures that once lived on Earth, the appearance of which would greatly frighten modern people. In 1986, a scientific expedition examined the cave system located in Mount Owen ( New Zealand). Suddenly, one of the researchers came across a rather large and well-preserved part of a paw with huge claws. It seemed as if its owner had recently died.
A little later, scientists determined that the remains belonged to the prehistoric She was truly huge and could not fly. Presumably, it became extinct between 1300 and 1450 AD. e. The reason for its disappearance may be the Maori hunters who lived on this island at the end of the 14th century.
Mass burial of infants in Ashkilon
Perhaps the most terrible and unusual finds of archeology are associated with mass graves of infants. In 1988, on the territory ancient city Ashkelon (Israel), located on the coast Mediterranean Sea, regular excavations were carried out. In one of the ancient sewers located under the Roman baths, a large number of small bones were discovered, which were initially mistaken for chicken bones.
It later turned out that archaeologist Ross Voss had made a terrible discovery. It turned out that all these bones belonged to more than a hundred babies. This burial remains the largest children's cemetery in history.
Forensic anthropologist Patricia Smith examined the remains of the babies, after which she stated that she did not find any signs of illness, much less any diseases. Using special methods forensics, she determined that the deceased children were no more than a week old.
However, if we look at history, then during the Roman Empire, killing newborns was not considered a crime. This ritual was a form of birth control. It is possible that the burial site served as some kind of institution where unwanted babies were disposed of. According to the laws of that time, a child who was not recognized by his father was allowed to be killed, but only on the condition that the child was not yet two years old. The most a shining example This can be explained by the legend of Romulus and Remus, the founders of the Eternal City. These newborn sons of Mars (the god of war), left by people in the forest to die, were nursed and raised by a she-wolf.
Tomb of the Headless Vikings
In the summer of 2010, a mass grave of soldiers was found in Dorset (Britain). Workers who were laying the railway discovered unusual finds in the ground - piles of human skeletons without heads. Soon, skulls were also found, stacked a little further away. At first, archaeologists thought that the surviving inhabitants of the village, which was subjected to a brutal Viking raid, thus decided to take revenge on the offenders. But the further they analyzed this situation, the more doubts their version raised.
The fact is that the beheading itself was carried out too carefully and clearly, so a hypothesis arose that it was either some kind of ritual murder, or public execution. But no matter what happened, one thing is clear: the morals of the 8th-9th centuries were extremely cruel, and the Anglo-Saxons had to suffer quite often from the predatory raids of the Scandinavians.
Ancient Greek mechanics: antique computer
Often archaeological unusual finds at the bottom of seas and oceans are so amazing that even scientists cannot explain their existence. In 1900, sponge catchers fishing in the sea off the coast of the island of Antikythera (Greece) discovered the wreckage of an ancient Roman trading ship. Scientists have suggested that the sunken ship was traveling from Rhodes to Rome and sank around the 1st century BC. e. It turned out that it lies at a depth of no more than 60 meters. From there, a large number of gold and silver jewelry, amphorae and ceramics, bronze and marble figurines, as well as many other antique objects were brought to the surface. Among them were parts of some strange mechanism.
At first no one paid attention to them, until in 1902 archaeologist Valerios Stais noticed that some bronze objects looked like clock gears. The scientist immediately suggested that they could be parts of some astronomical instrument, but his colleagues only laughed at him. They recalled that these unusual finds dated back to the 1st century BC. e., while gears were invented only 14 centuries later.
Stais's theory was forgotten, but in the late 50s it was remembered by the British historian D. D. de Solla Price, who carefully studied ancient artifacts from Antikythera. He was able to prove that several bronze objects once made up one mechanism, placed in a wooden box, which fell apart over time. Soon he even drew up an approximate, and later a more detailed diagram of this amazing machine. In 1971, the British watchmaker D. Gleave assembled a working copy of it, which could simulate the movement of the Moon, the Sun, as well as the other planets known at that time: Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury and Mars.
In 2005, using a special X-ray technique, artifact researchers were able to examine Greek symbols on the gears. In addition, the missing parts of this mysterious mechanism were also recreated. It turned out that this device can perform operations such as division, addition and subtraction. Therefore, it is not surprising that such a truly unusual find was called an antique computer.
Mummy of a monk inside a Buddha statue
It happens that the most unusual finds on the planet are literally right before our eyes. This is what happened with the 1000-year-old statue put on public display in the museum of the province of Drenthe (China). The fact is that just a few years ago, Dutch scientists made another shocking discovery. They discovered a human mummy inside a Chinese Buddha statue. From this, scientists concluded that it was created not just as a sculpture, but as a sarcophagus. Presumably, the ancient remains belong to Li Kwan, a Chinese meditation master.
Typically, such finds always cause not only surprise, but also a lot of questions. Some modern practicing Buddhists believe that the monk could deliberately enter some stage of meditation known only to him, during which his body seemed to self-mummify.
Ancient city of Heraklion
Unusual finds on the ocean floor are not uncommon for archaeologists. But the fact that under the water column was discovered ancient city, disappeared as a result powerful earthquake for more than 1200 years, surprised even scientists who were ready for anything. Its history is akin to the legendary Atlantis. Heraklion was once located at the mouth of the Nile and, as it turned out, was a small prosperous town.
A strong earthquake occurred around the 1st century BC. e. It destroyed houses, sank a large number of ships, and also killed many people. Those who were lucky enough to survive fled, leaving all their property behind. Archaeologist Frank Godiot, who discovered the ruins of the city, realized that it was ancient Heraklion, when they found a black granite slab on which this name was carved.
Terracotta Army
In 1974, Chinese farmer Yan Ji Wang was digging a well on his plot of land and at a depth of about 5 meters he discovered an ancient statue of a warrior made in full height. When archaeologists continued excavations, it turned out that there was not just one, but thousands of similar figures. It turned out that these unusual finds have been deep underground for more than two thousand years. It is believed that this clay “army” belonged to the legendary emperor Qin Shi Huang, the unifier of Chinese lands.
Now at the site where excavations are still underway, a the whole city. The work has not stopped for several decades in a row, but no one knows when it will end. Art historians have suggested that it took about 700 thousand craftsmen who worked for at least thirty years to create such a number of clay figures.
Roman dodecahedron
Sometimes you come across such unusual archaeological finds that it is difficult to understand why these objects were originally created. On the territory of Northern and Central Europe, whose lands were once considered the outskirts of the majestic Roman Empire, are often found unusual looking artifacts.
These are the so-called Roman dodecahedrons - bronze products with 12 faces, each of which has a round hole, and 20 small “knobs” are located in the corners. All of them date back to the 2nd-4th centuries AD. e. Scientists have put forward more than two dozen versions regarding their scope of application, but none of them have been proven.
During excavations, first of all, great attention is paid to the discovered antiquities - be it dusty clay shards or luxuriously painted frescoes. But sometimes on the surface there are no less interesting finds that can tell us about a long time ago. the past few days no less than the artifacts themselves.
1. Smiling Potty
It's not so common to find an ancient potter with a sense of humor. When archaeologists dug up a 4,000-year-old pot, it “smiled” at them. In 2017, when another broken pot was discovered in Turkey near the Syrian border during excavations that had been going on for 7 years, it seemed that there was nothing unusual about it. But when the restoration team collected the fragments into a large pot-bellied pot, they noticed something very familiar modern people- emoticon.
Around 1700 BC. someone squeezed out a pair of eyes in wet clay and emphasized them with a “smile.” A white vessel with one handle, which was used for drinking sherbet, is now considered the oldest smiley face in history. The place where it was found is called Karkamis, and it once belonged to the Hittites.
2. Paleonora
In the 2000s, Brazilian geologists began finding strange caves. Most of them were long arched tunnels with perfectly level floors that merged into complex underground networks cameras and passages. All signs pointed to the fact that these caves were not created by any natural geological process. But what made entire networks of tunnels and caves so huge that a person can walk at full height?
The solution was suggested by deep grooves found on the ceilings and walls, which, after closer examination, turned out to be ancient claw marks. But what makes it all really strange is the scale of the so-called “paleonora”. They are huge, even for the extinct giant sloths or armadillos, which are considered the most likely creators of these structures.
The largest hole was discovered in the state of Rondonia. total length its passages were 610 meters long, while the tunnels were 1.8 meters high and 1.5 meters wide. To create just this hole, it was necessary to dig 4,000 cubic meters of rock. There is no explanation why the animals needed such elaborate shelters or why there are no such burrows in North America, even though giant sloths and armadillos also lived there thousands of years ago.
3. Resin in the burial ground
A 27-meter long ship that was used as a tomb was excavated near the River Deben in England. In fact, the discovery took place eight decades ago at Sutton Hoo, an ancient cemetery considered one of the most important burial grounds in Britain. Scientists suggest that the ship with precious metals and stones is the tomb of King Raedwald, who died in 624 or 625 AD.
Most intriguing was the black substance found throughout the boat. It was originally thought to be a waterproofing agent. But thanks the best technologies, which became available in 2016, repeated tests showed an unexpected result. The tar-like material was a rare type of bitumen found exclusively in the Middle East. But what this bitumen did on the ship is not clear. It may have been exported at that time.
4. Prints on the sarcophagus
In 2005, a restoration team worked on the sarcophagus in Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum. The coffin belonged to a priest named Nespavershefit, who died around 1000 BC. Unexpectedly, under the lid, dirty fingerprints were found from the artisan who made the coffin 3,000 years ago.
For some reason, the ancient workers treated the inner lid before the varnish had dried. As a result of such impatience, their prints were preserved for posterity. They were not revealed until 11 years later in 2016, when the unusual "artifact" was included in the first major exhibition dedicated to Egyptian artists and how their styles developed over more than 4,000 years.
5. Chrysocolla amulet
The Egyptians took flowers seriously and gave each their own meaning and qualities. Researchers knew that green symbolized growth, harvest and health in Egypt. This was important enough to place scarabs carved from green stone next to the heart of mummies. But no one suspected why green was also the color important place, when it came to Egyptian children. According to ancient records and hieroglyphs, young people even wore green makeup.
A recent discovery shows that Egyptian parents believed the color could protect their offspring. When examining the child's mummy, a leather bag with a bright green chrysocolla amulet was discovered on the body. When the child died 4,700 years ago, malachite was the most readily available green mineral in Egypt. Chrysocolla was a rare commodity, available only in the Sinai and East Egyptian desert.
A similar chrysocolla figurine of a boy supports the theory that a certain green mineral was used only by children. Several experts agree that an amulet found on a toddler who died of malaria was likely intended to ensure health and safety in the afterlife.
6. Scythian burial mounds
When archaeologist Andrei Belinsky excavated another mound in Russia, he found something he had kept secret for years. It was a Scythian tomb belonging to a mysterious nomadic people, after whom nothing remained but thousands of burial mounds. It's no surprise that any new information about their culture is highly valued by scientists. In 2013, Belinsky's team found a hidden underground chamber containing 2,400-year-old gold jewelry and vessels. To avoid looting, the discovery was kept silent. During the research, a lot of new things emerged about the daily life of the Scythians.
A sticky black residue was found on the inside of one container, which was identified as cannabis and opium. This is the first confirmation of the statement ancient Greek historian Herodotus that nomads used drugs during rituals. On outer surface This vessel depicted scenes of violence. Another vessel depicts scenes that clearly reflect the cruel Scythian afterlife. In them, Scythians fight each other, and an old man kills a boy.
7. St. Francis Bread
The monks from the Folloni monastery faced a harsh and hungry winter. As the 700-year-old legend says, one night an angel brought bread and left it on the threshold of the monastery. The monks believed that the food was sent by Saint Francis of Assisi, who was in France at that time. The monks even considered the bag containing the bread a shrine and kept it for seven centuries. Scientists decided to check the old legend and tested the preserved piece of the bag.
It turned out that the age of the fabric dates back to approximately 1220-1295 years, i.e. coincides perfectly with the year when the miracle happened (1224). The scientists then examined inner surface textiles and discovered ergosterol. This biomarker is commonly found in molds associated with baking, brewing and agriculture. Most likely, the medieval material came into contact with bread. These data, together with the age of the relic, confirm the myth.
8. New Testament stained with urine
Another religious artifact from Italy is an incomplete Bible called the Purple Rossan Codex. The manuscript contains only the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, the 1,500-year-old book is among the oldest New Testament manuscripts and has long puzzled scholars with its purple pages (dyes were very difficult to make in those days). It was originally assumed that the parchment was treated with a substance secreted by sea slugs of the genus Murex.
In 2016, when conducting X-ray fluorescence, scientists were unable to detect bromine on the pages (and it should be contained in substances obtained from slugs). As a result, it turned out that the manuscript was treated with orcein (a natural dye extracted from lichens), and also... fermented urine. The processing process required the presence of ammonia, and at that time there was no other source of ammonia other than urine.
9.
In 2010 The Supreme Council Egypt's antiquities department experienced a real panic. Something began to happen in the tomb of Tutankhamun that scientists could not explain. Brown stains began to appear on almost every surface, including frescoes, whitewash on the walls, and even silver. Concerned that tourists' breath was stimulating microbial growth, the council called in experts from Los Angeles. The stains actually turned out to be bacteria that had been dead for thousands of years. These organisms led to the emergence of another mystery.
Firstly, they could not be identified using DNA analysis; scientists could only establish that it was a fungus. Secondly, the presence of this fungus added questions about the already mysterious pharaoh. Tutankhamun died quite suddenly at the age of just 19 about 3,000 years ago. It seems that he was buried just as quickly. The best guess is that Tutankhamun died without his own pyramid.
As you know, the pharaohs prepared resting places long before death. IN in this case the tomb was erected in the shortest possible time, hastily prepared and sealed while the frescoes and plaster were still wet. This moisture, combined with skin cells and the workers' breath, resulted in germs. Similar stains were not found in any other Egyptian tomb. Therefore, it is a real mystery: why they were in such a hurry to bury Pharaoh.
10. archives
Another purple pigment is damaging scrolls around the world. But the ancient scribes themselves never added pigment, which over the years “ate” the texts and destroyed the parchment. To get to the root of this problem, researchers examined a damaged book from the Vatican Secret Archives. This 5-meter-long goatskin scroll was a petition written in 1244 AD. The notes in the margins have already disappeared under the purple color, and some pages have become completely unreadable.
Suspecting the presence of microbes, the researchers took samples from the scroll for gene sequencing. Unlike the mysterious “intruder” in Tutankhamun’s tomb, this type of bacteria was identified. However, it was puzzling that these were marine bacteria, since the history of the scroll was in no way connected with the ocean. But the damaged manuscripts had one thing in common - they were made from animal skins. This turned out to be the key that helped find the solution.
The skins were processed sea salt, which contained marine organisms, including those that produce purple dye. Bacteria began to multiply in the goatskin when the temperature and humidity became suitable. Today, the damage done to many manuscripts is irreparable, but researchers continue to hope that one day they will be able to safely remove the remaining pigment.
Sometimes unusual artifacts discovered deep underground call into question our usual hypotheses about the origin and development of human civilization.
Around such finds, heated debates flare up about their origin and purpose. Our selection includes just these: the most mysterious finds of archaeologists.
One of the most mysterious structures of antiquity was found in 1891, 30 km from the capital of Mongolia. The complex was built about 1,300 years ago in the middle of a mountain lake. But archaeologists have no evidence to explain the purpose of the Clay House or point to the civilization that built it.
9. Salzburg parallelepiped
A metal object weighing 785 g was found in Austria in 1885 in a piece of coal, whose age ranges from 25 to 67 million years. Perfect correct form does not suggest that the parallelepiped is a fragment of a meteorite. Among fans of the theory about the extraterrestrial origin of humanity, the most popular version is about the alien nature of the find.
8. Ural “spirals”
Spirals measuring 3 cm are made of an alloy of copper, tungsten and molybdenum. It is possible to manufacture such products only with a certain level of development of science and technology. At the same time, scientists estimate the age of the spirals at 300 thousand years.
7. Antikythera Mechanism
This artifact was discovered on the wreckage of a ship that sank off the coast of Greece. The age of the find is 2 thousand years. The mechanism contains 37 bronze gears housed in a wooden case with a dial. Most likely, the mechanism was intended to calculate the movement of celestial bodies. There were simply no analogues to the device in ancient culture.
6. Voynich Manuscript
The mysterious manuscript is written in a language unknown to mankind and indecipherable. The manuscript was discovered while clearing the rubble in the basement of one of the Italian monasteries. The parchment on which the text is written dates back to the 15th century. The most famous cryptologists and riddle lovers are working on the decryption. But for now, the meaning of the Voynich manuscript remains a mystery.
5. Stone balls from Costa Rica
The purpose of these balls, made from igneous sedimentary rocks, remains a mystery. Ideally shaped balls weigh up to 16 tons. Who, when and with what technologies gave the blocks perfect shape– unknown.
4. Baltic anomaly
Rock anomaly discovered in 2011 at the very bottom Baltic Sea, according to some scientists, may be the remains of an ancient spaceship that crashed. Although other scientists argue that the correct shape of the anomaly may be the result of the movement of an ancient glacier.
3. Genetic drive
A disk with a diameter of 27 cm found in Colombia would be difficult to manufacture even with the use of modern technologies, since the lydite from which it is made has the highest strength and at the same time a layered structure. However, more scientists are amazed by the process of fertilization of an egg and the development of life depicted on the disk.
2. Figurine in a space suit
In an ancient Egyptian tomb in the area of Tel El-Tabila, among the ritual figurines, one was discovered that did not resemble any of the previously found ones. The creature with the head of a lizard is dressed in a suit resembling a spacesuit.
1. Bas-reliefs in the Temple of Hathor (Lamp of Dendera)
In 1969, during excavations in Egypt, images were discovered that were surprisingly reminiscent of modern electric lamps. A number of enthusiastic scientists even reconstructed the mysterious lamps using modern technologies.
Despite the level of technological progress and all the accumulated knowledge about the history of our planet and the civilizations that inhabited it, we still cannot understand some mysterious discoveries.
Most finds allow scientists to learn something new about the past, but there are also artifacts that contradict all logic and challenge generally accepted knowledge about the capabilities of ancient peoples. For example, how exactly was Stonehenge built? Why were the Nazca geoglyphs drawn? Who wrote the Devil's Bible?
However, if we do not understand something, this does not mean that we still cannot try to learn something new thanks to mysterious finds. As a result, researchers will definitely find all the answers. For now, let's just find out what kind of puzzles modern archaeologists are struggling with. Here is a selection of 25 such secrets of the past!
25. Roman dodecahedrons
Roman dodecahedrons date back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD and still remain a real mystery to the scientific community. The diameter of these artifacts usually ranges from 3 to 11 centimeters, they are most often made of bronze and represent a polyhedron of 12 regular pentagons with round holes and balls at the top of each corner. According to some versions, dodecahedrons were used either for ritual purposes or as a measuring device. These were very valuable objects, and throughout Europe archaeologists have already found several hundred of these mysterious artifacts.
24. Giant circles
Photo: Rei-artur blog
In Jordan and Syria, 8 huge circles were discovered using satellite imagery. The diameter of the figures ranges from 220 to 455 meters, and no one knows exactly when they appeared here, or why they were drawn. Archaeologists are still excavating the site where the mysterious formations were discovered, but they are already suggesting that these objects date back to the period from the beginning of Bronze Age until the time of the Roman Empire.
23. Copper scroll
Photo: Wikipedia Commons.com
Among the other scrolls found in the Dead Sea area, there is one manuscript that is different from all the others. The discovery was made in 1952, and unlike parchment or papyrus artifacts, this scroll is made of a metal alloy (mostly copper). The manuscript contains approximately the following text: “In the large cistern, which is located in the courtyard of the pillared hall, in the recess opposite the door, in the corner, nine hundred talents are hidden. In the cistern under the wall on the east side there are six hundred silver bars. In the southern corner of the columned hall at the tomb of Zadok and under the column in the meeting hall there is a spruce vessel for incense and the same vessel made of cassia wood.” Yes, this is the most real map treasures Historians and ordinary treasure hunters are trying in vain to find this treasure long years. Some experts even began to suggest that the text is of a metaphorical nature or is more of a kind of recommendation rather than a description of an already completed hiding place.
22. Letters rongo-rongo
Photo: Wikipedia Commons.com
Rongorongo writing was found on Easter Island in the 19th century. They are a collection of wooden tablets covered with mysterious hieroglyphs of unknown origin. No one has ever been able to decipher the meaning of these ancient letters, but some scientists believe that deciphering these texts could help shed light on the mysterious disappearance of the ancient civilization that once inhabited Easter Island.
21. Scottish pyramids of Clava
Photo: Elliott Simpson
These mysterious stone structures are almost 4,000 years old and were discovered on south coast River Nairn in Scotland. Piles of stones are diluted with vertically standing megaliths (stone blocks), and most of all scientists are puzzled by the question of how exactly the people of those years managed to collect all these heavy boulders in one place and install them in the form of a ring monument. In addition, researchers do not quite understand why this ancient complex was built in the first place. Among most theories, the most common ones involve burial rituals, solstice sightings, and even aliens.
20. Pot-bellied Hill or Gobekli Tepe
Photo: Teomancimit
Göbekli Tepe is a huge archaeological complex discovered in Turkey, whose age is approximately 11,000 years old, that is, it is 6,000 years older than even the legendary Stonehenge. In the temple complex, many pillars decorated with carved silhouettes of animals and other mystical creatures, as well as many other religious buildings, were discovered. Initially hidden under a 15-meter hill, the complex was mistaken for an ancient cemetery, but archaeologists later realized that they were faced with something more grandiose. Most likely, it was a temple, but research is still ongoing.
19. American Stonehenge
Photo: (WT-shared) Jtesla16 at wts wikivoyage
American Stonehenge was discovered in the town of Salem, New Hampshire (Salem, New Hampshire). This amazing monument is a system of caves and stone structures, and its origin is still unclear and causes a lot of controversy among experienced archaeologists. The territory on which the complex is located belonged to the Pattees family, but the site remained unnoticed until William Goodwin bought the land in 1937. Since then it began here archaeological excavations. Radiocarbon dating showed that they worked on the creation of this mysterious place as early as 2000 BC. But who exactly lived in this American Stonehenge is still unknown to science.
18. Stone balls of Costa Rica Las Bolas
Photo: Shutterstock
Locals call them Las Bolas (balls). These spherical artifacts are scattered along the coast of the Diquis River Delta, on the Nicoya Peninsula and on Caño Island in southern Costa Rica. Gigantic stone spheres date back to about 600 AD and consist predominantly of gabbro (igneous rock). The purpose of the stone balls is still a mystery, but scientists speculate that they were either used as wayfinders or for the purpose of studying the stars.
17. Treasures and the mysterious disappearance of the Sanxingdui people
Photo: Nishanshaman
This archaeological mystery lies not so much in the artifacts themselves, but in the creators of the finds. In 1929 and again in 1986, a pit containing jade items was discovered in the Chinese province of Sichuan. A simple peasant was the first to find it, and several decades later, a full-fledged excavation was finally carried out here. The treasury contained bronze and stone artifacts, elephant tusks and other amazing finds. Apparently, the Sanxingdui culture lived in these lands on the banks of the Minjing River about 3,000 years ago, but suddenly it literally disappeared from the face of the Earth, and scientists are still wondering why. Among probable causes wars and famine are mentioned. One of the most recent assumptions is related to strong earthquake. Perhaps, during the next powerful shock, a serious landslide occurred, blocking the river bed and changing its course, which forced the ancient settlement to hastily change its place of residence in search of a new source of water.
16. Nazca geoglyphs
Photo: Unukorno
The lines and geometric patterns in the Nazca Desert (Peru) are one of the world's greatest archaeological mysteries. Scattered throughout the Peruvian plateau are a great many of these mysterious designs, which appeared between 500 AD and 500 BC. Unusual sizes, great amount, the plot and structure of these geoglyphs have puzzled the most prominent scientists. The main version says that these lines and drawings are associated with some ancient rituals or were used by ancient scientists to observe the starry sky.
15. Baghdad battery
Photo: Boynton/flickr
This artifact is almost 2000 years old. A Baghdad battery was found in a suburb of the Iraqi capital. In front of you is a clay vessel with a bitumen stopper and an iron rod passed through the stopper into the vase itself, inside of which there is also a copper cylinder. Filled with vinegar, this battery is capable of producing electrical voltage at 1.1 volts. However, no written evidence has been found that these vessels were used in this manner. Scientists have not discovered any other devices that would work due to these ancient galvanic cells. Skeptics believe that these were ordinary vessels for storing manuscripts.
14. underground city Derinkuyu
Photo: Nevit Dilmen
In the Turkish province of Nevsehir, a real city was hidden right underground for many years. There are many similar dungeons in Turkey, but Derinkuyu is the largest of them. The shelter consists of 8 levels and descends to a depth of 80 meters. The cave kingdom was built around the 8th century BC, and the first inhabitants were the ancient Phrygians, and then the early Christians, who hid here from persecution. However, the original purpose of such a grandiose underground structure still remains unknown.
13. Shroud of Turin
Photo: Dianelos Georgoudis
The Shroud of Turin is a 4-meter linen cloth with an imprint of the body of a man executed on the cross. The Shroud is kept in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin and is recognized as one of the most important Christian relics, since believers believe that it was the body of Jesus Christ that was wrapped in it when he was buried in the tomb of a Jewish elder. Scientific research have not yet shed light on the age of the canvas, since some experts believe that the fabric was produced during the Middle Ages, while other scientists attribute it to the time of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church does not recognize the shroud as authentic, and the Orthodox Church has so far refused to take an official position on this matter.
12. Underwater cairn
Photo: Nemo
In Lake Tiberias, using the echolocation method, scientists recently discovered an entire underwater pyramid. The pile of stones stretches approximately 70 meters in diameter, but archaeologists have not yet been able to determine its age or purpose. There are a lot of tilapia swimming in this lake, which has led some experts to believe that this structure was once used for fishing.
11. Stonehenge
Photo: garethwiscombe
Stonehenge is a very famous archaeological complex that has already for a long time considered a real mystery. The largest stone blocks weigh approximately 25 tons and rise 9 meters above the ground. Some of these giant boulders were brought from West Wales, meaning they were dragged as far as 225 kilometers. How exactly the ancient inhabitants of these places managed to transport such heavy stones is still unknown. Carrying them probably required the coordinated work of several thousand people at once. If this was all true, then the creation of this complex should have marked the real unification of England in those years, because the construction required very serious resources and the involvement large quantity working hands.
10. Sound effects in the hypogeum (sanctuary) of Hal Saflieni
Photo: Wikipedia Commons.com
The Hal Saflieni Temple is located in Malta, and this prehistoric complex is almost 5,000 years old. In addition, it is one of the very few underground sanctuaries dating back to the Bronze Age. No one knows exactly why this hypogeum was built, but the main version is that it served as a refuge for the prophet, and subsequently a burial ground was organized here. This place becomes even more mysterious due to its unusual properties, due to which sounds here are perceived in an unusual way. There is a special room in the dungeon where all the lowest sounds resonate as loudly as if you were in the center of a giant bell, but outside this room you can hardly hear anything. Was this what ancient people intended during the construction of the complex, or was this an unforeseen effect?
9. Khatt Shebib
Photo: Pixabay.com
Sir Alec Kirkbride discovered the Hutt Shebib in 1948. This ancient wall, stretching for 150 kilometers almost across Jordan. Since its opening, the structure has been shrouded in mystery and has captivated the minds of prominent archaeologists. No one still knows how ancient the Hutt Shebib is, or what it was intended for. Today, only modest ruins remain of the wall, although previously it was supposedly not too high, which means that the wall was certainly not intended for defensive purposes. It is possible that it was used by ancient farmers, or that it was some kind of symbol of boundaries.
8. Giant Codex or Devil's Bible
Photo: Wikipedia Commons.com
The Codex Gigas (in Latin) is a medieval parchment manuscript recognized as the most voluminous and heaviest handwritten book in all of Western Europe. The vault is so heavy that only 2 people can move it at a time, because the weight of this block is about 75 kilograms. The Giant Codex includes the Old and New Testament, as well as several other texts - the works of Josephus, “Etymology” by Isidore of Seville, “Czech Chronicle” by Cosmas of Prague and other books in Latin. The author of the codex is unknown, but presumably there was one only person- a hermit monk who worked on the creation of the manuscript for several decades in a row. This collection was called the Devil's Bible because it also contains a full-page image of Satan.
7. Puma Punku
Photo: Janikorpi
Puma Punku is a Bolivian complex consisting of huge megaliths, carved from stone with the greatest precision. The most main mystery today - not so much the purpose of some of the local objects, but their age. Expert opinions are divided and very different from each other. So, some scientists believe that the complex appeared around 500-600 BC, while others believe that the artifacts are almost 17,000 years old. Another amazing feature of Puma Punku is the incredible precision with which the stones were processed. The blocks look as if they were cut using a diamond cutter, but such technology is unlikely to have existed in such ancient times.
6. Longyou Caves
Photo: Zhangzhugang
Discovered in 1992 near the village of Longyu, the amazing Longyu Caves are a whole system of man-made dungeons that were flooded for a long time. They were discovered while cleaning local ponds, and in the end it turned out that the height of some of the rooms reaches 30 meters. None of the 24 has any communication with the neighboring one, but they all have common walls. The dungeons are simply huge, made with incredible skill and require significant effort to create them, but for some reason not a single historical document mentions their existence. The age of the structures was determined by a number of indirect signs (for example, stalactites) and is approximately 2200 years old.
5. Super-Henge
Photo: anonymous
Not far from the famous Stonehenge, archaeologists have discovered even more large complex, hiding deep underground. It was called Superhenge, and this monument consists of 90 huge stone blocks, reminiscent of the megaliths from Stonehenge. Scientists discovered the complex using ground-penetrating radar, and the monument has still not been excavated. Experts find it difficult to answer the question about the purpose of the object, but they are sure that all these stones were buried here with some special intention.
4. Stone labyrinths of Bolshoi Zayatsky Island
Photo: Vitold Muratov
A small Russian island, lost in the White Sea, no more than 2.5 in size square kilometers- This is an almost uninhabited piece of land that keeps many secrets. For example, did you know that stone labyrinths have been decorating this place for almost 32 thousand years? All these piles and strange mounds cover the main part of the island, but archaeologists still have not figured out who exactly built the mysterious labyrinths and for what purpose. Perhaps these were religious altars or other ritual objects.
3. Stone slab Cochno
Photo: University of Glasgow
In Scotland, archaeologists have unearthed a 5,000-year-old stone slab decorated with unusual geometric patterns. The Cochno Stone (from the name of the farm near which the artifact was found) is 13 meters long and 7.9 meters wide, and scientists call the designs carved into its surface “bowls and ring marks.” Similar patterns are found around the world and in other prehistoric locations. The meaning of these drawings remains unknown to this day, as well as who created them. In addition, it is not clear how exactly ancient people managed to leave these marks in places so distant from each other. The Kochnin slab was transported to another place not only for further research, but also to protect it from attacks by vandals.
2 Microscopic Copper Finds That Are Nearly 300,000 Years Old
Photo: ugraland
In 1991, on the banks of the Narada, Kozhim and Balbanyu rivers in the area Ural mountains Mysterious artifacts were discovered. The microscopic spiral-shaped copper and tungsten parts are surprising because experts are still arguing about their age. Some scientists suggest that these finds are somehow related to rocket tests at the nearby Baikonur and Plesetsk cosmodromes. However, other researchers argue that the rocks in which these mysterious springs were found are too ancient, and analysis of these layers has shown that the finds may be approximately 300,000 years old.
1. Tomb with skulls from Sanken
Photo: Pixabay.com
In Sweden, archaeologists have discovered a burial site of human remains that are almost 8,000 years old. Researchers found 11 skulls of men, women, children and infants there. Scientists have probably stumbled upon a tomb built here during the Stone Age, when hunters and gatherers strung the heads of the dead on one common pole and buried them in lakes. No one knows exactly how and why the ancient people came up with such a terrible ritual.
When it comes to the world around us, most, as a rule, believe that man has already known it completely: since the Enlightenment, science has been studying it. However, even in the 21st century, many secrets of the Universe still remain under seven locks, and as proof we present the top 10 interesting finds archaeologists, which science still cannot explain.
Stone balls of Costa Rica
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these stone balls have long continued to haunt the minds of scientists. The balls were made from igneous sedimentary rocks, but their purpose remains a mystery.
The pyramid of the first emperor of China and his terracotta army
The tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di, discovered in 1974, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Many believe that his body may be located in deeper underground chambers, but archaeologists have no plans to go there yet.
This is what Qin Shihuang's pyramid looks like now.
Amazing Puma Punku Stones
Although these ancient structures are not included in the list of wonders of the world, they are certainly some of the most ancient ruins on our planet.
Most of these structures consist of granite and diorite, which is interesting - on Earth only diamond surpasses them in strength. Thus, the people who created these monuments must have used tools made from diamonds.
Another interesting fact- the weight of each such monolith is about 800 tons. This is surprising, since the nearest quarry from here is 10 kilometers away. Even with modern technology, it would be incredibly difficult to lift and move them such a distance.
Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin is one of the most famous Christian relics in the world. It is believed that the body of Jesus Christ was wrapped in it during burial.
Great Pyramid in Giza
Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid of Giza continues to attract the attention of many archaeologists, physicists and astrologers who, over the centuries, have tried to unravel the mystery it hides.
Stonehenge
Undoubtedly, Stonehenge is considered the most popular ancient monument located in Europe. It consists of stone blocks of incredible size, which amaze not so much with their appearance as with the mystery of their origin.
In the center is a stone altar surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped circle of stones. The true purpose of Stonehenge remains a mystery today. There are three main theories, one of which suggests that the site was used for ritual ceremonies and funerals.
Computer reconstruction
Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are ancient patterns drawn onto the surface of the earth in the Nazca Desert in Peru. They were discovered in 1927 and became the most unusual legacy of the past.
Nazca Lines, monkey
The lines and numbers traced on the plateau form a complex sequence of patterns reaching several kilometers in length, and they can only be seen from the air.
Nazca Lines, spider
Experts rule out the possibility that the Nazca people had the technology to allow them to fly, but this only raises more questions about how and why these lines were drawn?
Nazca Lines, parrot and astronaut 
Traces of cocaine and tobacco found on mummies
In 1992, a team of German researchers found traces of cocaine and nicotine in pieces Egyptian mummies, as part of a study entitled “Exploring the Use of Hallucinogenic Substances in Ancient Societies.”
Genetic drive
The so-called genetic disk is one of the most incredible artifacts found in Colombia. The disk with a diameter of 27 cm is made of a durable stone called lydite, it is surprising that, despite its exceptional strength, this stone has a layered structure, and it is difficult to make something like this ancient artifact, both practically and theoretically impossible.
Bas-reliefs in the Temple of Hathor
Almost every schoolchild knows the history of the creation of the modern light bulb, but historians say that the ancient Egyptians were most likely also familiar with this subject. On bas-reliefs discovered in 1969 in the temple of the goddess Hathor, scientists found images of objects, the structure and shape of which strikingly reminded them of electric lamps. They immediately remembered that no traces of soot were found in the tombs...
The bas-relief depicting ancient lamps is located in a difficult-to-reach place, accessible only through a narrow passage. According to scientists, this room was not intended for frequent visits; the presence of something mystical is truly felt in the Temple of Hathor. What is actually depicted on Egyptian bas-reliefs is still unknown.
reconstruction of an “ancient lamp”.
Lizard in a space suit
Not long ago, the world was shocked by an amazing discovery, which especially appealed to fans of theories about extraterrestrial civilizations and their presence on our planet. In addition to three skeletons and ritual amulets, a collection of figurines was discovered in the Egyptian tomb at Tel El-Tabila (Dakahlia), one of which particularly attracted the attention of archaeologists. It was a lizard in a space suit; this figurine did not look like anything else. What is this? Who is this? Not yet known.
Three-blade disc
An amazing three-lobed disk was discovered by Egyptologist Walter Bryan. Who and what this disk served for has not yet been established. This artifact is made of very fragile material, so, despite its shape, this object cannot be an ancient wheel. Someone suggested that this disk could be the leg of an oil lamp, but in its shape the disk more at least looks like a functional device rather than a decorative item.
Metal spheres
On the origin and purpose of the mysterious metal spheres discovered by miners South America, the scientific world is still arguing. These balls do not exceed three centimeters in diameter; on some of them one can distinguish parallel lines, passing along the circumference of the sphere.
