Remarkable archaeological discoveries have always fascinated people, probably because no one knows what they are or why they’re there. This leaves lots of room for creativity and imagination. Today, we’ll try to shed some light on the most puzzling discoveries scientists have ever unearthed.
1. Stone spheres of Costa Rica
The Diquis River Delta is home to a peculiar and fascinating discovery: giant stone spheres known as Las Bolas. These mysterious objects were created around 600 AD by an ancient civilization that lived there before the arrival of Europeans. Most of the spheres are made of a type of rock called gabbro, which forms when molten lava cools down. The creators of the spheres used smaller stones to shape them into perfect spheres. Many people have wondered what these balls were used for, with some suggesting they were astronomical instruments or guides to hidden treasures. However, no one knows their purpose, as the civilization that made them disappeared long ago.
2. Antikythera mechanism
This artifact was discovered in the wreckage of an old Greek ship that sank more than 2,000 years ago. Made of bronze, it’s a combination of mechanisms and gears that seem to be part of some fantastic invention. For a long time, it was thought to be an ancient astrolabe, but as archaeologists started to study it more closely, they realized that it was something much more than that. It’s actually an ancient astronomical calendar, which makes it the most complex historical find of its time. Even today, scientists are still scratching their heads, trying to figure out how it works.
3. Tomb of Cleopatra
Cleopatra VII was the last queen of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC and was famous for her intelligence, beauty, and passionate flings with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The exact location of her tomb is still a mystery, as well as that of her lover, Mark Antony since it has never been found. According to ancient texts, they were buried in a beautiful monument near a temple of the goddess Isis. However, many believe that their grave might have been looted over the centuries.
4. Tomb of Qin Shihuangdi
In 1947, Chinese farmers discovered the legendary terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi. The sculptures were made to guard the emperor in the afterlife. However, his burial chamber and treasures remain a mystery. The emperor’s tomb is believed to be an underground palace located several miles from the army to fool the tomb raiders. Finding it is difficult, if not impossible, so the mystery remains unsolved.
5. Atlantis
The alleged evidence of Atlantis was found in different parts of the world, including Greece, the Bahamas, Cuba, and Japan. But even with all the research and exploration, nobody has been able to confirm its exact location. The story of Atlantis was first described over 2,000 years ago by an ancient historian named Plato. He wrote that a powerful civilization disappeared underwater about 10,000 years ago due to a catastrophic event. Today, scientists and historians still debate where it could have been located and what could be discovered if it had been found.
6. Stonehenge
This famous ancient monument attracts a lot of visitors every year. It’s a ring made of huge stones that were put together around 4,000 years ago. People are amazed by it because it’s really big, and nobody knows for sure how ancient people were able to build it without modern tools. Although many scientists have tried to explain what it was used for, nobody has been able to prove anything. Some say it was used for studying the stars; others think it was a religious temple. But nobody knows for sure.
7. Nazca lines
In Peru, there are some really old drawings on the ground that are so gigantic you can only see them from the air. These depictions of animals, people, and shapes were made over 2,000 years ago, but no one knows for sure why they exist. Some people think it was a way to talk to their gods; others theorize that the aliens made them. Pilots flying over the area in the 1920s and 30s were the first to see these drawings, and they were confused by them because they couldn’t see them from the ground.
8. Great pyramids
The Egyptian pyramids are fascinating structures that were built more than 5,000 years ago in Cairo. They are considered symbols of respect for the pharaohs and ancient rulers of Egypt and hold many secrets about their religious beliefs and the afterlife. Archaeologists have discovered many tunnels and secret chambers in the pyramids, which lead to questions about how and why such high-tech structures were built. Even though we know a lot about them, many believe there is still much more to uncover.
9. Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin is a piece of cloth that many people believe was used to wrap Jesus Christ’s body when he was buried. The Catholic Church first acknowledged the shroud in 1353 AD, but the story goes all the way back to around 30 AD. Since 1980, scientists have been studying the shroud and have found that it was made around 1300 AD. This has led some to think that it’s a fake from medieval times. However, supporters of the shroud theory argue that only parts of the fabric were examined and that the fabric was made to look newer than it really is.
10. Göbekli-Tepe
Göbekli Tepe in Turkey is the oldest known religious site in the world, dating back to 10,000 BC. Discovered in 1994, it challenges the traditional theory that people first settled in permanent places and then built temples. Evidence suggests that it was built by nomads who knew nothing about agriculture, which raises questions about what life of many ancient people actually looked like.
