10 Unexplained Ancient Artifacts From Around The World
Duane Beckett
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Ancient artifacts can tell the story of humanity. How we evolved technologically, spiritually, and emotionally. However, sometimes archaeologists find something so surprising that they are unable to explain their discovery.
There are many unexplained ancient artifacts that have left experts baffled with no satisfying explanation. Here is our top-10:
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The Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines of Peru are spectacular, but only when you check them out from the sky. They were first spotted by a commercial aircraft during the 1920s and 30s.
There are hundreds of shapes that range from simple geometric lines to more complicated designs of animals, plants, and other figures.
The Nazca Lines are believed to be 2,000 years old and made by the people of the pre-Inca Nazca culture. It is believed that the tribes removed the red surface pebbles to show the lighter earth underneath and made designs of their choosing.
However, why they drew the lines remains one of the biggest mysteries globally, and there are many conspiracy theorists that float ideas about ancient astrology and alien landings. Some experts believe that the lines were probably a ritualistic communication method used to connect with Nazca deities.
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GobekliTepe
This amazing archaeological discovery was made in 1994, in a rural area of Turkey known as GobekliTepe.
This ancient discovery prompted many to question the evolution of civilization and led to new questions being asked about when humans started to first settle down into permanent towns to farm and build temples.
The site contains multiple rings of huge stone pillars with various types of animal scenes carved on them. This archaeological treasure dates all the way back to the 10th Millenium BC, and GobekliTepe is considered to be the oldest place of worship in the world.
However, evidence shows that the temple was built by tribes who were semi-nomadic hunters, most likely unaware of agriculture. Due to the discovery of GobekliTepe, archaeologists now question the exact time from when worshipping in a temple started.
Copper Scroll Treasure
Another archaeological mystery that is yet to be solved is the ancient copper scroll that was discovered at an archaeological site in Qumran, the West Bank.
Discovered in 1952, it is believed that the scroll describes a massive hidden treasure of gold and silver. However, to date, no one has been able to decipher where this treasure might be or if it even exists.
The Copper Scroll was discovered along with the Dead Sea Scrolls. The scroll dates back to over 2,000 years when the Roman Empire is believed to have controlled the Qumran settlement.
The treasure is believed to have been hidden by locals to keep it from falling into the hands of the Roman forces.
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Voynich Manuscript
One of the many unique finds of the 20th century was the Voynich Manuscript, which no one could read or decipher.
An antique bookseller discovered the manuscript in 1912. The Voynich Manuscript is a 250-page book that is written in an unknown alphabet.
The book is also illustrated with various pictures that range from zodiac signs to medicinal herbs to female nudes.
The book is currently kept at Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
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The London Hammer
Discovered in June 1936, this ancient hammer has been dated to over 400 million years ago, to the Ordovician period.
While there are some questions about the exact dating, according to those who have dated it, the hammer itself is allegedly 400 million years old.
In fact, it is so ancient that a section of the handle has actually begun to turn into coal.
However, many experts say it is a hoax… What do you think?
The Antikythera Mechanism
Known as the first mechanical computer in the world, the Antikythera Mechanism was found in a shipwreck off the island of Antikythera in Greece.
The Antikythera Mechanism was designed to calculate astronomical positions and is made up of a box with dials on the outside, and a complex assembly of gear wheels mounted on the inside.
It is dated as being made sometime between 205 BC and 87 BC. Making it thousands of years old.
Even today, archaeologists remain baffled by the Antikythera Mechanism.
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The Dropa Stones
Stone disks known as Dropa Stones were discovered in 1938 in an archaeological expedition in Baian-Kara-Ula in China. When you first look at them, the Dropa Stones do not appear to be anything special, but as more research was done on them, the disks turned out to be very similar to phonograph records.
They were nine inches in diameter and had a circle cut into their centers. There was also a prominent spiral groove on the stones.
Believed to be over 10,000 years old, the stone’s spiral turned out to be composed of tiny hieroglyphics. Upon translation, the discs allegedly told the story of spaceships that crashed into mountains.
The Baghdad Battery
This fascinating 2000-year-old battery comprises a 5-1/2 inch high clay vessel that contained a copper cylinder held in place by asphalt. Archaeologists found an oxidized iron rod inside the cylinder.
However, there is much debate on whether this device was actually used as a battery or simply a storage vessel.
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Saqqara Bird
Discovered in 1898 during an excavation of the Pa-di-Imen tomb in Saqqara, Egypt, a bird-shaped artifact made from the wood of a sycamore tree was found.
It weighs around 40 grams and has a wingspan of over seven inches. The artifact was dated back to 200 BC.
While the Saqqara Bird‘s exact function was never determined due to a lack of documentation, a lot of speculation persists even today over what its actual purpose was.
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Piri Reis Map
Written on the skin of a gazelle, the Piri Reis map was discovered in 1929. After much research, it was found to be a genuine map drawn by Piri Reis in 1513. Piri Reis was a famous admiral of the Turkish Navy.
The map depicts North Africa, Europe, the coast of Brazil, and many islands like the Canary Islands, the Azores, and even the mythical isle of Antilia. Surprisingly, the map even showed Antarctica, which has been thought to have been discovered 300 years later.
The fact that it describes Antarctica’s location and topography in great detail puts in question the chronology of several discoveries.