TOP-7 mysteries in the field of archeology

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Our world is full of mysteries. Over time, many secrets of history are revealed to scientists, but there are also those that defy any scientific explanation and only produce many mystical stories around them.

We propose to learn about the seven most intriguing finds of archaeologists, the secrets of which are still beyond the control of modern man.

Lost City of Atlantis

The first mention of Atlantis dates back to 360 BC. The city was described by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato in the dialogue "Critias". Plato writes that this mysterious city belonged to a great maritime power before it sank to the bottom of the sea over 10,000 years ago in a catastrophic event.

Since then, if you believe all the statements about this city, then Atlantis was found in the Bahamas, and off the coast of Greece, and not far from Cuba and even in Japan!

However, archaeologists are still debating the actual existence of the island, as well as its most likely location (if it existed at all). But even without definitive proof, Atlantis continues to stir the imagination.

Tomb of cleopatra

Cleopatra VII was the last queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty who ruled Egypt between 305 and 30 BC. Legends are still made about her, and her beauty and intelligence are often praised in films. Historians know a lot about this queen, but one fact about Cleopatra is still shrouded in mystery - the place of her burial.

Cleopatra and Mark Antony committed suicide after their former ally and future emperor of Rome, Octavian Augustus, defeated Antony's fleet at the naval battle at Cape Actium in 31 BC. The beloved were buried together, but where exactly their tomb is located remains a mystery. If anyone ever finds a lovers' grave, there is a chance it might be empty, as looting of tombs was common in ancient times.

Costa Rican stone balls

Giant stone spheres, some of which date back to 600 AD, are considered monuments to the pre-Columbian civilization. Most are made from gabbro, a rock that forms from molten magma.

Many speculate that these mysterious orbs were used for astronomical purposes, while others believe they could point the way to important places. The truth is, this is all guesswork. The Chibcha people who once inhabited Costa Rica and other parts of Central America disappeared after the Spanish conquest, and the purpose of the spheres disappeared with them.

Desert "kites"

Low stone walls crossing the deserts of Israel, Egypt and Jordan have puzzled archaeologists since their discovery by pilots in the early 20th century.

The 64-kilometer chain of lines, nicknamed by scientists "kite", dates back to 300 BC. Its purpose has so far not been understood, but recent research suggests that the purpose of these walls was to "direct" wild animals into a small pit where they could be easily killed.

Shroud of Turin

Perhaps no archaeological discovery is more discussed than the mysterious Shroud of Turin, which many consider the burial canvas of Jesus Christ. Traces of blood are visible on a long piece of fabric, as well as a darkened imprint of a human body.

It was first documented by the Catholic Church in France in 1353, but the legend itself dates back to the 30s of our era. According to the stories, the shroud was transported from Judea (now southern Palestine) to Edessa (Turkey) and then to Constantinople (now Istanbul). When the crusaders sacked Constantinople in 1204, the fabric was transferred to Athens, where it was allegedly kept until 1225.

Scientists received this fabric for research only in the 1980s. Using radiocarbon dating, they established that the alleged burial tissue of Jesus was in fact created between 1260 and 1390 AD. In other words, scholars have determined that the shroud is most likely a medieval forgery. However, critics of this study argue that scientists dated newer pieces of fabric that were sewn together centuries after Jesus' death.

Copper scroll

One of the most mysterious finds is undoubtedly an ancient copper scroll discovered in 1952 off the shores of the Dead Sea. It is believed that his text tells about an incredible treasure of gold and silver.

The copper scroll was found alongside other writings that were written on parchment and dates from AD 50-100. Researchers believe that the scroll could describe a treasure that was hidden by the locals in order to keep the treasure from the Roman troops during the frequent uprisings in the area against the Roman Empire.

Voynich manuscript

One of the most talked about books of the 20th century was an ancient text that no one could read. The Voynich manuscript was discovered by an antique bookseller in 1912, it is a 250-page book, written in an unknown alphabet and with quite understandable illustrations (feminine nature, plants), and the publication dates back to 600 years.

The book is now housed in the Yale University Rare Manuscript Library. While some scholars believe that the manuscript is just a Renaissance hoax, there are specialists who think that the text of the book is written in an unknown language. Others believe that the texts contain some code that has yet to be "cracked".