Whenever we think that we know a lot about our ancestors and their way of living, we are found in the company of these artifacts, some of which are from several decades ago whose mysteries still remain unsolved. We should take a look at some of these artifacts found by the archeologists, that are still brainstorm for researchers as they can not figure out their mysterious nature.
Humans always have a thing for what is beyond their understanding. It's the inquisitive nature of ours, that finds them looking answers even for the questions that are way beyond our understanding.
This stone was found in 1872 by the workers who were digging a hole for a fence post. It was found in Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. Some researchers claim it as a thunderstone, while others say that the engravings upon it "commemorates a treaty between two tribes". But to this day no one's sure as to what is this stone.
The Shroud of Turin is supposed to be the burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth. It is a mystical object, but it was a mere medieval manuscript at first until a photographic negative of this piece of linen revealed something else, something mysterious. The negative showed that the lined had images of a tortured body and the man who is revealed in the negative is believed to be none other than The Jesus.
What is so mysterious in a bunch of swords with "+VLFBERHT+" engraved on it?
The mystery that still baffles the researchers is the process used in making them, which was almost discovered 8 centuries later. The secret recipe used in making these swords was adding an adequate amount of carbon in steel and removing impurities from them by heating them at 3000 degrees Fahrenheit, a process which was not discovered till then.
This statue was found in the Catskills Mountains by a group of hikers and they soon regretted the decision of taking it back with them. The statue consisted of nails in its eyes and noose around its neck. The hikers who took it back with them were haunted by it. And it was soon reported by the hikers that it started moving from one place to another on its own. It is still a mystery as to where this statue came from.
This tablet was one of the most intriguing artifacts that have been recovered from sites in Iraq. It lists the names of the kings of Sumer. Kingship is seen in the tablet as being handed down by God. The most baffling thing is the period of the reigns of the kings which stretch up to thousands of years.
The Sherlock Holmes inside of you might deduce it to be some mysterious compass. You aren't entirely wrong. Found in a shipwreck off the Greek Island of Antikythera, this 2000 years old artifact is often proclaimed as the world's first scientific calculator. It has dozens of gears which can give you the exact position of almost everything in our solar system, all you have to do is input the date in it.
This artifact was found in 1799 while sifting through the sand by a French Soldier. The Rosetta Stone is a part of a larger stone and inscribed on it was a decree by King Ptolemy V issued by him around 200 BC in the following 3 languages - Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Ancient Greek and Demotic Script. This has been a major source for the modern understanding of Egyptian Hieroglyphs.
Do you watch what is beneath your feet when you walk on a road?
You better start doing the same because what happened in Nazca Desert in Southen Peru was an example of the same negligence. These lines were beneath the feet of the archeologists, but they still weren't able to locate it until the early 1900's because you won't be able to spot them until you're just above them. There have been many explanations for the same, but there is no concrete explanation for the same.
15000 of these sculptures were found in Japan and their purpose still remains unknown. These humanoid resemble dogs and some of them seemed like they had been broken on purpose. They are touted to have been used in some of the rituals to purify people and even cure their illness. Some of these artifacts were found in burials and it is believed that they had separate use which is not deciphered to date.
One of the most important archeological sites in Iraq is the Al'Ubaid archeological site, known for its mysterious findings. One of the most common and mysterious artifacts is the Ubaid Lizardman. It's a humanoid with faces resembling that of lizards. These artifacts are around 7000 years old and no one is still able to figure out why did they hold such high importance in Ubaidian people's life.
Thousands of miles away of the Chilean coast in the South Pacific lies the "Easter Islands". This island is described as one of the most isolated places in the world. The real thing that is astonishing about these islands is not how did people manage to reach it, but how were they able to build such huge stone faces on those islands.
What is so mysterious about these bunch of rocks?
Found in 1944 in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, these pillars are supposed to be more than 9000 years old. It is believed to be a social or ritual site with pictures of animals and other such things engraved on it. No one to date knows exactly where these pillars came and what were they used as.
No, it's not a toy. This artifact which was found in Colombia dates back to 1000 B.C.- 1000 A.D. The mystery about this artifact is the aerodynamical accuracy of this artifact. German Aeronautical Engineers in 1944 proved by creating their large-scaled radio controlled models that these models were aerodynamically accurate, but how is it possible when the Wright Brothers invented the first flight in 1903!
The shocking thing about this citadel is its architecture. Built before the 13th century this wall, is all stones and no mortar. One of the most intriguing facts about this UNESCO World Heritage Site is, built with no mortar there is no space to even slide a needle between them. Moreover, this site is at an altitude of 3701 meters no one knows who built this site.
Ed Leedskalnin is supposed to be the architect who carved these corals which weigh 1100 tons into a beautiful castle-like monument for his love from whom he was separated. The astonishing thing about this place is that nobody is able to decipher is how a 5 feet tall man was able to carve such huge and heavy corals. People believe that it was not only the architecture but black magic that helped him do such an impossible task.
The thing that is so intriguing is "The Curse" that is related to this island. It is said that 7 men will die in the search of treasure before anyone is able to find it. 6 men have died to date in the find of the treasure that is supposed to be there. Although there have been many unearthed artifacts to date but the treasure that attracts the most number of excavators has not been found to date.
What is the first thought that pops into your head after seeing the image of this artifact? Okay, I know it's written in the image itself, but the first impression this artifact gave was of a piece of medieval pottery. But when a German Museum curator published a paper claiming that these could be used as batteries, he wasn't believed at first, but later the Mythbusters also got on board with there being a possibility.
How could we talk about mysterious artifacts and not include an ancient map in the discussion? in 1513, Piri Ries was a popular admiral in the Turkish Navy. The map has a detailed and accurate Western Coast of Africa, the Eastern Coast of South America and the Northern Coast of Antartica. The thing that's baffling the researchers is how was Piri Ries able to draw such an accurate map of Antartica when it was discovered 300 years later!
What's so extraordinary and mysterious about a manuscript which was written at the end of the 15-16 century which is full of botanical and scientific drawings?
The thing that has been mystical about this manuscript is that the researchers have not been able to decipher to date. The writings in the manuscript have been described as all sorts of magical and scientific but no one has been able to fully explain the writings in this manuscript.
In July of 1944, Waldemar Julsrud found around 33000 of these figurines in Acambaro, Mexico. These figures represent dinosaur and some even argue that they are some sort of an anomaly. These figures that have been found actually have no proof of being an ancient artifact and therefore are often categorized as myths and hoax.
Popularly known for the Trojan War, and the legends related to it Troy has been a city that was supposed to be a city existing only in stories. But in an excavation in northwest Anatolia, in Turkey from 1965-1968 an English archeologist Frank Calvert and a German archeologist and a wealthy businessman Heinrich Schliemann, found a city which has been generally agreed to be Troy.
This isn't the Terracotta Army as shown in Mummy 3. They cannot come to life, at least they have not until now.
A farmer found an army of clay in March 1974. The clay army of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. It includes around 10,000 soldiers, chariots and horses combined. The archeologists believe that this clay army was buried with the emperor so that it could help him in his next life.
When in 1933 an archeologist was conducting an excavation underneath a Roman/Persian battlefield, he stumbled across something that he had no idea could exist. The Persians when they came across the fact that Romans were digging a tunnel beneath them, came up with a counter-tunnel of their own and filled them with burning sulfur and bitumen, which turns into acid in your lungs when you inhale it.
These scrolls were found near the Dead Sea in the 1950s are ancient Jewish Religious manuscripts. These scrolls are believed to be biblical in nature. Researchers have come on the consensus that these scrolls are dated from 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. These scrolls are found to be in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic.
This city consists of several artificial islands and the islands are linked to each other using a canal. But the fact that is that it is not clear to many people is how these were transported and even placed at such perfect places. Considering the technology of today also it would be a task that wouldn't be easy to perform but at a time when there was almost negligible technology, it is a task that seems impossible.
Imagine you're walking your dog and suddenly you stumble across a pot full of gold coins.
This ecstatic feeling was experienced by a couple in 2013. This still remains the largest buried coin discovery in the U.S. and its face value amounts to $27980. The coins are in such an unspoiled condition that it looks like these coins never even came into circulation and no one knows its owner or the person who buried them.
The stones were found by an archeological professor Cho Pu Tei while carrying an expedition. The stones are believed to be 12000 years old. Tsum Um Nui came to the conclusion that the discs hade hieroglyphs that were visible only under a microscope and he claimed that it read that a spacecraft carrying Dropa people crash-landed on Earth and being unable to fix the spacecraft adapted to the living style of Earth.
This artifact is biblical in nature and holds very high importance as far the artifacts are concerned because it is believed that this limestone box held the bones of James the alleged brother of Jesus. However, there is no proof relating to its authenticity neither is there any proof regarding forgery for the same.
In 1936 a couple found a rock and with wood sticking out from it. They both took it home and started to open using a hammer and a chisel and found a hammer of unusual manner. When archeologists studied the hammer they came to the conclusion that the hammer was more than 400 million years old. And the shocking thing with the hammer was that it was made with more than 96% pure iron, which is quite a formidable task considering there was no technology like nowadays.
While exploring the sewers underneath a Roman babyhouse in Israel, the archeologists came across the dark side of our ancestors. The research time found a vast number of infants' bones and while examining those bones Professor Smith came to the conclusion that the infants very in good health and had no disease.
So what is the mystery behind this mass baby grave?
This question remains unanswered yet.
Almost 3 decades ago, archeologists in a cave in Mount Owen, Newzealand came across a scary and an unexpected thing. The archeologists came stumbled across a mummified remain of an Upland Moa claw. The most shocking thing is that the Moas now have been extinct for centuries.
If vampires ever existed, they were surely not like anything shown in Twilight.
This is what one can deduce from the artifact that was unearthed in Venice. You might have seen in the movies that the best way to kill a vampire is to stab it in the heart, but why take such a risk? Just stuff a brick in its face and it won't be able to suck your blood. At least that is what seems like the people in Venice did.
A mummy was found by Gaston Masparo in 1886, which had its mouth open and it seemed like it was screaming at the time it was buried. This mummy wasn't covered in linen-like the rest of the mummies rather it was covered in sheepskin. The mummy is likely to be of Prince Pentewere who killed his father, and he received this treatment for the same.
Found on April 26, 1952, this mummified body was found submerged in bogs. The researchers think that this person was killed as a ritualistic human sacrifice. But there is no such evidence to support their theory. Many other archeologists believe that this man was murdered and not sacrificed. But there is no evidence to prove that either.
During the excavation in a prehistoric dry lake bed in Motala, Sweden archeologists stumbled across a number of skulls that are supposed to be at least 8000 years old. Inserted in some of the skulls were a wooden staff and the others showed that they had also been treated the same way.
In 2009 in Dorset, England archeologists discovered a total of 51 skulls and 54 skeletons. These skeletons were touted to be of the Scavandain Viking Warriors. These skeletons made people find out how and why were these people were made to perish in such a barbaric manner. No one is still sure what happened to those people, but research shows that the beheadings are very clean and are supposed to be done from the front rather than back.
Sacrificial festivals are one of the things that the Aztec peoples were known for. Around 2004 this theory was confirmed by a discovery made in the Mexico city where it is believed that the Aztec people resided. In Aztecs, it was believed that the sacrifice is necessary to keep the Gods happy and not let them unleash their fury on the humans.
Found near the town of Olancha, California in 1961 is an artifact that is claimed by the discoverers to be a spark plug. The ones who found it claims it to be encased in a rock or lump of hard clay. Spark Plugs were introduced in the 19th century and examiners say it would be scientific and a historical anomaly if it was encased in a rock that is touted to be 500,000 years old.
On 1st December 1948, an unidentified dead man wound up on the Somerton Beach. To date, no one is able to trace his identity and no one has a clear explanation as to how that guy wound up on that beach that day. However, the real mystery started when a piece of paper was found in his pocket with 'Tamam Shud' written on it which translates to "It is ended".
A grave robber in 1988 found a finger that is about 38 centimeters in length. While the scientists suggest that it is impossible that something like this could exist, there are photographs and it has been X-rayed and hence there is no doubt about its authenticity. But does that mean giants existed?
You read it right. It's Mjöllnir and you need not be worthy to lift this hammer.
This artifact belongs to the 10th century and is related to Norse Mythology. According to Norse Mythology, the hammer belongs to the Norse God Thor, who is related to lightning and thunder, and you probably know a lot about him already.
Caral was a chief city that represents one of the oldest civilizations in America. While excavation archeologists found a series of knotted strings known as Quipu, these strings were colorful strings spun together which was used to record things like Tax Collection, Census, and many other things.
This artifact was found in Italy in 2013 by archeologists and this artifact is claimed to be 2400 years old and it is concluded by the archeologists that this was a baby's bottle in a pig like structure and which was also used as a toy by the kids. It is a vessel with a narrow mouth to pour the liquid.
This artifact is 3600 years old was not believed to be an artifact and was thought of as an archeology forgery until it was scientifically proven that it is an authentic artifact and it was preserved from then. The symbols on the disc are deduced to be sun and the moon, the two arcs are at an angle of 82° from one another, which correctly indicates the angle between the sunset position at summer and midwinter at the latitude of the Mittelberg (51°N).
Found by the pilots in the 20th century in Israel these low stone walls baffled the scientist as they spread to a huge distance. This site was named on the basis of its appearance from an aerial view. Further, it was made clear that it was used to lure in and slaughter animals.
This artifact is made up of bronze and gold and is said to belong to the Nordic Bronze Age which lasted from 1700- 500 B.C. But the exact age of this artifact is still what baffles the archeologists. Some say that this chariot is a ritualistic object while others say that this chariot might have been used as a calendar.
The world's oldest musical instrument dates back to 43000-60000 years old and is made from the femur of a cave bear. This was found in a cave in Slovenia in 1995. There have been different opinions as to what this artifact actually is and some researchers reject the claim that it's a musical instrument, but the majority believe that it is indeed a musical instrument.
More than 200 figurines of statuettes of women have been found mostly in Europe, but there have been cases when these statuettes have been found as far as Siberia. These statuettes have been collectively known as the Venus Figurines. The archeologists say that these figurines have been inspired by Venus, the ancient goddess of love.
William Cunnington was a British archeologist found in a 4000 years old burrow jewelry, a gold lozenge that fastened his cloak, and an intricately decorated dagger. The procedure in making this jewelry was so fine and that too without the technologies we have today, it is one of the marvels of the medieval era.
Tutankhamun was an Egyptian Pharoah who ruled during 1332-1323 B.C. The pharaoh died at a very young age of 19. But it was after his death that he received most of the fame. There is said to be a curse related to the mummy of a pharaoh and one who disturbs it dies, and this is exactly what happened with archeologist Lord Carnarvon soon after he found the tomb of Tutankhamun.