There are some amazing things found on this planet we call our home. While some have found a place in history, others remain a complete mystery! Check out 12 of the most incredible things that archaeologists have unearthed over the years.
12. The Mount Owen Moa
The Upland Moa, a flightless bird, became extinct over 500 years ago. Researchers were shocked when they found a well-preserved claw in the caves of Mount Owen in New Zealand, dating back 3,000 years.
11. The Longyou Grottoes
These are man-made caves, carved from silt stone. Found in China, they date back before the Qin Dynasty (212 BCE). There is no record of them.
10. The Gate of the Sun
Standing tall at 13,000 feet, the Gate of the Sun in Bolivia is the area where humans were thought to originate from. The engravings on the gate are said to hold astrological and astronomical importance.
9. L’Anse aux Meadows
This 1,000 year old site in Newfoundland, Canada has proven that Vikings made their way to North America, way before Columbus even thought about sailing to India!
8. Gobekli Tepe
Gobekli Tepe was found atop a mountain ridge in Turkey. The temple was built even before the city around it.
7. The Voynich Manuscript
Nobody is sure what language the Voynich manuscript is written in. In 2014, two different groups claimed to have solved the puzzle. But both had contradictory views. One believed it was drafted in an extinct Mexican dialect while the other thought it was a coded Asian language.
6. Yonaguni Monument
Researchers still debate on whether this was a result of God or man. It is located off the coast of Yonaguni, Japan and has flat edges as well as 90 degree angles.
5. Stone Age Tunnels
This is a man-made network of tunnels from the Stone Age. Nobody knows how man was able to build such an extensive system at that time.
4. Costa Rica’s Stone Spheres
Hundreds of granodiorite spheres range from 3 – 4 centimeters to 3 meters. Nobody knows why they were created.
3. Unfinished Obelisk
This obelisk was carved directly from bedrock. After cracks appeared in the granite, it was abandoned.
This site in Sindh, Pakistan is one of the earliest major urban settlements. The Mohenjo-daro has elements of city planning, social organisation and a draining system. About 40,000 people live in the area.
What looks like a real life game of Jenga is actually a set of stacked stones and boulders in Peru. They fit so well together that it’s impossible to fit anything between the stones!