It seems that in the 21st century there are few unsolved mysteries left in the world. But archaeologists still manage to find the oldest structures on our planet, which are not hundreds, but thousands of years old. Historians still cannot predict the origin of these finds.
It remains a mystery how the ancient people could create such technologically complex structures. They used materials unusual for that time, came up with fanciful architectural forms and left mysterious inscriptions on their buildings. What secrets do these ancient structures keep?
The complex of burial structures of the Bru-na-Boyne Valley in Ireland
Archaeologists have discovered this large-scale burial complex just 40 km from Dublin, the capital of Ireland. It consists of 40 separate necropolises, and its approximate area is 10 km2. But scientists believe that in fact the complex is much larger. The approximate age of the most ancient necropolis is about 5 thousand years. The complex is considered one of the oldest landmarks in the world.
Historians believe that this is not only the burial place of the most ancient people, but also a huge temple. His altar is at the end of a 19 meter long corridor. It is noteworthy that it is illuminated by the sun's rays only once a year - on the day of the winter solstice. Scientists have not yet been able to unravel all the secrets of the complex. Large-scale excavations are still carried out here annually.
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"Valley of jugs" in the suburbs of Laos
This unique location was found near the city of Phonsavan in Laos. On the desert territory, there are several dozen stone structures that resemble jugs in their shape. Their size varies from 20-30 cm to 3.5 m. The weight of the largest blocks is 6 tons. More than 500 stone stupas were found on the territory of the Valley of Pitchers. Scientists still cannot explain their origin. But they determined their age - ancient people created them about 2500 years ago.
The unsolved mystery of the Valley of the Pitchers has given rise to many legends. Locals believe that stone stupas were created by the giants who inhabited these lands. Scientists suggest that the "jugs" were burial structures. In them, ancient people cremated their deceased relatives. It is noteworthy that there have never been any deposits of stone near Phonsavan. Most likely, the stupas were brought here from afar.
Carved columns of ancient temples in the city of Shravanabelagola (India)
Shravanabelagola is a city that is considered the religious center of the Jain movement. A huge number of temple complexes have been built on its territory, which are united by one exceptional feature - carved columns.
Historians believe they were created by craftsmen who lived in the city 1,500 years ago. Their technique was unique. They knew how to carve the same giant columns of bizarre shapes out of huge boulders. None of the known civilizations in the world possessed such a technique.
Thousands of travelers come to Shravanabelagola every year to see the unique carved columns with their own eyes. Scientists still cannot understand how the ancient masters managed to create such thin and smooth sections. Today no one can create a similar column by hand.
Fairy Houses in Sardinia
Italy is a country that donated more than 80% of cultural and historical monuments to humanity. Most of them, of course, came from the heyday of the Roman Empire. But there are also monuments of the most ancient civilizations. Of particular interest to archaeologists are stone structures on the island of Sardinia, called "Fairy Houses". Scientists cannot understand why these small houses with tiny doors and windows were created. They are not suitable for human habitation, because a person cannot fit there. In Sardinia, about 2.8 thousand such structures have been found. Their approximate age ranges from 4 to 6 thousand years.
Miniature size is not the only mystery that scientists cannot solve. Archaeologists do not know how ancient people managed to cut houses in huge boulders or sheer cliffs. On their walls, craftsmen left mysterious inscriptions in an unknown language. It is noteworthy that they have never been repeated. Today Fairy Houses are very popular with tourists. Travelers bring sweets with them to leave them at the miniature structures. This is believed to bring them good luck.
"Cities of the Gods" in India, Japan, Egypt and Peru
The ancient “Cities of the Gods” is one of the most mysterious secrets of mankind. They are located in different parts of our planet. Remains of these cities have been found in Peru, India, Japan and Egypt. They are united by the whimsical masonry of the walls, the analogues of which have not yet been found in the world. Its technological complexity is striking. Even the ancient Greeks could not lay out stones as smoothly as the inhabitants of the "Cities of the Gods" did. In the photo above, you can see that the difference was significant. Such masonry is called Inca polygonal masonry. With its help, huge fortifications and entire temple complexes were created. The stones were simply laid on top of each other, without using a solution to hold them together.
It is unclear how the ancient people learned how to handle large stones and make their surface so smooth. Scientists cannot understand why the secret of polygonal masonry was lost. Not a single civilization was later able to recreate it. Archaeologists are also surprised by the fact that masonry of the same age was found in distant parts of the world. Because of this, conspiracy theories are popular. For example, some believe that the buildings of the "Cities of the Gods" were created by alien nano-robots.
An unsolved mystery attracts many tourists
There is another version: the buildings were created from cooling lava, from which ancient people sculpted huge stones, which then solidified.
The unsolved mystery of the "Cities of the Gods" attracts a huge number of tourists to them. They want to see firsthand the ancient structures that stood for thousands of years and withstood all natural and man-made disasters. Scientists believe that the Inca polygonal masonry is many times more complicated than the technology with which the famous Egyptian pyramids were built.
Settlement of Skara Bray in Scotland
Archaeologists call the settlement of Skara Bray "Scottish Pompeii". Presumably it was created in 3180 BC.
For a long time the settlement was hidden from people, so it was not plundered. Skara Bray consists of 8 megalithic objects, which are combined into separate blocks. Scientists believe it is the largest ancient settlement found in Europe.
Tomb of Gavrinis in France
In the northwest of France, near Brittany, in the Gulf of Morbihan, there is the uninhabited island of Gavrini. Its main attraction is the megalithic mausoleum, impressive in size. Archaeologists believe that it was created in the 5th millennium BC. At that time, the land on which the mausoleum was built was not yet an island. It separated from the land only after a few centuries. It is noteworthy that the tomb was built according to the corridor type. Usually such mausoleums were erected far from the water. As a rule, they were built on high hills or in the mountains.
Inside the tomb, archaeologists were able to discover symbols and patterns that ancient people carved from stone. Scientists have already been able to decipher some of them. But in the depths of the tomb, there are slabs with patterns that cannot yet be translated. Today, the mausoleum of Gavrinis is considered the most significant monument of megalithic art in all of Europe.