Asia is home to many great archaeological wonders such as the Great Wall of China and the lost city of Petra. Thanks to archaeologists and modern scientists, many of these wonders of the Old World have been well studied, which has revealed to mankind the most interesting facts about the history, technology and life of ancient civilizations. Nevertheless, even today there are riddles for which no answers have been found.
1. Earthen embankments
Cambodia's domed earthen mounds
In 2016, archaeologists discovered mysterious domed earthen mounds in some of Cambodia's ancient cities. The age of these mounds is estimated at about 1000 years. In addition to dome-shaped mounds, experts have also discovered mounds in the form of other geometric shapes, such as spirals.
For centuries, these mysterious structures have remained hidden in the deep jungles of Cambodia. They were only noticed by accident when researchers scanned the jungle with lasers from low-flying helicopters. Scientists are most puzzled by the purpose of these mysterious structures.
Experts have not yet determined what these domes are, why the ancient Khmer empire built them throughout Cambodia, or how they were used. However, the researchers argue that all these mysterious earthen mounds have in common that they were all built near Cambodian temples.
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2. Steppe geoglyphs
Geoglyph Swastika. Kazakhstan
The Nazca Lines in Peru are undoubtedly the most famous and well-studied geoglyphs in the world. However, there are other geoglyphs that are equally fascinating and impressive. Steppe geoglyphs are one good example of this. These mysterious structures were accidentally discovered by amateur archaeologist Dmitry Dey, who used Google Earth to search for pyramids.
Steppe geoglyphs are more than 200 giant rings, squares and lines of earth mounds, each about 1 meter high and 12 meters wide. They were built by an unknown civilization in the Turgai region of Northern Kazakhstan. Due to their massive size, glyphs are perfectly visible from space.
Dey, who discovered these mysterious structures, believes that they were built by a nomadic group of people called "mahanjar" who lived in the area between 7000 and 5000 BC. However, many scholars disagree with this theory, as the nomadic population did not usually stay in a certain place for a long period of time.
3. Hanging column of Lepakshi
Hanging column. India
India has many fascinating and impressive temples, of which perhaps the most intriguing is the Lepakshi Temple. This religious structure, which was built in the 16th century, has 69 ordinary pillars and one … which does not touch the ground, but hangs from the ceiling. Local guides often entertain tourists by slipping newspapers or a stick under this mysterious pillar.
The Lepakshi Temple was built by two brothers, Veeranna and Virupanna in 1583. The hanging pillar of the temple is the secret of the engineering genius of the medieval Indian builder of India, which even modern scientists with their advanced engineering knowledge and modern equipment still cannot solve.
4. Hutt Shebib
Mysterious wall in Jordan. Jordan
Hutt Shebib is a mysterious wall in Jordan 150 kilometers long. This archaeological structure has baffled specialists for decades. The wall was accidentally discovered by British diplomat Alec Kirkbride in 1948 while he was on an airplane. One of the intriguing aspects of the Hutt Shebib is its height of only 1 meter and a width of 0.5 meters.
Because of this, researchers confidently state that this mysterious wall was not built for defensive purposes. Until now, researchers do not know exactly when the wall was built, who built it and for what purpose. It is believed that the wall was built between the Nabatea period (312 - 106 BC) and the Umayyad period (661-750 AD).
5. Nitsana, Haluta and Shivta
Ancient cities of Israel. Israel
For many years, the southern ancient cities of Nitzana, Haluta and Shivta were considered the commercial and cultural centers of Israel. Then, one day, the inhabitants of these once glorious cities suddenly disappeared. Particularly intriguing is the fact that the residents “carefully closed their houses”, which clearly indicates that they intended to return, but somehow never did so.
Archaeologists are at a loss as to why the population of these ancient cities mysteriously left them. The infrastructure in these places suggests that people have spent a lot of effort building their cities and were going to stay in them forever. But something strange happened that made them leave their homes.
6. Rice terraces of Ifugao
An architectural masterpiece of the Northern Philippines.
Ifugao rice terraces are one of the most valuable cultural and archaeological values in the Philippines. This splendid structure is considered a "masterpiece of the ingenuity of the mountain people of the Northern Philippines" and a symbol of the "rich culture of the Filipinos." The age of the Ifugao rice terraces is an issue that has been intensely debated for many years.
School textbooks and national history records say they are between 2,000 and 3,000 years old, but a recent study by a Filipino archaeologist refutes this claim and suggests that Ifugao's rice terraces are 400 to 500 years old.
7. Big Circles
Great Circles of Jordan. Jordan
In addition to the Hatts Shebib, Jordan has another fascinating archaeological mystery - the Great Circles. These huge structures are made of stone walls only 1-1.5 meters high and about 400 meters in circumference. They were first discovered in the 1920s, but as recently as aerial photography became widespread, scientists began to take an interest in these obscure structures. There were no holes in the circles, so people had to jump over low stone walls to get inside.
Even today, experts still do not know when the circles were built, who built them, or why it was done. However, based on artifacts found near these structures, archaeologists have suggested that they were built at least 2,000 years ago. Other experts have suggested that the circles may even be much older.
8. Baigong pipes
Numerous pipes inside the caves. China
Scientists have discovered numerous pipes inside three caves in China's Qinghai province. Even more mysterious, the caves where the iron pipes were found are located inside a strange pyramid near Mount Baigong. The pipes vary in size - some are large (40cm) and others are smaller than a toothpick in diameter.
Scientific analysis has shown that these pipes are … 150,000 years old. The mysterious objects have puzzled scientists ever since they were discovered, as humans began living in the area where they were found only about 30,000 years ago. Adding to the mystery, experts have found that 8 percent of the pipe material defies analysis. Moreover, one Chinese researcher stated in 2007 that some of the iron pipes are highly radioactive.
9. The last refuge of St. Matthew
Issyk-Kul. Kyrgyzstan
In 2015, researchers from Tomsk State University discovered the remains of an ancient civilization in the depths of Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul Lake, which is considered the tenth largest in the world and the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Researchers have discovered 200 artifacts, one of which is a large ceramic pot that contained Armenian and Syrian scrolls.
This find is of great importance, as it can potentially solve the mystery of the final resting place of St. Matthew. Catholic traditions claim that the apostle was buried in Salerno Cathedral in Italy. On the other hand, there is a theory among followers of the Orthodox Church, which suggests that the remains of St. Matthew are in an Armenian monastery in Lake Issyk-Kul.
They believe that after the apostle died in Syria, his followers hid his body and then brought it to Kyrgyzstan to avoid Roman persecution. This theory has remained unfounded until now. The discovery of ancient artifacts with inscriptions in Armenian and Syriac in Lake Issyk-Kul suggests that there really was an Armenian monastery there.
10. Stonehenge Saudi Arabia
Al-Rajajil. Saudi Arabia
Also known as Al-Rajajil (male), Stonehenge in Saudi Arabia is a collection of mysterious man-made stone monuments erected in El Jouf. Many of the stone pillars have already fallen, while others have bent at random angles.
The creators of these structures organized them into 54 groups, each with from 2 to 19 stone pillars. At first glance, the stone monuments do not look like any meaningful picture, but when viewed from above, the stone pillars indicate the sunrise and sunset. Archaeologists know practically nothing about Al-Rajajil. It is unknown who built them and what their purpose is.