Scientists have discovered the largest pre-industrial cities in the forests of Cambodia. Ancient settlements near the Angkor Wat temple complex were found using aerial laser scanning.
Researchers previously believed that there are ancient buildings in this place, but they were hidden by an impenetrable jungle. A group of Australian scientists led by Damian Evans were able to confirm this theory through the use of modern technology.
Ancient buildings are located on the Kulen plateau, they are completely covered with forests. Geometrically flat areas are also seen among the buildings, which are believed to be gardens.
In addition, traces of complex water supply systems were found, laid using high technologies for that period of time.
Researchers believe that the ancient cities belong to the advanced Khmer civilization, which reached its peak in the XII century, and fell into decay by the XIV century.
According to scientists, their find forces us to reconsider the long-standing opinion that the Khmers migrated south under the pressure of the Thais. “But it turns out that this did not happen, we did not find any cities there that would confirm the theory of resettlement,” the scientists noted.
The Khmer Empire is one of the mysteries of history and archeology. Modern knowledge in construction cannot explain the creation of these amazing structures.
“The monuments of building art that I have seen are huge in size and, in my opinion, are a model of the highest level in comparison with any monuments that have survived since ancient times,” wrote the French traveler Henri Muo.
Promotional video:
Temple complex of Ankgor Wat in Cambodia. Photo: pixabay.com / CC0 Public Domain.
Official science and art history are also unable to provide a rational explanation for the origin of these architectural masterpieces. The stones from which the buildings are made are so smooth and so tightly fitted to each other that they have been holding without any mortar for several centuries.
With their harmony, clarity, majesty, many Khmer monuments can surpass the creations of classical Western architecture.
Mysterious Machu Picchu
Cambodia's cities are not the only lost cities on the planet that are of great interest to archaeologists and antiquity lovers. No one knows how many such places exist on earth, but they invariably arouse great interest among archaeologists and lovers of antiquities.
One of the most famous of these cities is Machu Picchu. It is located on the territory of modern Peru at an altitude of 2,450 meters above sea level.
The city was built by the extinct Inca civilization around 1440. In 1532, all of its inhabitants mysteriously disappeared. In the same year, the Spanish conquistadors invaded the territory of the Inca empire, but it is known that they could not get to Machu Picchu.
No trace of an external invasion was found. Therefore, the withdrawal of residents from the city still remains a mystery to researchers. The purpose of its construction, the number of inhabitants and even its exact name are also unknown.
The structures of Machu Picchu are made very clearly, the stones have an even shape and fit perfectly to each other. A number of scientists believe that the stone structures and megalithic walls were created by the masters of prehistoric civilizations long before the appearance of the Incas. The Incas simply found this place and settled here, completing part of the city on their own.
This version is supported by the fact that some buildings, for example, palace buildings, are made so carefully that it is safe to say that they were not built by the masters who laid the rest of the buildings.
Mysterious Petra
The mysterious and once lost city of Petra in Jordan was discovered in 1812 by the Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who was studying the East.
According to one version, the orientalist did not know about the existence of Petra, but was looking for the grave of the prophet Aaron, located in a rock on the territory of Jordan. According to another version, the traveler knew about the city and purposefully walked there, pretending to be a visiting sheikh.
Petra has a history of at least 4,000 years. It is believed that it was built by the mysterious Nabataean people with high architectural skills. The city is literally carved out of the rock.
Petra was located at the junction of caravan trade routes that once passed through the mountains and connected Europe, Asia and Africa. Due to its geographical position, the city has been successfully developing for a long time. However, after the development of sea trade, the city was out of work and began to decline.
The Nabateans themselves did not leave any written evidence about themselves. Excavations also provide little information and are difficult to carry out in the mountains. To date, scientists have explored only 15% of the territory of Petra.
Archaeologists hardly find material values during excavations in Petra. Perhaps this indicates that the Nabateans left the city slowly and in an organized manner, or perhaps it was simply plundered by numerous treasure hunters.
Many scholars believe that Peter was not built by humans. Photo: pixabay.com / CC0 Public Domain.
Many historians believe that people could not build Petra. How could the nomadic Nabataeans possess such high technologies in construction? These settlers, who arrived from southern Arabia, were exactly like the gypsy traders who roamed the rest of the world. And the highest architectural level of construction in Petra is admired even by modern scientists and engineers. In addition, the city was built and populated fairly quickly. To date, the answers to these questions have not been found.
Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde is located in southwestern Colorado, 600 meters above sea level. It includes about 4 thousand prehistoric objects that belonged to the ancient Indian Pueblo culture.
The Indians began to build settlements in the mountains in the 12th century. It is believed that the houses were built in natural niches formed by water penetrating the sandstone.
Pueblo houses were of various sizes, from one-room dwellings to multi-room apartments. Some of them had 150 rooms.
For almost 100 years, the Indians built, reconstructed and renovated their homes, and then suddenly disappeared. Towards the end of the 13th century, Mesa Verde was completely abandoned, and people never returned to it. The reason for their move still remains a mystery to historians.
According to one of the versions, the threat of invasion by unknown tribes looms over the pueblo, but archaeologists have not found any hints of war. Also, no traces of fire, floods or earthquakes were found.
According to another version, the overpopulation of the area led to the depletion of natural resources, which forced the Indians to look for other places for settlements.
The rock structures were accidentally found by two local farmers in 1888. They were looking for lost livestock and came across an ancient city.
Wandering through the empty rooms, the farmers found tools and pottery. They were so well preserved that they could be used. It turned out that for almost 600 years no human has set foot in the rock city.
Currently, Mesa Verde is visited by more than 700 thousand tourists annually.