Most people believe that the history of the United States began in 1776, but this assumption is far from the truth. In fact, North American history goes back thousands of years. Who inhabited the territory of the United States a long time ago? What did these people leave behind? This article presents some of the most interesting and mysterious archaeological finds ever discovered in the United States.
1. Mysterious stone discovered near Lake Winnipesaukee
In 1872, near Lake Winnipesaukee (New Hampshire), archaeologists discovered a mysterious smooth stone of a dark color, which was shaped like an egg. Its height was about 10 centimeters and its width was 6.4 centimeters. Incomprehensible symbols were carved on the surface of the stone, as well as images of a face, corn cobs and a wigwam. Archaeologists are extremely interested in the origin of the stone. Who was it made by? For what purpose? According to one theory, the stone may have been created by Native Americans to commemorate the signing of a peace treaty between the two tribes. Supporters of other versions believe that the stone is of Celtic or Inuit origin. The mystery became more complicated when the researchers examined two holes in the stone, one at the top and one at the bottom. They were made with incredible precisionwhat pre-modern instruments were hardly capable of. This led scientists to believe that the stone could be an elaborate fake. And some people are completely convinced that it was created by supernatural forces.
2. Petroglyphs discovered in an Indian cave
In the 19th century, a small cave was found in Harrison County, West Virginia, with intricate prehistoric petroglyphs painted on the walls. They depicted a range of animals, including rattlesnakes and fish. The Indian Cave is incredibly well preserved; according to archaeologists, time has spared her and left "practically unchanged."
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The curious petroglyphs found on the walls of the cave are unique because they were created using the color red. It appears in a number of images. Archaeologists have established that the petroglyphs were left behind by early Native Americans, but they cannot determine which people they belonged to. The remains of pottery found in the cave indicate that it was inhabited between the years 500 and 1675. As for the petroglyphs, the purpose of their creation remains a mystery to scientists.
3. American Stonehenge
Outside Salem, New Hampshire, lie the ruins of what some scholars believe was once an ancient settlement. Today this place is known as American Stonehenge. Here you can find numerous man-made dolmens, walls and other stone structures.
American Stonehenge has generated a lot of disputes between historians and archaeologists related to its origin and purpose. According to the most widespread theory, it was built by Native Americans about 2,500 years ago and has been used for centuries as a site for religious ceremonies. Proponents of another, less popular theory argue that the discovered stone structures were created by Irish monks around 1000 AD.
4. Mounds of Turn Point
Louisiana is home to a complex of ancient mounds that is today known as Power Point. It was created by Native Americans between 1700 and 1100 BC. What makes Power Point unique is that it is the only known example of large complexes abandoned by the hunter-gatherer society. Nobody knows exactly what purpose Power Point served. According to some archaeologists, it was used as a venue for various ceremonies and celebrations. However, other scholars argue that Power Point was a permanent settlement. Again, we do not know what kind of culture built it, since it is impossible to judge anything by the number of artifacts found by archaeologists.
5. Upton dolmen
Scattered throughout New England are hundreds of mysterious dolmens and stone structures. There are many assumptions as to who created these structures. Some believe that these were Native Americans, others were early settlers, and still others were Scandinavians or Irish monks. One of the most impressive man-made dolmens is in Upton, Massachusetts. The Upton Dolmen is built on a hill; it has a long corridor that leads to a domed room. The Upton Dolmen indicates that those who created it had a fundamental knowledge of astronomy and masonry. On the summer solstice, the sun's rays fall directly on the entrance to the dolmen, making the inner dome ideally illuminated. In this regard, some scholars believe that the Upton dolmen was not built by settlers,but by ancient people. There are also archaeologists who attribute the construction of the dolmen to Irish monks. In their opinion, the dolmen bears a striking resemblance to structures found in Ireland around the 8th century AD.
6. Serpent Mound (Serpent Mound)
Serpent Mound is an ancient mound discovered in Ohio. It is a mound in the form of a huge snake. Archaeologists have not been able to find out when, who and for what purpose built it. The results of radiocarbon analysis showed that the mound was most likely created in 1000 AD. However, other researchers suggest that it is more than 2,000 years old.
There are a number of theories about the purpose for which the mound was used. According to some archaeologists, it served as a site for religious ceremonies and possibly even sacrifices. Other scholars believe that the mound was used as an astronomical calendar.
7. Petroglyphs of Lake Winnemucca
Not far from the dried-up Lake Winnemucca in Nevada, archaeologists have discovered what they believe to be the oldest petroglyphs in North America. They were left on several huge boulders. On some of them, images of a round shape prevail, on others - diamond-like. These petroglyphs are unique for two reasons. First, there are not so many of them compared to other petroglyphs found throughout the country. Secondly, they are at least 10 thousand years old. There are still many questions regarding the origin and purpose of the petroglyphs of Lake Winnemucca. They were undoubtedly created by the early Native Americans, but it is not known to which people they belonged.
8. Cahokia
Cahokia was the largest city in pre-Columbian North America, with a population of about 15,000. It was founded in the middle of the fertile Mississippi Valley, where the city of St. Louis is now. Cahokia lasted from about 700 to 1300 AD. Apparently, it was a complex urban society with a ruling class and a unique culture. Its inhabitants were engaged in farming, fought with other tribes and, apparently, practiced sacrificial rites. And then they disappeared without a trace. Historians have long been hotly debating what happened to them, but they still have not come to a consensus. One theory is that deforestation, climate change, disease and fear of invasion may have caused Cahokia's decline.
9. Coin found in Maine
While excavating a Native American settlement in Maine in 1957, archaeologists discovered a small coin of unknown origin. At first, scientists thought it was a 12th century British penny. However, a year later, they carried out a thorough analysis of the find and established that the coin was of Scandinavian origin. Experts from the University of Oslo have stated that the coin was most likely issued between 1065 and 1080. She is the only pre-Columbian Scandinavian artifact found in the United States. But how could an ancient coin end up on the Maine coast? Some scholars believe it is evidence of contact between early Scandinavian settlements in Newfoundland and Native Americans.
10. Dayton Rock
Dayton Rock is a forty-ton stone that was found in the Taunton River (Berkeley, Massachusetts) in 1690. It is known for its mysterious, unique petroglyphs. For many years, scientists have been trying to find an answer to the question of who could have created the mysterious inscriptions on Dayton Rock. According to one popular theory, the petroglyphs are of Scandinavian origin. However, some archaeologists believe that they were abandoned by Native Americans, as many Indians once lived in the area where Dayton Rock was discovered.
