Ancient buildings are not in vain called portraits of the civilizations that built them. Moreover, these portraits conceal the mysteries of entire cultures. After all, these structures stood for thousands of years after their builders disappeared from the face of the earth. It is a strange burial place until recently unknown cities - all these architectural artifacts sometimes reveal ancient secrets, and sometimes even more confuse scientists.
1. Tunnels of Teotihuacan
Mexico
In 2017, a restoration project was launched to renovate one of the most famous places in Mexico - the pre-Aztec city of Teotihuacan. While working on the central square, archaeologists used non-invasive techniques to view the underground voids. An electrical impedance tomography scan revealed the unexpected - under the square there was a tunnel leading to the neighboring pyramid. Scientists are still wondering why the Pyramid of the Moon, which is a colossal feat of ancient architecture, could be connected to something else by an underground tunnel.
It is impossible to explore it yet, and one of the reasons is the depth at which the tunnel passes - 10 meters. Curiously, this tunnel is very similar to another one previously discovered in one of the temples of Teotihuacan. Given that they were built by people who lived 2,000 years ago, it is difficult to say today whether the tunnels served a practical or mystical purpose.
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2. Tungundzhi burial mounds
Australia
A number of large mounds can be seen for over 60 kilometers along Western Cape York, Australia's coastal zone. Researchers have debated the specifics of this phenomenon for years. Apparently, they did not take the local aboriginal community seriously (the Tungunja people claimed that their ancestors were buried in mounds). Unsurprisingly, a number of strange theories have emerged. For example, some have suggested that the 250 mounds were created by … birds.
In 2018, when the mounds were illuminated with radar, it turned out that the locals and archaeologists, who believed the mounds to be artificial, were right. Eleven sand structures were scanned, and many of them still contained human remains. Comparison of the interior also showed how funeral procedures changed over time. But even at different times, various things were placed in all the tombs, such as flowers, spears and corals. The age of the kurgans is still unknown, but some may be about 6,000 years old, i.e., they were created at about the same time when the Egyptians were building the pyramids.
3. Tel Edfu City Complex
Egypt
In 2018, excavations in Tel Edfu, Egypt, found a 4,000-year-old two-story complex that was one of the earliest among the many large ruins in the region. Archaeologists have identified the rooms that were used for storage, for smelting copper, for making beer and bread. However, the purpose of the other premises has not been determined. The exterior of the building was typical of ancient Egypt, but it was very skillfully constructed. Another mystery is why people abandoned the complex after it was built.
Usually such abandoned places were taken apart into bricks for other construction projects. The same complex not only retained its walls 1.5-2 meters thick, but also the entrance doors. Considering that they were made of extremely rare wood in Egypt, the doors should have been stolen a long time ago. This brewery and bakery is unlike any other that has survived from the Old Kingdom. Scientists believe that the ancient city of Edfu was an important settlement and was the starting point for expeditions to distant places.
4. Villa in Warwick
England
The English city of Warwick recently decided to move its high school. The builders who dug the foundation pit discovered a large Roman villa. Its size was 28 meters long and 14.5 meters wide. In their own words, this villa was "the size of a medieval church." Carved from local sandstone, it was probably part of a vast estate in the second century AD.
The villa itself was a very imposing building. In addition to being the largest structure in the region, it was linked to a Roman road. The discovery of the corn drying chambers showed that the building, in addition to being someone's home, was used for agriculture. Whoever lived in the villa left about 200 years later.
5. Stonehenge Builders' Camp
England
There is a military base at Larkhill within walking distance of Stonehenge. During preparations for a new army exercise in 2018, the remains of an ancient fence were discovered. It is believed that ancient trade and meetings took place in such places. Nine wooden pillars stood in exactly the same position as the dolmens in the stone ring of Stonehenge.
This revealed that Larkhill was a kind of design center for the overhaul of the famous temple, which was also once also a modest ring of wooden pillars. The original version of Stonehenge was built around 3000 BC, but archaeologists believe that the fence is six to seven centuries older. It was probably a construction camp.
6. Fort Hardnott Pass
England
During the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD), the territory of the empire included part of Britain. Several forts were built to protect this border. One fortress stands near the Hardnott Pass in Cumbria. It wasn't until 2015 that scientists noticed that its gates were perfectly aligned with the Sun at the solstices. Located in a square building, the gates face each other in two pairs.
On the longest day of the year (summer solstice), the Sun shines through the northeastern gate at sunrise, and at the southwest gate at sunset. On the shortest day (winter solstice), the process is repeated, but vice versa. Why this particular fort was built this way is unknown. It is also unclear why the four towers of the fort were built ideally in accordance with the cardinal points. One plausible idea suggests a connection between the fort and religion (similar to that found in several ancient religions).
7. Ritual hall and throne of Moche
Peru
In 2018, news of the remarkable find appeared in the press, after Peruvian archaeologists examined the Huaca Limón de Ucupe monument. They found two rooms of a mysterious culture. Long before the Incas, the Moche culture flourished in Peru. Existed for many centuries until 700 AD. this magnificent culture left behind monuments, golden artifacts and advanced agricultural technology. Any new findings may help explain the culture's mysterious disappearance, or at least provide more knowledge about it.
There was a beautiful ritual hall in one room. Unlike the geometric and mythical murals found elsewhere, the walls of the hall were decorated with realistic nautical scenes. One painting was 10 meters in size. Over 100 tables were once plated, hinting at large and varied banquets. The two stepped thrones looked at each other. The taller one was for the ruler, while the other was probably for the patron saint of the holiday. There was a podium next to the door of another room, possibly to make announcements during meetings.
8. Ominous Stone Age burial
Sweden
In 2009, a strange grave was found in Sweden that puzzled even experts. In it, 11 skulls without jaws rested on a huge limestone platform measuring 12 by 14 meters. Moreover, when this burial was created 8000 years ago, it was at the bottom of a lake. The skeleton of a newborn and animal bones were also found. Why they were "buried" under water is just one of the mysteries of the grave. Blunt trauma was found on seven turtles. Men were hit from above or in front, and women from behind.
The sacrifice was unlikely. All injuries were clearly healed and people lived for some time. The bones were also oddly laid out. Human skulls were in the middle, with two of them pierced with stakes. In the south, there were bear bones. Wild boar, deer and elk "adorned" the southeastern part. In addition, most of the bones were taken from the right side of the body. In truth, researchers cannot understand the location or meaning of the ritual.
9. Iconic sites in the mountains of Eilat
Israel
In 2015, about 100 ritual objects were discovered in the Israeli mountains of Eilat. In the Negev desert, stone circles and phallus-like structures were located in dense clusters. On an area of 80 hectares, archaeologists have counted 44 places of worship. Although little is known about what happened in these places, themes of fertility and death were especially common. About 8000 years ago, male symbols were created on these objects, such as stone phalluses, indicating "female" stone circles with a diameter of 1.5-2.5 meters.
Flat areas with a good view of the surroundings were chosen as object locations. Given the small population and the desert around, the huge number of monuments is a mystery. In addition, similar finds continue to be made in other places. During one study alone, 349 ritual sites were found outside the Eilat mountains.
10. Mayan archeology
Guatemala
A recent aerial survey of northern Guatemala added over 60,000 unknown Mayan archaeological sites to the map. Under the dense forest cover, they found pyramids, walls, city fortifications, dams and defensive structures - all within 2,100 square kilometers. The study revealed entirely new places to explore, but also immediately hinted at other aspects of civilization.
The sheer number of private homes suggested that the Maya outnumbered those living in the area today. They avoided deforestation and fell out of forests for agriculture like modern farmers, proving that large populations can thrive without deforestation. One fortress was strong enough to claim that the Maya fought serious wars. While most of the new structures are houses, the number of roads is just as amazing.