As you know, the winners write history. But sometimes history is rewritten (or at least slightly altered) by archaeologists, historians and other researchers who find previously unknown or forgotten cultures. In our review of 10 secrets, the solutions to which will allow you to take a fresh look at world history.
1. Underground Ani (Turkey)
Although the 5,000-year-old city of Ani was once the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia, it is now within the borders of Turkey. Formerly powerful and prosperous Ani, sometimes called the City of 1001 Churches or the City of Forty Gates, has been abandoned for over 300 years. This city-state had a very difficult history, it was conquered hundreds of times.
At various times, Ani was ruled by Armenians, Byzantines, Georgians, Kurds, Ottoman Turks and Russians. In 2014, researchers discovered the secrets of the "underground" Ani. It turned out that back in 1880, the famous explorer Gurdjieff and his friend Poghosyan stumbled upon a network of tunnels under the ruins, as well as the famous Mesopotamian school, which operated in the sixth and seventh centuries. As Italian archaeologists confirmed in 1915, underground Ani had a school, a monastery, stone houses, monastic cells, water channels, meditation halls and more than 500 meters of branched tunnels. At least 823 separate structures and caves in underground Ani have now been found.
2. Silla (Korea)
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Silla was originally one of three kingdoms in Korea (the other two were Goguryeo and Baekje). Silla emerged in 57 BC as a small tribal state, but over time, the kingdom occupied half of the Korean Peninsula. When centralized power emerged in Silla, the Kim royal family created a social status system called colpum or "bone ranks."
Just as in most countries it is believed that royal blood flows in the representatives of the ruling dynasty, it was believed that the Korean rulers had "sacred bones". Silla entered into a military alliance with China to conquer Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668. Since then, the unified Korean kingdom has become known as the "United Silla".
Very little is known about the United Silla, except that Buddhism began to take root in Korean culture at this time, which influenced the arts, traditions and government of the country. The kingdom's capital was Gyeongju, which still houses some of the country's most impressive Buddhist structures and royal tombs. In 935, United Silla was conquered by the Goryeo dynasty. For 992 years, Silla was the only permanent state in Korean history.
3. Trypillian culture (Eastern Europe)
In 1893, archaeological excavations were carried out in the vicinity of the village of Tripolye near Kiev, during which evidence was found of the existence of a developed culture spread over an area of 35,000 square kilometers (modern Ukraine, Romania and Moldova).
Trypillian culture has existed since 5400 BC. before 2700 BC At this time, cities with a population of up to 15,000 inhabitants and thousands of buildings were built, and many of the Trypillian settlements were located only 3-4 km from each other.
The matriarchal society worshiped the Great Goddess and believed in an afterlife. Decorated altars, pottery, metal figurines, plows, pottery, and clothing were found. Trypillians built multi-storey wooden buildings, the walls and floors of which were covered with clay, painted in white and red. As shown by the studies of the Romanians, who found up to 13 layers of settlements in one place, the Trypillians had a strange custom to burn villages every 60-80 years, often rebuilding new ones on the ashes.
4. Sican culture (Peru)
Between roughly 750 and 1375, the Sican culture flourished in the Peruvian Lambayeque Valley. Historians believe that these Sikans are descendants of the Moche culture, but no one knows exactly how this culture arose. It is believed that the Sicans split from the Wari civilization in the eighth century, creating their own culture.
The Sikan civilization used the same irrigation technology as the Moche, but they had different burial methods. Instead of burying their dead lying down like other civilizations in Peru, the Sicans buried them sitting. Their rulers were buried with gold and silver jewelry, and there is also some evidence of ritual mass human sacrifices at the funeral of rulers. The Sicans were not a warlike people; they loved ostentatious luxury. The upper class preferred to wear tunics, gloves, jewelry made of gold, and showy headdresses with feathers. This culture has left some of the most famous works of art in the Andes. In the 14th century, the Sicans were conquered by the Chimu kingdom.
5. Qijia culture (China)
In the 1920s, Swedish geologists discovered the first evidence of the Qijia civilization in the Gansu province of northwest China. In the mid-20th and early 21st centuries, other evidence was found for the existence of this culture, which existed from 2250 BC. until 1900 BC
The Qijia settlements were located along the upper reaches of the Yellow River and its various tributaries. Although people settled on the banks of the rivers, the climate in this area was arid, so the Qijia people raised suitable crops and animals such as goats, pigs and sheep. They lived in small settlements with houses that were partly underground.
In the Qijia tombs, archaeologists have found evidence of human sacrifice, although no one knows who they sacrificed or why. Families were often buried in the same grave, along with ceramics, jewelry, and weapons. Scientists have also discovered "divination bones" - artifacts used to predict the future.
6. Zrubna culture (Eastern Europe)
The Zrubna (Srubnaya) culture has existed since about 1950 BC. until 1200 BC in the region from the Ural Mountains to central Ukraine. The culture got this name because it was famous for its burial chambers, which resemble log cabins, which were usually arranged under the mounds. However, more than 95 percent of Zrubna was buried in ordinary clay graves.
Researchers found thousands of small settlements in Zrubna throughout Eastern Europe, which most often consisted of only a few houses, but each settlement was different. In addition to burials, scientists have found shards of pottery and tools made of stone or bronze. Many settlements were very poor, and the people in them raised cows, horses, pigs and sheep.
7. Dorset culture (Arctic Canada and Greenland)
This culture gets its name from Cape Dorset, where archaeologists first found evidence of its existence. The primitive Dorset people inhabited Arctic Canada and Greenland from about 800 BC. until 1300 AD No one knows exactly where this culture originated or why it ultimately disappeared, but it is known that the Dorsets were very isolated from the rest of the world. They settled on the coasts, and were engaged in fishing and hunting.
According to Inuit tradition, the people of Dorset were extremely strong but kind giants who were skilled hunters. Their tools are a mystery to modern scientists, as they were so small that they seemed unsuitable for harpooning and subsequently butchering animals. Nonetheless, the Dorsets were very adept at handling their instruments. Archaeologists cannot explain why the people of Dorset have completely isolated themselves from the rest of the world.
8. Magan culture (Oman)
About 5,000 years ago in the third millennium BC, an ancient culture known as the Magan civilization inhabited northeastern Oman. Archaeologists have discovered the settlements of Bat, Al Khutm and Al Ain, which were ancient trading centers with Mesopotamia from 3000 BC. until 2000 BC Also found were a large cemetery and massive stone structures known as "towers" that appear to be platforms for temples, houses, or some other missing structure.
Scientists have no idea how they were used. It is believed that the main occupation of the Magans was copper mining, which they actively traded with other cultures. What the Maghans were like is now an unsolvable mystery, since they did not keep records.
9. Previously unknown and unnamed culture (Peru)
In 2014, a team of archaeologists from Polish, Peruvian and Colombian universities announced a stunning discovery in the northern Atacama Desert in Peru. They found 150 mummies of an unknown culture dating from the fourth to seventh centuries AD, nearly 500 years before the existence of Tiwanaku (a civilization that predated the Incas).
Archaeologists did not know anything about this culture until last year, and burials can only provide very limited information about it. Weapons were found in the graves: clubs and several bows with quivers. The presence of bows was especially interesting as they are very rare in Peru. Archaeologists have also found pottery, tools and metal decorations. All these details indicate that this part of Peru, which was previously considered uninhabited, was home to a developed culture.
10. Hongshan (China)
Due to the finds of Japanese archaeologists, the history of Chinese civilization can be greatly rewritten. Until recently, the Xia Dynasty, which lived in the Yellow River Valley region about 4,100 years ago, was considered the progenitor of Chinese civilization. But now, historians argue whether Chinese civilization began with the Hongshan culture 6500 years ago.
The Hongshan lived in the area between Inner Mongolia and the present-day Liaoning and Hebei provinces in northeastern China. Although some of the earliest jade artifacts have been found, including the first known dragon symbol, Hongshan culture is generally ignored by historians because it is considered too far from the original source of Chinese civilization. But scientists have also discovered many Hongshan artifacts 300 km west of the original habitat of this culture. Most surprisingly, these artifacts suggested that numerous Hongshan people were fishing and hunting in the region.
The Huangshan Desert was originally thought to have originated about one million years ago, but new research estimates the desert to be only 4,000 years old. This signifies radical climate change and suggests the possibility that Hongshan lived in the present-day desert.