Archaeologists are a strange nation. They are ready to leave for months by God the forgotten corners of our planet to delve deeply into the ground, staring at any rusty nuts and fragments of bottles, which, in their opinion, at least remotely resemble artifacts ancient eras.
I must say, among the garbage of our time, scientists sometimes find really curious objects, but most often such finds raise more questions than answers. To understand the indestructible the passion of archaeologists for the endless race for the past of mankind, you must go to the excavations yourself and work for long hours a shovel hoping to make an archaeological sensation … Either read this collection – in it you will find ten secrets of modern archeology, who are still waiting for their Shlimans and Champollions.
1. “The Candelabrum of Paracas”
A photo from open sources
Many of you have probably heard of the Nazca geoglyphs – huge cave paintings located in southern Peru, however few who knows that in the same Nazca desert, about 200 km from geoglyphs, there is another mysterious object, above the purpose of which for many years archaeologists have been racking their brains.
The “Paracas Candelabrum” (or “Andean Candelabrum”) has huge dimensions: 128 m long and 74 wide, and the thickness of the lines reaches 4 m. Despite the fact that it is located near the Nazca lines, experts are convinced that the creators of geoglyphs do not have to him no relation. Found during excavations in the Candelabra area artifacts suggest that the image was created approximately in the year 200 BC, according to some sources, the Nazca geoglyphs appeared 600-800 years later. Similarity Techniques for Images hints that Nazca culture is the successor to culture Paracas, which owns the “Candelabrum”.
Scientists more or less understand when the “Andean Candelabrum” appeared and who created it, but the goals of ancient artists still remain obscure. Some archaeologists are convinced that the object represents a shrine to the creator god Viracochi, worshiped by the people here tribes, others believe that the image served as a guide for ancient seafarers – huge “candelabrum” carved on a slope hill, thanks to which it is clearly visible from the ocean, with distances of about 20 km.
2. “Uffington White Horse”
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Stonehenge is not the only archaeological site good old England’s attraction though when it comes goes about the antiquities of Misty Albion, always always first remember it.
Over a giant stylized horse figure located near Uffington, on the territory of modern county Oxfordshire, ancient sculptors had to work hard – lines the figures are deep trenches filled chopped chalk, while the image length reaches 115 m. Imagine what efforts the creators of the “Horse” worth decorating hill with a similar installation, because they didn’t have excavators, bulldozers and other technical devices that can boast of modern builders.
The drawing is similar to the images of horses found on coins. Bronze Age, next to it, archaeologists discovered the burial place, presumably appearing in the Neolithic era. Scientists can’t yet come to a consensus about the time of the creation of the White Horse – many of them claim that for the object of the Bronze Age, the geoglyph is too well preserved, however others indicate that local residents from ancient times carefully monitor the state of the “Horse” and every few years “update” the picture – this explains it almost pristine look.
3. “Book of the Zagreb Mummy”
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The Zagreb Linen Book is known as the longest text on Etruscan from extant written monuments of this great culture. The Etruscan dialect had a noticeable influence on the formation of Latin, but unfortunately related Etruscan languages do not currently exist, in addition to so few documents of that era have reached us that they can completely decipher the text of the “Book” is not possible – scientists succeeded translate only some of its fragments.
From the currently known content of the Book of Zagreb mummies “(another name for the artifact) we can conclude that the document is a ritual calendar describing subtleties of the Etruscan religious traditions.
The book is dated to the 3rd century BC, therefore its very fact existence is unique – manuscripts made of fabric, Merciless Time, as a rule, destroys much earlier. One of the reasons why the monument of Etruscan culture is now available for study, it is believed that the material of the book was used to wraps of one of the Egyptian mummies. “Zagreb Linen Book” was discovered on a mummy in a tomb near Alexandria in the middle | 19th century, however, scientists for a long time did not pay it attention, believing that the mysterious writing on the fabric is made by hand Egyptian.
4. “The Rock of the White Shaman”
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Archaeologists and historians have been studying for decades artifacts of the peoples of the Americas however still the culture of the pre-Columbian period of American history is largely remains a mystery to specialists.
“The Rock of the White Shaman”, located near the Pekos River on territories of modern texas are ranked among the most famous and at the same time – the most mysterious monuments of that era. According to scientists, a huge (about 7 m in length) drawing appeared more than 4 thousand years ago and belongs to an ancient culture, about which now knows almost nothing. Some archaeologists sure that the art object depicts a battle scene or any martial ritual, it is also believed that the artist showed the moment of communication of the ancients with spirits through mescaline, psychotropic substance contained in peyote cactus.
5. Geoglyphs of Sayama Mountain
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Rock paintings located in Bolivia on one of the slopes of Mount Sayama, the creation technique resembles the Nazca geoglyphs and “Andean Candelabrum” – they are also carved in solid rock, while Bolivian drawings are much larger than Peruvian – Images occupy an area of about 7.5 thousand m² (15 times more than the Nazca geoglyphs), the length of some lines, from which are the objects of Sayama, totals about 18 km.
With such an outstanding size, the geoglyphs of Mount Sayama are still almost unexplored – the true extent of the work done ancient artists, became known relatively recently, when archaeologists have the opportunity to use satellite images terrain in their studies.
Amazing accuracy and accuracy of the lines of the picture set experts to a standstill – as if they were drawn on a line. The purpose of the image also remains unclear, according to some suggestions, the ancient inhabitants of Bolivia with their help made astronomical calculations, in addition, the figure can to be a form of ritual burial.
6. Artifacts of Terteria
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Three stone tablets found by scientists in the vicinity the Romanian village of Terteria, contain characters that are currently time is the oldest written speech on the planet.
Scientists initially suggested that the Terteria tablets date back to the third millennium BC, however more careful radiocarbon analysis revealed that artifacts are much over. Now most archaeologists agree that tablets were created about 7.5 thousand years ago, long before the Sumerian writing, which was previously considered the oldest in the world.
Most likely, the finds of Romanian archaeologists belong to pre-Indo-European Vinca culture that was extended to territories of modern Southeast Europe in the Neolithic era, so as the symbols on the plates are very similar to the pictograms depicted on the remains found in 1875 near the Serbian city of Vinca ancient pottery.
7. Blythe figures
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This archaeological site located in the south of the state California in the Colorado desert, near the city of Blythe, represents giant geometric shapes as well images of animals and people. The length of the largest drawing totals about 50 m, while until 1932, specialists did not had an idea of the size of the “installation”, its size was determined only by aerial photography.
Archaeologists cannot agree on age geoglyphs – numbers from 450 to 2 thousand years are called, it is also unclear what It is depicted in the figures. According to one of the most widespread versions, huge figures created by the ancestors of the Native American Mojave and Quecan tribes currently living in the lower reaches of the river Colorado.
According to the traditions of the indigenous people of this region, in the form human figures artists depicted various aspects of God Mastambo, the Creator of All That Is, and the animals they painted are nothing other than the beastman Hatakul, who took direct participation in the creation of the world.
8. The death of Alexander the Great
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Alexander the Great is one of the most famous historical characters, the life of the great commander devoted thousands of scientific and art books, hundreds of films, however about the causes of his death in virtually nothing is known at present.
Most historians agree with the orthodox scientific circles point of view on the time and place of the death of Alexander – June 10, 323 BC, the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon, but what killed the most ambitious conqueror in history – There is still no convincing answer to this question.
For a long time it was believed that Alexander was poisoned, and in suspects were visited by almost all members of his entourage – from military leaders to the beloved of an outstanding historical figure. The version of poisoning is based on the testimonies of contemporaries, claiming that invincible Alexander was suddenly struck by an unknown illness, he spent about two weeks, suffering from severe pain in stomach, and then suddenly died.
This information cannot be considered conclusive evidence. general’s poisoning, as such symptoms may indicate pancreatitis, viral hepatitis, endocarditis or any an infectious disease like typhoid fever or malaria. At then the level of development of medicine any of these diseases could become fatal for Alexander.
Surprisingly, the death of Alexander was predicted by the Chaldeans, living in Babylon – they warned the commander that he would die shortly after entering Babylon, moreover, Calanus, alone of the scientists who accompanied the conquering army, dying, reported To Alexander, that when his army invades Babylon, they will meet again. So do not believe the predictors after that.
9. Jamaican minaret
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Jama minaret located in the northwestern part Afghanistan, was erected at the turn of the XII-XIII centuries, however its perfect design, stunning decor and craftsmanship medieval Afghan builders are still surprised everyone I had a chance to see this architectural masterpiece from the burnt a brick.
The height of the minaret is about 60 m, according to one of the inscriptions on it walls, the structure was built in 1194, in honor of the victory Sultan Giyaz ad-Din over the army of the ruler of the Ghaznavid dynasty, however, many experts question this information. By of one version, the minaret is all that remains of the city of Firuzkuh (which means “Turquoise Mountain”), which in times the heyday of the Gourdian dynasty was the capital of an empire spanning territories of modern Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.
At the beginning of the 13th century, the armed forces of the Mongol Empire under the command of the notorious Genghis Khan obliterated the city, however, they somehow overlooked the tall minaret. Thanks to the inattention of the Mongols, as well as the fact that after Genghis Khan’s invasion of the construction of almost 700 years no one remembered the architectural monument is beautifully preserved, but at present to conduct a comprehensive study of the building does not seem possible due to the unstable socio-political situation in Afghanistan.
10. The Emerald Tablet
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Unlike other archaeological collection phenomena, The Emerald Tablet has not survived to our time, so scientists do not know who was the author of the original of this document, for what was it intended and what fate befell the monument medieval oriental art.
The only thing that is known about the Emerald Tablet is probably what is mentioned for the first time in the Arabic book dated VI or the 8th century AD. In some early copies of The Tablets, made by Arabic translators, there is evidence that the original was written in Old Syriac, however evidence This is not yet available for specialists. The earliest Latin translation the tablets are dated to the XIIth centuries, later several more were created text options, the authorship of one of them belongs to the famous scientist, Sir Isaac Newton.
According to some scholars, the Emerald Tablet describes technology for converting various metals to gold using mythical substance known as the philosopher’s stone, but still so far no one has been able to conduct this alchemical experiment – probably Latin and Arabic translations of the original “instructions” are not too accurate.
Time Geoglyphs Ancient Artifacts Mummies Peru Artists
