Shrouded in mystery for thousands of years, these structures continue to raise questions
and spark debates in the scientific community.
Here are 8 ancient constructions that still baffle us:
Number 8 Goliath Gates In 2015, a large momentum gate was discovered
in Israel that may have once marked the entrance to the difficult city of Gath.
In the Old Investment Gath was occupied by the Philistines, moral entities, of the Israelites.
Gath was one of the largest and most lower full cities in the region and home to Goliath,
the legendary giant wall he all David filled with his swing slot.
Also found were fortifications nearby, which will take some time to fully excavate and
the regains of a temple with ironworks and pottery associated with Philistine culture.
The find, raises questions regarding other potential discoveries with origins rooted
in difficult tradition.
Number 7 Hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni Dating from around 4000 BC, the Hypogeum of
Hal-Saflieni is the world’s, only known prehistoric underground temple.
Built on three superimposed layers, the lower of which rests 35 feet below ground level.
Rudimentary equipment like blink, antlers and obsidian tools were used, to dig the Hypogeum
chambers.
Many objects were found during the excavation of the site, including decorated pot vessels,
clay and stone beads, and figures depicting animals and human figures.
The most notable of them is the ‘Sleeping Lady, a clay figure probably depicting a mother
goodness.
Initially purposed as an underground sunk fairly, the Hypogeum also became a necropolis
as the regains of around 7,000 individuals were discovered at the site.
Perhaps the most incredible aspect about Malta’s underground wonder is its acoustic properties.
Voices with a range of 95 to 120 Hz can reverberate throughout the entire complex.
If the frequency is maintained it’s said that it produces an almost trance-like state
that can stimulate the creative side of the brain.
Number 6 Great Pyramid of Giza The Great Pyramid of Giza held the title of
the world’s tallest building for roughly 3,800 years from its completion around 2560
BC.
One of the original 7 wonders of the world.
The gigantic structure was built using over 2 million stone blocks, weighing from 2 to
30 tons.
Some of the massive blocks had to be transported from 500 miles away.
Perhaps the most baffling aspects about the pyramid are its accurate measurements and
geometry.
The plane on which it rests was artificially flattened and is only 0.8 inches away from
being perfectly horizontal.
The alignment of stones is incredibly precise and all four sides of the pyramid are oriented
almost perfectly to the four cardinal directions.
Large blocks of casing stones were also used and placed atop the pyramid.
These were polished to the point that they reflected sunlight, turning the pyramid into
a visual spectacle.
The precision, complexity and sheer mass of the pyramids has led to theories that the
Egyptians may have received otherworldly help.
Number 5 Newgrange Newgrange, located in the Boyne Valley, County
Meath, Ireland isn’t as famous as Stonehenge, its younger Neolithic relative, but it’s
just as, if not more mysterious.
It’s a megalithic mound grave featuring a 55-foot long inner-passage connecting to
a central room that further extends in three arms.
A cairn containing a staggering 220,705 tons of loose stones covers the space.
The structure is ringed on the outside by an array of standing stones.
This man-made construction has many theories as to how the standing stones arrived on site
and why the brave only contained the regains of five people.
Some of the stones display geometric patterns that were hidden from view for reasons unknown.
Inside the main chamber has remained dry, for thousands of years.
This was an inbuilt feature.
Constructed around 3200 BC considering the low population of the area at the time and
the massive scope of the project, it’s very existence, is puzzling.
An amazing event happens at Newgrange during the winter solstice, when sunlight illuminates
the path on the inner passageway before reaching the main chamber for roughly 17 minutes.
This suggests the entire structure was purposefully oriented with advanced astronomical knowledge.
Number 4 Neanderthal Cave Circles Bruniquel cave in Southern France seems to
tell a different story about humanity’s evolution.
Massive circles carved out of stalagmites were found inside the cave and these appear
to be man-made.
Located in a place that doesn’t have natural light, traces of file have been found in and
around the structures.
Explanations vary on whether the circles were part of shelters, or used in some type of
virtual.
What’s staggering is that carbon dating indicates the circles are roughly 175,000
years old.
The only hominins around the region at the time were the so-called brutish and unintelligent
Neanderthals.
This discovery seems to reinforce the growing theory that Neanderthals weren’t as primitive
as first thought.
If the circles were built for rituals, it means Neanderthals may have had the capacity
for symbolic thought.
To build in such challenging conditions requires some form of cooperation rooted in primitive
social hierarchy.
Although discovered in 1990 it remained closed until 2013.
Some say this was because the world simply wasn’t ready for the notion of intelligent
Neanderthals.
Number 3 Gobekli Tepe Gobekli Tepe also known as Potbelly Hill is
an archaeological site located on an artificial mound in Turkey’s Southern Anatolia Region.
Among the ruins found are massive limestone slabs and T-shaped pillars that once stood
over 20 feet and weigh between 10 and 20 tons.
Geophysical surveys concluded that hundreds of pillars were once arranged in circles and
fitted into sockets carved from the bedrock.
This wouldn’t be very impressive by today’s standards, but radiocarbon dating indicates
these gigantic structures are at least 11,000 years old, pre dating the Neolithic Revolution
that marked the transition to agriculture and settlements for human cultures.
This pretendence suggests these structures were built by blunter-gatherers that we assumed
didn’t have the tools for such elaborate work.
Many animal regains were found in the area indicating a lifestyle where blunting was
the main source of food.
The pillars feature carvings depicting animals such as foxes, spiders, scorpions, lions,
and others.
These are not, however, game animals and mainly represent predators.
Nobody knows why the complex at Gobekli Tepe was built or the significance of the carvings,
some conclude that it was used for large bridges gatherings, which would make it, by far, the
world’s oldest temple.
If such complex monuments were indeed within the capabilities of blunter-gatherers it would
fundamentally change our understanding of a crucial point in the development of human
society.
Number 2 Longyou Caves The man-made Longyou Caves definitely raise
more questions than they answer.
Found in the village of Shiyan Becun deep in China’s Zhejiang province, these caves
were an underwater secret for millennia.
Discovered in 1992 after a local man decided to test the legend that the local ponds were
‘bottomless’.
He rallied the community who bought a large hydraulic pump and drained a pond.
That’s how roughly 320,000 square feet of hand-dug caverns were found.
Containing separate rooms, pools, bridges and pillars meant to sustain the ceiling.
There are intricate carvings on the walls, but so far nobody knows what civilization
is responsible for these caves.
Almost 1 million cubic meters of rock had to be removed whilst building but despite
the precise engineering and artistry, no tools were ever found on site.
The only evidence is the uniform parallel chisel marks covering each wall.
This also begs the question of how such rudimentary tools were used so precisely?
The caves are also very resilient and show no signs of baggage or seismic movement despite
having walls only 20 inches thick in an area prone to natural this masters.
The inside is so well preserved it looks like they were recently completed.
Believed to date from around 212 BC, no pretendence of their construction or even existence was
recorded prior to the discovery.
Number 1 Moai Statues The monolithic human figures from Easter Island
are among the world’s most mysterious constructions.
Known as the Moai, these massive statues were created by the Rapa nui people, the island’s
original inhabitants.
It’s believed that these Moai were created in honor of their ancestors as symbols of
real sit us and pool lite call lower and lead her ship.
Sculpted between 1250 and 1500, most of the Moai faced inland, towards the communities,
suggesting they were seen as watchful protectors.
The Moai heads are significantly larger than their bodies and feature strong chins, broad
noses and carved eye sockets built to hold black obsidian and coral.
What’s most impressive is their sheer size.
Paro, the tallest Moai built, stood around 33 feet, weighing roughly 90 tons.
There’s also an unfinished sculpture that, if completed, would’ve weighed a staggering
270 tons on a 69-foot frame.
The main quarry was at Rano Raraku, and nearly half the statues are still there.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Hundreds were moved all over the island and placed on stone platforms but nobody knows
how this was accomplished.
Theories range from the extensive use of logs and manual labor to village elders commanding
the statues to move.
By the end of the 19th century, all the Moai had reportedly toppled over.
Nobody knows why this happened either.
Seismic activity, tribal wall fair and even shamanic magic have all been cited as possible
causes.