12 Most Mysterious Recent Archaeological Finds And Artifacts Scientists Still Can't Explain

Summary

This video explores unexplained archaeological discoveries, including a possible Roman pocket sundial, mysterious rituals on an allegedly cursed Swedish island, the contents of an unopened Indian temple vault, a hoard of rusted objects from a shipwreck, a luxurious Roman military home, the enigmatic Crocodile Stone in Laos, the oldest known Mayan site in Belize, ancient carvings in Saudi Arabia, a ghost town in Sudan, a Peruvian geoglyph of a killer whale, a tiny Qing dynasty abacus ring, and a temple in Bangladesh with a complex history.

Takeaways

• 🕰️ Archaeologists often face the challenge of explaining the purpose or history of discovered artifacts, with some mysteries remaining unsolved.
• 🏺 A Roman artifact resembling a pork chop, discovered in the ruins of Villa d'Poppery, might have been a pocket sundial used to track time based on shadows.
• 🏝️ The island of Blah Jungfrun in Sweden is rumored to be cursed, with archaeological findings suggesting ancient rituals and a mysterious labyrinth dating back 9,000 years.
• 🏛️ Vault B of the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala, India, is believed to hold immense treasures but remains unopened due to an unknown incantation required to access it.
• 🌊 A hoard of objects from the wreck of the Rusvigic, discovered off England's coast, is being studied with high-resolution X-ray machines to uncover their origins and potential smuggling methods.
• 🏡 A colossal villa from ancient Rome, discovered during the construction of Rome's metro, showcases lavish military homes and hints at a deliberate burial for unknown reasons.
• 🐊 The Crocodile Stone in Champasak, Laos, is a mysterious artifact possibly related to human sacrifice during the Shenla empire, though its exact purpose remains unclear.
• 🌳 The Cuello ruins in Belize, thought to be the oldest known Mayan site, challenge traditional views of Mayan settlements, revealing a community of maize farmers rather than grand palaces.
• 🐫 Giant stone carvings of camels in Saudi Arabia, discovered in 2016, are mysterious for their accuracy and the lack of any evidence of a settlement near the site.
• 🐋 A geoglyph of a killer whale in Peru, visible for over 2,000 years, was overlooked until 2017, symbolizing a powerful deity in ancient Peruvian culture.
• 📿 A tiny abacus from the Qing dynasty in China, possibly the world's first personal computer, raises questions about its manufacturing process due to its intricate design.

Q & A

What is the primary challenge archaeologists face after finding an artifact?

The primary challenge archaeologists face after finding an artifact is explaining its purpose or history, which is not always possible even with the help of fellow experts.

What ancient Roman object discovered in the ruins of Villa d' Poppery resembles a pork chop?

The ancient Roman object discovered in the ruins of Villa d' Poppery resembles a pork chop and is thought to be a pocket sundial used to measure time based on the shadow it casts.

Why have no other Roman pocket sundials been found if they existed?

The reason no other Roman pocket sundials have been found is still a mystery, despite the discovery of one in the ruins of Villa d' Poppery.

What is the significance of the island of Blah Jungfrun in Sweden?

The island of Blah Jungfrun in Sweden is significant because it is believed to be cursed and has evidence of strange rituals dating back 9,000 years, including an ancient labyrinth and stone altar.

What is the mystery surrounding the contents of Vault B of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, India?

The mystery surrounding Vault B of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple is that it is believed to contain immense treasures like solid gold ropes and gigantic emeralds, but the doors can only be opened by an unknown incantation.

What is the significance of the discovery of the Rusvigic shipwreck off England's coast?

The significance of the Rusvigic shipwreck discovery is that it may provide evidence of passengers sewing coinage into their clothing to smuggle it into Batavia, as importing coinage was officially banned to protect the local economy.

What is unique about the colossal villa discovered during the construction of Rome's metro sea line?

The unique aspect of the colossal villa discovered during the construction of Rome's metro sea line is that it is one of the most palatial military homes ever found in the city, containing 14 rooms with marble floors and mosaic designs, and it was deliberately buried for unknown reasons.

What is the mystery of the Crocodile Stone in Champasak, Laos?

The mystery of the Crocodile Stone in Champasak, Laos, is its purpose and origin. It resembles a crocodile and might be related to human sacrifice practices of the Shenla Empire, but its exact use and age remain unknown.

What makes the Cuello ruins in Belize significant in Mayan research?

The Cuello ruins in Belize are significant in Mayan research because they suggest that the site is the oldest known Mayan site on the continent, dating back over 4,500 years, and it differs from other Mayan sites in its burial traditions and lifestyle.

What is the mystery of the giant stone carvings of camels in Saudi Arabia?

The mystery of the giant stone carvings of camels in Saudi Arabia is that they remained undiscovered until 2016, despite being visible on the sides of cliffs, and there is no evidence of a settlement near the carvings, suggesting they were made in isolation.

What is the mystery of the geoglyph of a killer whale in Peru?

The mystery of the geoglyph of a killer whale in Peru is that it has been visible in the desert for at least two thousand years but was only discovered in 2017. Its original meaning and purpose remain unknown.

What is the significance of the tiny abacus ring from the Qing Dynasty in China?

The tiny abacus ring from the Qing Dynasty in China is significant as it might be the world's first personal computer, used for quick calculations in trade, but its method of manufacture remains a mystery.

What is the mystery surrounding the Govinda Bhita temple in Bangladesh?

The mystery surrounding the Govinda Bhita temple in Bangladesh is the combination of a 6th-century Hindu temple with an 11th-century temple, suggesting earlier structures and possibly continuous worship since the 4th century or earlier.