Throughout history, archaeologists have uncovered countless artifacts that shed light on ancient civilizations. While some of these discoveries are identifiable and strengthen our understanding of ancient civilizations, some defy explanation, leaving historians and scientists puzzled. These mysterious objects challenge our understanding of history, sparking debates and wild theories about their origins and purposes.
From unexplained machines to ancient maps that depict lands before their discovery, here are 15 of the strangest objects found in ancient ruins.
The Antikythera Mechaism
Discovered in a shipwreck off the coast of Greece, the Antikythera Mechanism is an ancient device often described as the world’s first analog computer. Dated to around 100 BCE, it consists of complex gears and mechanisms that appear to track celestial movements. The level of precision suggests knowledge way ahead of its time, leading to debates about the technological capabilities of ancient civilizations.
The Baghdad Battery
Found in modern-day Iraq, the so-called Baghdad Battery consists of a clay jar containing a copper cylinder and an iron rod. Some researchers believe this 2,000-year-old artifact could have functioned as a primitive battery possibly used for electroplating. Others argue that it had a more mundane use, but its purpose remains speculative.
The Voynich Manuscript
The Voynich Manuscript is a medieval book written in an undeciphered script and illustrated with bizarre astronomical and plant diagrams. Found in Italy, its origin and meaning remain unknown. Despite extensive research and cryptographic analysis, no one has been able to decode the text, fueling speculation that it might be an elaborate hoax or an ancient cipher yet to be cracked.
The Sacsayhuaman Wall
Located in Peru, the Sacsayhuaman Wall is a megalithic structure built with enormous stones that fit together with remarkable precision without the use of mortar. Some of the stones weigh over 100 tons, and how the Inca civilization moved and placed them in the 15th century remains a mystery. Theories range from advanced lost technologies to extraterrestrial intervention.
The Roman Dodecahedron
This small, hollow, twelve-sided object has been found in various sites across Europe. Made of metal and featuring circular holes, the Roman Dodecahderon‘s purpose remains unknown. Some speculate it was used for measuring distances, astronomy, or even as a tool for religious rituals, but there is no definitive answer.
The London Hammer
In the 1930s, a hammer encased in rock was discovered in London, Texas. The rock surrounding the tool is estimated to be millions of years old, yet the hammer itself resembles 19th-century technology. Some claim the London Hammer is evidence of time travel or advanced ancient civilizations, while others suggest geological processes encased the hammer over time.
The Piri Reis Map
Heritage Images/Contributor
This 16th-century map, drawn by Turkish admiral Piri Reis, includes an accurate depiction of the South American coast and what some believe to be Antarctica, centuries before its recorded discovery. The Piri Reis map questions about lost knowledge of early explorers and their possible access to ancient, now-lost sources.
The Saqqara Bird
Discovered in an Egyptian tomb, the Saqqara Bird is a small wooden carving that closely resembles a modern glider. Some theorists believe that the date dates back to around 200 BCE, suggesting knowledge of aerodynamics in ancient Egypt. Others argue it’s simply a toy or ceremonial artifact. The true purpose of the Saqqara Bird remains unknown.
The Nazca Lines
Etched into the desert in Peru, the Nazca Lines are massive geoglyphs depicting animals, humans, and geometric shapes. Only visible from the air, their purpose remains unclear. Theories suggest they may have had religious significance and been used for astronomical observations, while some have speculated that they could have served as landing markers or means for communicating with extraterrestrials.
The Ubaid Lizardmen Statues
These ancient figurines, discovered in 1919 at the Tell-al Ubaid archaeological site in Iraq, depict humanoid figures with reptilian features. Dating back to 4,000 BCE, they have led to theories about reptilian deities or an undiscovered aspect of early Mesopotamian culture.
The Longyou Caves
Carved into solid sandstone in Chica, the Longyou Caves remain a mystery. There are no historical records of their construction, and their precise purpose is unknown. The smooth, geometric walls and ceilings that can be as high as 100 ft. suggest advanced technologies, yet no tools or remains have been found to explain their creation.
The Stone Spheres of Costa Rica
Over 300 hundred massive, perfectly round stone spheres have been found across Costa Rica. Commonly attributed to the extinct Diquis culture, these spheres range from a few inches to over 6.5 ft. in diameter and can weigh over 15 tons. According to the most recent theories, it’s believed the Stone Spheres of Costa Rica are an artistic, symbolic, and spiritual representation of the creation of the universe.
The Sanxingdui Masks
Excavations in China’s Sichuan province uncovered enormous bronze masks with exaggerated alien-like features. Dated to an advanced but little-known civilization over 3,000 years ago, the masks hint at lost cultures with artistic and spiritual traditions that differ greatly from later Chinese dynasties.
While the site of these masks was first discovered by a farmer in 1927, it wasn’t until 1986 that some local workers accidentally found sacrificial pits containing thousands of gold, bronze, and jade artifacts, including the Sanxingdui Masks.
The Quimbaya Airplanes
These small, gold figurines from Colombia closely resemble modern aircraft, with aerodynamic features that suggest flight capability. While some believe they depict stylized birds or insects, their recognizable forms have led some to argue that they’re evidence of ancient knowledge of aviation.
Gobekli Tepe’s Carvings
Gobkeli Tepe in Turkey is one of the oldest known temple complexes, dating back nearly 13,000 years. The site features intricate stone carvings of animals and humanoid figures, suggesting an advanced and organized society long before the rise of agriculture. Some believe it represents the beginning of organized religion or a lost civilization.
Among the carvings is what is thought to be the world’s oldest calendar and what’s believed to be the recording of the date when a swarm of comet fragments hit the earth around 10,850 BCE. We’ll look at that in the next slide.
Gobekli Tepe’s Calendar
While all of the artifacts on this list are fascinating, I wanted to add a second slide for Gobekli Tepe’s carvings.
The prevailing theory is that each of the V-shaped symbols could represent a single day. So that top line of Vs would be a month, or approximately 29 or 30 days. The blocks would be a month, so 11 lunar months, plus the 10 additional days (the next row of V-shaped symbols), and the large bird symbolized the summer solstice. That would mean this calendar has 365 days. If this is correct, it would mean it’s the oldest known surviving calendar.
