Ancient Archaeology
Most archaeologists and historians agree that human civilization only emerged some 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Yet many researchers have drawn attention to artifacts and various other evidence of advanced civilizations long before this, even millions of years earlier.
Most archaeologists and historians agree that human civilization only emerged […]
One Romanian site that serves as a national landmark is hidden in the wooded hills above Sinca Veche village, close to Persani, and its origins are so mysterious that it shadows even Dracula’s castle. This center of supernatural activity is most often called the “Temple of Sinca Veche.”
The forested hills and craggy mountains of Romania offer both archaeological and […]
The Colosseum's hidden details
Rome's colossal amphitheatre features high on many a traveller's wish list and it's a place ripe for archaeological discoveries. Construction of the Colosseum began around AD 70 for Roman emperor Vespasian and, upon its opening, thousands of viewers would come to witness bloody gladiatorial games and other spectacles. But recent studies of the site have revealed more of the historic arena's hidden secrets. Firstly, during renovation efforts in the past few years, workers discovered a series of red numbers painted into the amphitheatre's arches.
The exposed numbers indicate that Roman spectators at the Colosseum followed an ordered seating plan and system of entry, not too dissimilar to those we'd expect at modern concert venues and theatres today. In 2017, renovation efforts led to more surprises. This time discoveries were linked to a medieval baronial family (the Frangipane), who existed after the fall of the Roman Empire, and who built a fortress into the Colosseum's southern side.
Examinations discovered holes in the monument's stone, which would have supported beams for a wooden walkway that the Frangipane used to look out for enemies. While little is left of the medieval family's influence, these tiny details help open up a lesser-known portion of the Colosseum's history. Meanwhile, the arrival of new elevators in 2021 has allowed visitors to explore the building's underground levels – in which gladiators and animals would have waited before taking part in combat – for the first time.
Source: Love Exploring
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Tungnath Temple, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand
Situated 3,680 metres above sea level, the Tungnath Temple is the highest of the five Panch Kedar temples nestled in the wondrous Rudraprayag mountain range of Uttarakhand. The temple's exquisite location beckons travellers from India and abroad to witness its magical, mythological aura. Legend has it that Lord Shiva took a bull's avatar during the war of the Mahabharata in an attempt to evade the Pandavas, only to rematerialise in a disincarnate form, his bull's body divided across five different locations. The site of the Tungnath is where Shiva's hands are believed to have appeared. Interestingly, the temple is so small that it only permits ten people at a time.
Source: architecturaldigest
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The bottom of the seas and oceans of the world have been described as the biggest museum of the world, with less than 1% of the ocean floor having been surveyed to date. The remains of the Bronze Age port of Pavlopetri were discovered as recently as the 1960s and some argue that they may have been the basis for the legendary story of Atlantis.
Nothing sparks the imagination of history enthusiasts quite like underwater […]
The Theopetra Cave is an archaeological site located in Meteora, in the central Greek region of Thessaly. As a result of archaeological excavations that have been conducted over the years, it has been revealed that the Theopetra Cave has been occupied by human beings as early as 130000 years ago.
The Theopetra Cave is an archaeological site located in Meteora, […]
Stepwells are magnificent architectural structures found in India that tapped into underground water tables, providing a year-round water supply. Thousands of the engineering masterpieces are dotted around the country, many containing ornate and intricate carvings depicting Hindu scenes. While several are now dilapidated and in a state of disrepair, others remain as visually stunning windows into India’s glorious past.
Stepwells are magnificent architectural structures found in India that tapped […]
The surprising scale of Angkor
The ancient archaeological site of Angkor, with the sprawling Angkor Wat temple complex at its heart, has held UNESCO World Heritage status since 1992. But the city has been beguiling architecture buffs long before the Nineties. Angkor flourished under the Khmer Empire from around the 9th to the 15th centuries AD, and archaeologists are still poring over its historic expanse. And, in 2016, some fascinating findings were revealed...
LiDAR technology has been used to scan the area around Angkor Wat and has revealed entire cities beneath the surrounding forestland. The findings, which included what's thought to be a complex water system and numerous gardens, have challenged experts' existing ideas about the scale of the civilisation that existed here and its way of life.
Source: Love Exploring
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Yonaguni Monument, Japan
Between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean lies an enigma wrapped in mystery. A series of stone formations, from vertiginous monoliths to stacks of slabs and a pyramid, were spotted close to the remote Japanese island of Yonaguni in the mid-1980s by a local diver. Historians and scientists have been puzzling over their origins ever since – and often arguing about it.
Some believe the structures, sometimes known as Iseki stones, are the remains of the legendary lost civilisation of Mu, said to have disappeared under the waves due to an earthquake around 2,000 years ago. If the structures are man-made, research at the site suggests this Japanese Atlantis is at least 5,000 years old – meaning the submerged monuments would pre-date the Egyptian pyramids by several centuries.
This theory is supported by the level of detail and intricacy in some of the structures. Aside from the pyramid, which is the largest formation, there are ruins that are believed to be arches, temples, a castle and a stadium, with buildings connected by what appear to be roads and shielded by the remnants of walls. Some of the rocks also appear to have been carved with images of animals, while others seem to be shaped like figures including a sphinx and a turtle.
A less romantic explanation is that these remarkable stones, which lurk 82 feet (25m) under the water’s surface, are naturally occurring geological formations shaped by tectonic activity and formed over time. This theory also argues that apparent carvings are simply scratches that have been inflicted over time.
Source: Love Exploring
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The Akitu festival was one of the oldest Mesopotamian festivals, dating back to the middle of the third millennium BC.
The Akitu festival was one of the oldest Mesopotamian festivals, […]
It was in 1819 when John Smith, a British army officer in pursuit of a tiger came across a cave near Ajanta village in India. More than thirty caves carved inside the rock of the mountainside and arranged in a horseshoe shape—the well-known Ajanta Caves—have now been discovered in that area.
It was in 1819 when John Smith, a British army officer […]
The remains of a 1,200-year-old pagan temple to the Old Norse gods such as Thor and Odin have been discovered in Norway — a rare relic of the Viking religion built a few centuries before Christianity became dominant there.
The god house (shown here in a digital reconstruction) was […]
Mahabalipuram, India
Sunken ancient ruins were the stuff of legend in southeast India. Until a sunken town was unearthed at the shore of Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram. Eyewitnesses claimed to have spotted boulders and walls as the tide receded immediately before the devastating tsunami that hit much of Asia in December 2004. Excavations revealed they had been right – and what they saw was actually the remains of an ancient port city.
Another theory is that the granite structures could be the remains of one or more of six legendary Hindu temples or shrines said to have been swallowed by the ocean. Research is ongoing, with discoveries so far including walls, a flight of stairs and chiselled hunks of stone.
Source: Love Exploring
Credit image: Pallava Bagla/Corbis via Getty Images
Baia, Italy
The ruins of Baia – or Baiae – are scattered under the surface of the Gulf of Naples, not far from a much more famous ‘lost’ city, Pompeii. Like its equally ill-fated neighbour, Baia was an ancient Roman town that fell victim to volcanic activity. But, rather than being submerged and frozen in time under a flow of lava, it’s believed Baia’s residents fled the town before it was swallowed by the rising water levels.
The remnants of the sunken city appear more like an aquatic sculpture garden than somewhere people lived. But then, even during its peak from around 100 BC to AD 500, Baia didn’t really belong in the real world. It was known as a playground for the fabulously, raucously rich – a resort city reserved for the Roman elite including Julius Caesar, who had a villa there.
Baia has even been described as “the Las Vegas of the Roman Empire” due to the hedonistic happenings there. This was where the highest echelons of ancient Roman society came for parties and blowing off steam. Surviving statues – some headless, others remarkably intact – now scatter the seabed.
That past was long forgotten and hidden in the ocean – along with the city’s fine Hellenistic statues, busts, columns and frescoes – until the 1940s, when an aerial photo revealed structures just below the surface. Following further investigation over the next few decades, it was eventually designated a protected marine area – Parco Archeologico Sommerso di Baia – in 2002. It’s usually open to divers who can explore underwater villas and grottoes embellished with marble nymphs.
Source: Love Exploring
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One of the six samples collected at the depth of 353 cm and sent for carbon dating test in the U.S. “goes back to 580 BCE,” Commissioner of Archaeology T. Udayachandran said.
In a major turning point in the cultural historiography of […]
The secrets surrounding Egypt's Bent Pyramid
It might not be the most famous of Egypt's pyramids, but this striking structure in Dahshur still has secrets aplenty. Reopened to the public in 2019 for the first time since the 1960s, the Bent Pyramid (so named for its curious shape) sits around 25 miles (40km) south of capital Cairo. It's thought to be around 4,600 years old, dating back to 2,600 BC, when it was built for the pharaoh Sneferu. But despite its many millennia, its riches are only just being discovered.
The 331-foot (101m) structure has benefited from a year of restoration efforts, and excavations all around the vast Dahshur pyramid site (home to the Pyramid of King Amenemhat II and the Black Pyramid too) have revealed a whole host of treasures. These included a network of hidden tombs, and a range of sarcophagi containing mummies dating to the Late Period (664-332 BC). Archaeologists also found stone-cutting tools and funerary masks.
In 2021, further intriguing discoveries were revealed in a new documentary on YouTube by researcher Anyextee. He showed viewers some graffiti dating to the pyramid’s rediscovery in 1839, along with what he described as “a real-life Indiana Jones trap”: a stone gate which could be lowered across the passageway to block the entrance to the pyramid.
Source: Love Exploring
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The 12 th century is generally regarded as a period of European decline. In other parts of the world, however, this was certainly not the case. In South East Asia, the Khmer Empire was enjoying its Golden Age. Under the rule of its kings, the empire extended its borders over much of mainland South East Asia...
The 12 th century is generally regarded as a period of European […]
Archaeologists are hailing, as very important, the dramatic discovery of a Bronze Age Palace . It was revealed as the waters of a reservoir fell because of a severe drought in Iraq. The ruin is believed to have been built by the little known Mittani Empire and researchers hope that it will provide more insights into this very important state and society.
Archaeologists are hailing, as very important, the dramatic discovery of […]
Himeji-jo, known also as Himeji Castle , is located in Himeji City, in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture. A fort was originally built during the 14 th century AD on the present-day castle site, though the current structure dates to the 17 th century AD. Himeji Castle is an important monument for a variety of reasons. For instance, it is one of Japan’s 12 so-called ‘original-construction’ castles, and widely considered to be the finest surviving example of a feudal Japanese castle.
Himeji-jo, known also as Himeji Castle , is located in Himeji City, […]
Ephesus, Turkey
Set on the western Turkish coast, Ephesus is the Mediterranean’s most complete Greco-Roman city. Founded in the 10th century BC, the city attracted merchants, sailors and pilgrims from the world over. In 133 BC, it became a Roman province and under Augustus Caesar became the first city of Roman Asia. Local legend says it was the last home of the Virgin Mary.
Ephesus is the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and although not much is visible today, the façade of the Library of Celsus, which dates from the time of Emperor Hadrian in the first half of the 2nd century AD, is still beautifully preserved. It was believed to have once contained 12,000 scrolls. The library was destroyed in 262 AD in an earthquake but the façade was rebuilt by archaeologists in the 1970s.
Source: Love Exploring
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Why is there a great void in the pyramid of Giza?
The Great Pyramid of Giza has been so carefully studied that one might think there are no secrets left to be discovered. However new techniques have enabled scientists to pe*****te inside the pyramid’s structure in areas which have no outside access. Subatomic particles called muons move more easily through empty space than through solid structures – so by bombarding the ancient pyramids with these particles and tracking them, experts can get a better picture of what lies within. What they've found is amazing.
The pyramid was built around 4,500 years ago and the method of its construction is always up for debate. But in 2017, scientists announced the discovery of a curious void that's at least 100-feet (30m) long hidden deep within the ancient structure – it's similar to the Grand Gallery corridor that leads to pharaoh Khufu's burial chamber. It has led to much speculation about what this space was used for.
One suggestion is that it was an internal ramp used to move the massive blocks of stone to the top of the pyramid. The idea that it might be a hidden tomb containing artefacts is improbable, but we are not likely to know any time soon as the Egyptian authorities will probably never give permission for drilling to access the Great Void. In the meantime, we will just have to use our imaginations.
Source: Love Exploring
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Archaeologists recently discovered a 2,700-year-old private toilet inside the remains of an ancient royal estate in Jerusalem. It is a rare find, as thousands of years ago pooping in toilets was a luxury only for the elite.
It is a rare find, as thousands of years ago […]
India is a land of many religious and has thousands of remarkable temples and holy sites. One of the most important in all of southern India is the Draksharama Temple, a Hindu site dedicated to the worship of Shiva. Situated in the state of Andhra Pradesh , it is popular with Hindu pilgrims as well as tourists.
India is a land of many religious and has thousands […]
What was the purpose of the Plain of Jars?
Imagine the flat, grassy landscape of central Laos and an ancient area called Xiangkhouang Province, which was most recently ravaged by bombs during the Vietnam War. You will be amazed to see thousands of huge stone jars, some up to 10 feet (3m) tall and 3 feet (1m) wide scattered randomly across the plain. What are these jars for, who made them and why are they there?
They are thought to date from the Iron Age, around 500 BC to AD 500, and research in the 1930s uncovered human skeletal remains and artefacts including beads, ceramics, iron implements and bronze jewellery, among other relics. The jars were mostly empty with only occasional objects found inside and they possibly once had lids made of perishable materials. Maybe they are funeral urns or memorials to the dead. Or maybe they were used to hold water.
How were these jars, some weighing 30 tonnes, transported from their quarry about 5 miles (8km) away? Were they carved out at the quarry then rolled to their resting place? This area is still being excavated, but it seems there are many more places which hold these jars – possibly up to 90 sites. We know nothing of the people who created them, yet it was a feat of great organisation, technical skill and immense hard work. The jars remain today a strange and wonderful sight.
Credit: Love Exploring
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Cypress wood might have been used in ancient palaces in Persia partly because of its sacred value in a religion known for its “fire temples,” a new study finds.
Here, ruins of a Zoroastrian fire temple in Esfahan, Iran. (Image […]
El Castillo's newly discovered pyramid
The ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá, in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, is thought to date back to the 6th century. The site has many a treasure, from an intricate nunnery to a sacred cenote, but El Castillo is the most glittering jewel in Chichén Itzá's crown. The pyramid, whose name means 'The Castle', towers to 79 feet (24m). Its design, including 365 steps, one for each day of the year, is a nod to the Maya calendar. And today, it's still slowly relinquishing its secrets.
In 2016, scientists used imaging technology to peer inside El Castillo and found something amazing. Experts already knew of a second, smaller pyramid hidden away within El Castillo's outer shell, but this technology uncovered a third. It's thought that this third pyramid measures about 32 feet (10m), and the discovery has helped scientists conclude that Chichén Itzá's heyday and its construction can be split into three key eras. The new pyramid is believed to have been built in the early 'Pure Maya' era from around AD 500 to 800, before the arrival of the Toltec peoples. Until now, little has been known of this ancient period of the site's history.
Source: Love Exploring
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Divers swimming through Heracleion, an ancient Egyptian city that’s now under water, have discovered a trove of artifacts, including the remains of a temple, gold jewelry, coins and the missing piece of a ceremonial boat, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities.
Divers swimming through Heracleion, an ancient Egyptian city that’s now […]
37 kilometers southeast of the city of Tizimin in Yucatan, Kulubá is located. It is quite an interesting Mayan archaeological site since everyday something new shows up.
37 kilometers southeast of the city of Tizimin in Yucatan, […]
Hindu legends say that one of Krishna’s sons built the impressive Konark Sun Temple to honor the solar deity for healing him. Although this temple was actually built during the 13th century, it was conceived to be a monumental representation of the chariot of Surya, the Sun God.
“Here the language of stone surpasses the language of human.” […]
Machu Picchu, Peru
Built on an 8,200-foot (2,500m) ridge, the world’s most famous Inca site has a spectacular setting amid the Andean peaks of southern Peru. The stonemasons who constructed this city in the 15th century didn't use mortar with the 150 buildings made from fine dry stone walls. Mystery still surrounds the purpose of the citadel, but it's thought to have been both a residential and religious centre. The name Machu Picchu is interpreted as Old Mountain.
The city was probably home to fewer than 1,00 people, who perhaps served a royal dynasty. The site was abandoned a mere hundred years after it was built, around the time of the Spanish invasion of Central America, although there is no evidence the Spaniards ever found the remote city. The myriad stone steps connecting temples, storehouses, palaces, baths and 700 agricultural terraces are testament to a lost but advanced civilisation.
Source: Love Exploring
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The real reason for Easter Island's statues
The Chilean territory of Easter Island is famed for its gargantuan stone statues, or moai. There are hundreds of these sombre stone heads and torsos dotted across the isle, and while the exact date of their origin is unconfirmed, estimates usually fall between AD 1,050 and 1,680. The real mystery, though, is why these monuments were erected in the first place. But after years of deliberation, some scientists think they have the answers. By carefully mapping the moai's positions, experts found a correlation between the statues' locations and the presence of fresh water.
Though the island has no springs or streams above ground, researchers found that, near the coast, fresh water would surface from underground via a process called groundwater discharge. It could also have been found in caves. Though they're still unsure why the structures are so elaborate (some are more than 30 feet/9m), scientists are convinced they were in part built to signify and lay claim to this vital resource.
Source: Love Exploring
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Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (known also as the ‘Golden Rock’) is a Buddhist pilgrimage site located in the Mon State, an administrative region in the southern part of Myanmar / Burma. The site consists of a small pagoda resting on top of a giant granite boulder which is covered with gold leaves. Kyaiktiyo Pagoda is considered to be one of the three most important Buddhist sites in Myanmar / Burma, along with the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, and the Mahamuni Buddhist Temple in Mandalay.
Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (known also as the ‘Golden Rock’) is a […]
Archaeological explorers in Mexico have confirmed the existence of hidden tunnel and a 50-foot (15 meter) diameter chamber beneath the Pyramid of the Moon in modern-day San Juan Teotihuacán, northeast of Mexico City.
Archaeological explorers in Mexico have confirmed the existence of hidden […]
The Ramanathaswamy Temple is regarded as one of the holiest Hindu temples in India. This sacred site is located on Rameswaram Island, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu between mainland India and Sri Lanka. The Ramanathaswamy Temple, which is dedicated to the god Shiva, is notable for a variety of reasons, including its outer set of corridors, which are reputed to be the longest of their kind in the world.
The Ramanathaswamy Temple is regarded as one of the holiest […]
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