Researchers often find various amazing human-made artefacts during archaeological excavations. These tangible discoveries unravel the history and lifestyle of those who lived on Earth thousands of years ago. They reveal information about past human societies, but also leave the experts with mysteries and questions that are difficult to answer. From the Baghdad Battery to the Tartaria Tablets, here are some enigmatic archaeological discoveries that continue to intrigue and puzzle researchers and enthusiasts.
1) The Baghdad Battery: It is one of the most mysterious artefacts, which showcases an intriguing part of ancient technology. The Baghdad Battery was unearthed in 1936 near the ruins of Ctesiphon, which is in modern-day Iraq, around 35 km southeast of Baghdad. The battery consists of a terracotta pot (about 13-15 cm tall), a copper cylinder inserted inside and an iron rod placed within the cylinder. When assembled, the iron rod is isolated from the copper by bitumen (natural asphalt).
The Baghdad Battery continues to puzzle scientists, with some believing that it could function as a simple galvanic cell if filled with an acidic liquid, which would generate a small electric current (less than 1 volt). Meanwhile, some think that it was just a vessel meant to store scrolls or sacred objects. The Baghdad Battery could work as a primitive battery, but whether the ancient people actually used it that way is still debated.
Photo Credit: X/@@rcheohistories
2) The London Hammer: It is a controversial object often brought up in discussions about "out-of-place artefacts" (OOPArts). This iron hammer was found in 1936 near London, Texas. It was encased in a rock formation that appears to be from the Cretaceous period. The hammer looked like a fairly standard 19th-century tool, and not different from miners' hammers of that era.
Some experts claim that the hammer was "embedded in 400-million-year-old rock", suggesting it couldn't have been made by modern humans.
But according to some explanations on the concretion process, the hammer was likely from the 19th century. It is believed that minerals from the surrounding environment (especially in a highly mineral-rich area like Texas) can cement around objects very quickly, forming a hard nodule that looks like ancient rock.
Photo Credit: X/@4biddnKnowledge
3) Moai Statues: The Rapa Nui are a Polynesian people, the majority of whom live on Rapa Nui, now called Easter Island, which is a Chilean territory. The island is famous for massive moai statues, which are up to 40 feet tall and 75 tonnes in weight.
However, various questions are also raised about their origins. Some believe that these giant statues were built to pay tribute to dead kings to immortalise their spirits.
Many raise questions about how these statues were created and how they were transported. When it comes to the statues, researchers have attempted to explain that the statues could be "walked" using ropes to manoeuvre them from the quarry to their platforms.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
4) Antikythera mechanism: The Antikythera mechanism, made of bronze gears housed in a wooden case about the size of a shoebox, is an ancient Greek device, often described as the world's first known analogue computer. As per the report, it was designed to predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance. Some believe that it is thought to have been used for calendrical and astrological purposes, as well as for tracking the cycles of the Olympic Games.
The Antikythera mechanism was found in 1901 in the wreck of a Greek cargo ship off the island of Antikythera, between Crete and the Peloponnese. It was believed to be built around 150-100 BCE (some estimates suggest as early as 205 BCE).
The mechanism was so sophisticated that it was not matched in Europe until the development of astronomical clocks in the 14th century CE, over 1,000 years later. Hence, many doubt its origin.
Photo Credit: X/@GeniusGTX
5) The Piri Reis map: It is one of the most fascinating cartographic artefacts from the Age of Exploration. It was drawn by Piri Reis (1470-1553), ho was an Ottoman admiral, navigator and cartographer. It was apparently compiled in 1513, using about 20 different source maps. The map was painted on gazelle skin parchment.
Now, only about one-third of the original map survives, which was rediscovered in 1929 in Istanbul's Topkapi Palace. The map shows parts of the coasts of Europe, Africa and South America, with surprising accuracy for its time. It contains notes written by Piri Reis himself, as he mentioned his sources-including Portuguese charts, Arab maps and possibly one of Christopher Columbus's maps.
However, the map became a topic of debate as some claim that it depicts the coast of Antarctica free of ice, which has fueled speculation about ancient advanced knowledge or lost civilisations. Most historians, however, argue this is a misinterpretation and that the area represents South America drawn with distortions.
6) Nazca Lines: The Nazca Lines, which are in southern Peru, are a group of pre-Columbian geoglyphs etched into desert sands. These large geoglyphs depict animals and shapes whose purpose remains speculative. The patterns are made by removing the oxidised top layer of rock to reveal the lighter-colored sand beneath.
The lines remain mysterious, with historians trying to understand the precise meaning and intent behind them.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
7) Tartaria Tablets: Some claim these ancient tablets show unexpectedly advanced writing, though interpretations vary. Archaeologist Nicolae Vlassa discovered them in 1961 during an archaeological excavation at a Neolithic site in Tartaria, Romania. It is said to be evidence of the earliest forms of writing in the world.
8) Egyptian Pyramids: These pyramids, at Giza, near Cairo, served as tombs for pharaohs, designed to protect their bodies and treasures for the afterlife. They are made of massive quarried stone blocks. For example, millions of limestone blocks were used for the Great Pyramid. However, the construction techniques and exact purpose of these monumental structures remain subjects of debate.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
9) Stonehenge: Located on Salisbury Plain in southern England, Stonehenge continues to mesmerise. As per historians, it was built roughly 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. It is believed that Stonehenge was part of a larger sacred landscape.
However, mystery shrouds the purpose and construction methods of this megalithic monument.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
10) Dropa Stones: The Dropa (or Dzopa) stones are part of a controversial and widely regarded as mythical story that blends archaeology with UFO lore. As per reports, it was discovered in 1938 by a Chinese archaeologist named Chi Pu Tei in caves of the Bayan Har Mountains (on the border of China and Tibet).
The Dropa stones are said to be circular stone disks (about 30 cm wide, with a hole in the centre). It resembles a phonograph record. The disks allegedly contained tiny carved symbols or hieroglyph-like writing. After translation, the writing told the story of an extraterrestrial race (the "Dropa") that crash-landed on Earth around 12,000 years ago.
However, there's no verifiable evidence that these stones exist today, and the supposed original reports in Chinese journals are untraceable or fabricated.
Most historians and archaeologists consider the Dropa stones legend a modern hoax, likely invented in the mid-20th century and spread through sensational magazines.
