Unusual finds of archaeologists. The ten most significant archaeological finds in the world The latest excavations of archaeologists
There have always been many historical mysteries in the world. Fortunately, the answers to many questions turned out to be practically under our very nose, or rather under our feet. Archeology has opened the way for us to know our origins with the help of found artifacts, documents and much more. Until now, archaeologists tirelessly dig out more and more new imprints of the past, revealing the truth to us.
Some archaeological discoveries simply shocked the world. For example, the Rosetta stone, thanks to which scientists were able to translate many ancient texts. The discovered Dead Sea Scrolls turned out to be extremely important for the world religion, allowing to confirm the texts of the Jewish canon. The same significant finds include the tomb of King Tut and the discovery of Troy. The discovery of traces of the ancient Roman Pompeii has given historians access to the knowledge of the ancient civilization.
Even today, when it would seem that almost all science is looking forward, archaeologists are still finding ancient artifacts that can change our understanding of the planet's past. Here are the ten most influential world history discoveries.
10. Mound Hisarlyk (1800s)
Hisarlik is located in Turkey. In fact, the discovery of this hill is evidence of the existence of Troy. For centuries, the Iliad of Homer was nothing more than a myth. In the 50-70s of the 19th century, trial excavations were successful, and it was decided to continue the research. Thus, confirmation of the existence of Troy was found. Excavations continued into the 20th century with a new team of archaeologists.
9. Megalosaurus (1824)
Megalosaurus was the first dinosaur to be explored. Of course, fossil skeletons of dinosaurs were found before, but then science could not explain what kind of creatures they were. Some believe that it was the study of Megalosaurus that was the beginning of many science fiction stories about dragons. However, not only this was the result of such a find, there was a whole boom in the popularity of archeology and humanity's passion for dinosaurs, everyone wanted to find their remains. The found skeletons began to be classified and exhibited in museums for public viewing.
8. Treasures of Sutton Hoo (1939)
Sutton Hoo is considered Britain's most valuable treasure. Sutton Khu is the burial chamber of a King who lived in the 7th century. Various treasures, lyre, wine goblets, swords, helmets, masks and more were buried with him. Surrounding the burial chamber are 19 mounds that are also graves, and excavations at Sutton Hoo continue to this day.
7. Dmanisi (2005)
Ancient man and the creatures that evolved into modern Homo sapiens have been studied for many years. It would seem that today there are no white spots left in the history of our evolution, but a 1.8 million-year-old skull found in the Georgian city of Dmanisi made archaeologists and historians think. It represents the remains of the Homoerectus species, which migrated from Africa, and confirms the hypothesis that this species stands separately in the evolutionary chain.
6. Göbekli Tepe (2008)
For a long time, Stonehenge was considered the oldest religious building in the world. In the 60s of the XX century, this hill in southeastern Turkey was potentially older than Stonehenge, but very soon it was recognized as a medieval cemetery. However, in 2008, Klaus Schmidt discovered 11,000-year-old stones there, which were clearly processed by a prehistoric man who did not yet have either clay or metal tools for this.
5. Headless Vikings of Dorset (2009)
In 2009, road workers accidentally stumbled upon human remains. It turned out that they dug up a mass grave in which more than 50 people with severed heads were buried. Historians immediately looked into the books and realized that once there was a massacre of the Vikings, it happened somewhere between 960 and 1016. The skeletons belong to young people in their twenties, the story suggests that they tried to attack the Anglo-Saxons, but they resisted very zealously, which led to the massacre. Vikings are said to have been stripped and tortured before being beheaded and thrown into a pit. This discovery sheds some light on the historic battle.
4. Petrified Man (2011)
Findings of fossilized human remains are far from new, but this does not make them less terrible and, at the same time, attractive. These beautifully mummified bodies can tell a lot about the past. Recently, a petrified body was found in Ireland, its age is about four thousand years, scientists suggest that this person died a very cruel death. All the bones are broken and his posture is very strange. This is the oldest fossilized man ever found by archaeologists.
3. Richard III (2013)
In August 2012, the University of Leicester, together with the City Council and the Society of Richard III, organized, leading to the discovery of the lost remains of one of the most famous English monarchs. The remains were found under a modern parking lot. The University of Leicester has announced that it will initiate a complete DNA study of Richard III, so the English monarch could be the first historical personality whose DNA will be tested.
2. Jamestown (2013)
Scientists have always talked about cannibalism in the ancient settlements of Jamestown, but neither historians nor archaeologists have ever had direct evidence of this. Of course, history tells us that in ancient times, people in search of the New World and riches often found a terrible and cruel end, especially in the cold winter. Last year, William Kelso and his team discovered the punctured skull of a 14-year-old girl in a pit filled with the remains of horses and other animals that the settlers ate during the famine. Kelso is convinced that the girl was killed to satisfy her hunger, and the skull was pierced to get to the soft tissues and brain.
1. Stonehenge (2013-2014)
For many centuries, Stonehenge remained something mystical for historians and archaeologists. The location of the stones did not allow us to determine what exactly they were used for and how they were arranged in this way. Stonehenge remained a mystery that many struggled with. Recently, archaeologist David Jackis organized excavations that led to the discovery of the remains of bison (in ancient times they were eaten and also used in agriculture). Based on these excavations, scientists were able to conclude that Stonehenge was inhabited in the 8820s BC and was not at all conceived as a separate object. Thus, pre-existing assumptions will be subject to revision.
In Russia, the development of archeology as a scientific branch began in the 18th century. Since then, many archaeological finds have been made: Byzantine bracelets, ancient leather goods, relief tiles, clay toys, treasures, jewelry, axes, knives, bronze daggers, nomadic items, etc.
A large number of historical artifacts have been found by archaeologists in Moscow. A real sensation was the treasure discovered in 1967 during the construction of the northern ramp of the Rossiya Hotel. The builders found an earthenware jar with silver ingots bearing hallmarks of the 14th-15th centuries.
Archaeologists find ancient artifacts today not only in Moscow and the Moscow region, but also on the Taman Peninsula, in Kerch, as well as in four centers of ancient cultures: on the shores of the Baltic, in Veliky Novgorod, in the center of the North-East of Ancient Russia - the Suzdal opolye - and on the territory of the former Bosporan kingdom. Along with objects of Christian culture, archaeologists discover objects related to pagan times. Some finds date back to the first period of the Stone Age, the Paleolithic, which began about 2.5 million years ago.
See infographics AiF.ru, what interesting finds were discovered in Russia.
The most famous archaeological finds in Russia
"Archaeology is an exact academic discipline with a touch of gold rush." —Howard Carter opened Tutankhamen's tomb.
Place of discovery Description
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Mammoth Dima (Kirgilyakh mammoth)
1977, the mouth of the Kirgilyakh stream, Susumansky district, Magadan region
At a depth of 2 m from the surface of the earth, during the opening of the alleged gold deposit, the body of a baby mammoth 104 cm tall and weighing about 90 kg was discovered. Mammoth lived from 13 to 40 thousand years ago. His skin, entrails and soft tissues perfectly preserved. He got his "name" Dima from the name of a small stream near which he was found. For the first time, such a find was suitable for research.
Arkaim
1987, on the border of the Bredinsky district and the Kizilsky district of the Chelyabinsk region
Fortified settlement of the Middle Bronze Age at the turn of III-II millennium BC. e consists of a fortified city, two necropolises and the remains of ancient pastures (pens). The city has two circular walls, one surrounded by the other. Rooms shaped like a circular sector are attached to both annular walls. Between the walls was a ring road, from this road to central square leading straight streets. The city had a storm sewer with water drainage. The monument is distinguished by the unique preservation of defensive structures, the presence of synchronous burial grounds and the integrity of the historical landscape.
Roman legionary helmet
Rostov region
During the laying of the Rostov-Taganrog highway, a helmet was found, as well as the remains of a scabbard, clothes, typical for the vestments and ammunition of a Roman soldier from the times of the Roman Republic. The helmet of the Celtic type was common in the 1st-2nd centuries BC. Archaeologists believe the find is someone's lost treasure, as it was found at an ancient crossroads of trade routes between Europe and Asia. According to another version of archaeologists, a Roman detachment attacked one of these trade caravans, but received a fitting rebuff, and the deceased warrior-commander remained lying for centuries in the Don land.
Birch bark letters
Velikiy Novgorod
Letters - monuments of writing of Ancient Russia of the XI-XV centuries. The first birch bark was found in 1951 in a residential area of ancient Novgorod. It was a list of feudal duties scratched on birch bark in favor of some Thomas. Following Novgorod, many documents on birch bark were found in Staraya Russa, Smolensk, Pskov, Vitebsk, Mstislavl and Tver. Birch bark letters helped archaeologists learn about the sphere of human relationships, lifestyle, economic ties between people, as well as existing conflicts.
Mangazeya
Yamal-Nenets autonomous region
Description – Mangazeya is the first Russian polar city of the 17th century. In 1968, during excavations, archaeologists discovered many items, items made of leather and fabric, the remains of ancient defensive structures and about forty buildings of the most diverse - residential, economic, administrative, commercial and religious - purposes.
Archaeologists have explored approximately 15 thousand m² of territory. During archaeological sites it turned out that the polar city had a division typical for ancient Russian cities into the city itself (the Kremlin) and the settlement.Basilica of medieval Chersonese
modern Sevastopol in Crimea
Discovered in 1935, the 6th-century basilica was a rectangular building divided inside by longitudinal rows of columns. The ruler of Kyiv, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, accepted the rite of baptism in Chersonese. In which Christian church this happened is unknown. But the most studied Christian monument of medieval Chersonesus is the remains of the basilica.
Treasures of the Golden Horde
Outskirts of Simferopol, Crimea
In 1967, on the outskirts of Simferopol, during the work on arranging the foundation pit, a large number of gold and silver jewelry with inserts of pearls, emerald, spinel and other stones, gold coins, headdress ornaments, paiza with the name of Khan Keldibek, which is a gilded plate about 30 cm long, made of silver. In fact, it was a letter of credence that the khan presented to his ambassadors. Treasures were buried in the second half of the XIV century, during the invasion of Timur. According to historians, they were brought from various places: China, Northern India, Iran, Asia Minor, Yemen, the Levant, Venice and Genoa, which indicates the extensive contacts of the Golden Horde.
"Princess Ukok"
Plateau Ukok, Republic of Altai
In 1993, during the excavation of a burial mound on the Ukok plateau, the mummy of a woman was found, which is more than 2.5 thousand years old. The inhabitants of the region called the mummy Princess Ukok (Altai Princess, Ochy-bala). The mummy lay on its side with its legs slightly tucked up. She had numerous tattoos on her arms. During excavations, archaeologists discovered that the deck in which the body of the buried was placed was filled with ice. That is why the mummy is well preserved. Analysis of the princess's DNA and skeleton showed her Indo-European origin.
"Varangian guest"
Pskov, st. Soviet
In 2003, during archaeological excavations not far from the chambers of the merchant Podznoev, near the Staro-Voznesensky Monastery, the burial of a noble woman, in a Scandinavian costume and jewelry, who lived about a thousand years ago, was discovered. Silver coins were found in the burial, which the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII presented to Olga's embassy in 957, a Scandinavian costume and jewelry. Archaeologists suggest that the place of her burial was associated with the passage of trade routes, which may have been under the control of a separate Scandinavian settlement.
Denisov man
Altai region, 250 kilometers from the city of Biysk
In 2008, the phalanx of a finger of a 9-year-old girl was found in the Denisova Cave in the Altai Territory. Using DNA analysis, it was possible to establish that the remains belong to a human species, representing a special branch in the evolution of the genus Homo, different from both Neanderthals and modern humans. This species is called Denisovan man.
The ruins of the palace of King Mithridates VI Eupator
Taman Peninsula
In 2009, archaeologists discovered a building that was built in the 1st century BC, as well as well-preserved ceramics, wallets with coins. Mithridates the Great became ruler in 113 BC. e. As a result of successful military campaigns, he managed to subdue almost the entire Black Sea coast. He received the Taman peninsula from the Bosporus king from the Spartokid dynasty who had renounced power.
Treasure of the Venets
Bryansk region, in the Desna river valley
In 2010, "black diggers" discovered a treasure, consisting of jewelry created in the third century AD by Slavic jewelers. The hoard includes several sets of bronze jewelry, both for women and men. Among them are head rims, hryvnias, chest chains, brooches (clasps for clothes), bracelets, pendants, glass beads, dating back to the 3rd century AD.
15 egg-shaped fossils
With. Wet Olkhovka, Kotovsky district of the Volgograd region
In 2010, after the collapse of the ground during the flood, 15 egg-shaped fossils came to light. Their diameter is 1–1.2 meters. As before, scientists cannot give an unambiguous answer about the nature of this anomaly. Some argue that these are still the eggs of ancient dinosaurs that lived here millions of years ago. Other versions include the fruits of ancient marine plants, the crash site of an alien ship, or the phenomenon of iron rocks coming to the surface.
Byzantine temple IX-XI centuries.
With. Cheerful in the Imeretinskaya lowland
In 2011, in the southwestern part of the Imeretinskaya lowland in the Olympic development zone, the ruins of a temple built by Byzantine builders from local sandstone were found. It belongs to the “inscribed cross” type common at that time (when the dome on the light drum is supported by four pillars. An iron cross, silver and bronze jewelry: pendants, pins, rings were also found at the excavation site. Studies have shown that the temple belongs to the rarest monuments Byzantine architecture on Russian territory.
Phanagoria temple of ancient Greek colonization
The village of Sennoy, Temryuk district of Kuban
In 2016, during the excavations of the Upper City, archaeologists discovered the oldest - the 5th century BC - an ancient temple in Russia. The area of the temple is about 14.5 square meters. It was built of mud brick without a foundation. An interesting feature of this Phanagorian temple is the location of a small altar on the left side at the entrance to the temple. Usually the ancient Greeks had altars outside the temples, not far from the entrance.
01.07.2013
This is Top 10 The most important interesting
No. 10. Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang
The famous first emperor of the Qin Dynasty is about 700,000 soldiers carved in stone, which were buried in one of the first halls of the tyrant's tomb. This unique creation of human hands would have remained unknown to history and science if local farmers had not started drilling wells in 1947, but instead of water they found one of the most striking and important finds in the history of archeology. Each warrior of this grave is individual and not like the others. All of them are created by hand, and the methods of their processing have sunk into centuries along with the great emperor. But not only ordinary soldiers were carved out by artisans for many years: statues of horses, officers were found in the tomb, soldiers were fully equipped with weapons (swords, crossbows, spears). Qin Shi Huang was one of those people who knew how to lead. Otherwise, this commander would never have been able to unite a vast territory into a single kingdom. Together with the soldiers, the emperor's slaves were buried in the tomb, and by no means in stone form. Ancient people believed that the army would help their emperor in afterlife will protect him. The emperor also planned to take his wealth to the other world: jewelry, valuable products, chariots, ordinary peasants (70,000 of whom were buried alive with him). The excavations of the tomb are still ongoing and have reached the final stage. Be that as it may, this Army will remain the clearest example of culture Ancient China. And this amazing archaeological find opens our list.
No. 9. The Dead Sea Scrolls
Qumran manuscripts - this is the name of one of the greatest gifts of the past millennia of mankind. Found from 1947 to 1956 in several caves in the Judean Desert. written mainly on biblical subjects, but there are also apocrypha and a description of the Qumran community. Each text is supplemented with excerpts from the book. Old Testament. However, it does not include the book of Esther. But once again saw the light of one fully preserved text of the book of Isaiah. The texts help expand understanding of many previously unknown details of the Old Testament, many textual traditions, and other interesting linguistic discoveries. There are texts containing the rules of the then society, the rules of warfare, and so on. It is believed that these scrolls are nothing more than the entire documentation, or library, of the Jewish Sect, which was hidden during the First Jewish Revolt (66-70 BC). The Dead Sea Scrolls reveal some connection with Christianity: after all and the Qumran community itself was a monastery in the Christian sense, and this despite the fact that before Christianity itself there were several more centuries. And this is the ninth place among interesting finds.
No. 8. Ashurbanipal Royal Library
This archaeological find, Found in the city of Neneveh in the middle of the 19th century. Ashurbanipal's library is one of the irretrievably bygone past. By order of the Assyrian king, it was created for more than 25 years. Since the king was more than anything in the world concerned with the management of the state, and magic, fortune-telling were considered the most effective ways of such management, a significant part of the library is occupied by the texts of prophecies, all kinds of rituals, conspiracies, prophecies. The bulk of the texts were taken from the Sumerian and Babylonian texts and rewritten. The library contained a huge collection of texts on medicine. There were lists of legends (for example, the epic of Gilgamesh), and of course, tablets that lift the veil on the life of ancient people (this includes legal documents, songs, household records)
It was thanks to the Ashshurban library that a huge number of cuneiform texts came down to us, which helped to better imagine the culture of Mesopotamia, and greatly facilitated the decipherment of texts in the Sumerian and Akkadian languages.
No. 7. Tomb of Tutankhamen
In 1922, one of the most remarkable events in the world of archeology took place, amazing find- Egyptologist Howard Carter discovered perhaps the most famous tomb in history - the tomb of Tutankhamun. And although until the 20th century, Tutankhamun was of no interest to historians, with the discovery of his tomb, a whole layer of ancient knowledge and things came into our world. The tomb of this young king is perhaps the most successfully preserved since that time, despite the fact that it was broken into by tomb robbers. Since Tutankhamen died very early, it is obvious that they did not have time to build a tomb for him, which means that he had to huddle in someone else's grave. It consists of a burial room, chamber, hallway, treasury. The entrance hall leads to a sloping corridor. Of course, there were treasures in the royal tomb. There, archaeologists have found statues, jewels, chariots - in a word, everything that, according to the ancient Egyptians, a king could need in the afterlife. Although this young king was not the most powerful and famous among the kings of Egypt, and his tomb is not the most grandiose in architecture, its importance lies elsewhere - in the objects of life and components that have survived to this day. ancient culture.
No. 6. Pompeii
6th in the Top 10 Most Important amazing archaeological finds. Pompeii ... There is probably no such person in the world who would not have heard about this and about the tragedy that happened to him. It was founded in 6 BC. like a Roman colony. The settlement prospered at the expense of the port and the resort area. This is easy to understand from the rich houses, temples, theaters and baths built within the colony. As in any self-respecting city, there was also an amphitheater and a forum. Earthquakes began as early as 63 BC, and destroyed the city until the ill-fated day. Despite the efforts of the inhabitants to restore the city, its fate was sealed. Ruthless Forces nature in the guise of Vesuvius decided to wipe the city off the face of the earth. It happened on August 24, 79. Lava completely destroyed the village. And so, under the cover of ashes, the city rested until 1599, but its research began only in 1748. Pompeii is the most successful example, an example of Roman life embodied in its practical application. It was on him that scientists managed to resolve many of their questions. The ashes managed to stop time, and over the past centuries to keep everything as it was on that last day: people, animals fleeing from there.
No. 5. Lascaux Cave
This cave complex is located in the southwest of France. One of the oldest monuments of human culture. Inside the caves are hundreds of drawings dating back to the Paleolithic era. This truly majestic treasure trove of human heritage was discovered, as all great things are usually discovered - quite by accident and by ordinary teenagers on September 12, 1940. About 2000 images of animals, people and animals are imprinted on the walls of this stone complex. unknown to science characters. Animals are represented by deer, cattle. There are quite recognizable figures of cats, feathered inhabitants of the sky, kings of the present forests - bears. The Lasko cave was used mainly for painting, and this is its value. To date, this complex is one of the largest caves with rock art that have come down to us. Fifth place in the top 10 interesting finds.
No. 4. Sinanthropus
This kind of man belonged to the hitherto unknown species of primitive man. In 1927, Her Majesty history wished to write this man on its pages, it was then that the Chinese anthropologist Pei Wen-Zhong discovered him in the Zhoukoudian cave near Beijing. The anthropologist managed to find parts of the skull, pieces of the lower jaw, teeth and many well-preserved bones of the skeleton. It turned out that the cave was a shelter for 45 of our distant ancestors. Extensive and in-depth studies have shown that Peking Man was upright, knew how to make tools from stone, and used fire. Peking Man significantly complemented the picture and ideas about ancient people. Thanks to him, we know more about our ancestors living in different parts of the world.
No. 3. Rosetta Stone
Another one interesting archaeological find. The Rosetta Stone is a basalt stele dated to 196 BC. Much is carved on this archaeological site: from the Egyptian decree about the veneration of Ptolemy V to the official Egyptian hieroglyphs. Destined for the temple, it found its place among the building stone at Fort Rashid. Captain Pierre-Francois Bouchard discovered this unusual slab, dotted with signs, on a hot July 1799, during famous campaign Napoleon in the Egyptian lands. Since the text on the stele is written in several languages, scientists, having studied them in detail, were able to penetrate the mysteries of a civilization unknown to them.
No. 2. Behistun Rock
The rock is a unique monument from the times of Darius the Great. The inscriptions on it are made in many languages. It was discovered by Englishman Robert Shirley in 1958. This text begins with a biography of King Darius, and captures what happened after the death of Cyrus the Great and Cambyses II. The Behistun Rock can be compared to the Rosetta Stone - the original inscription, and on both it is repeated several times, except perhaps on a completely different languages. The text on the Rock, for example, is written in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian. And just like the Rosetta stone allows you to understand the psychology of ancient people, to look at the world through their eyes. Undoubtedly, it is a unique example of cuneiform literature. Thanks to this rock, archaeologists have studied the civilization of Mesopotamia, Sumer, Persia, Assyria.
No. 1. Olduvai George
First place in Top 10 interesting and amazing archaeological finds. This large gorge in northern Tanzania, formed by the basin of one lake, opened itself to the world in 1911. However, humanity took action to study and excavate only 20 years later, in 1931. Three species of hominids were found in the gorge at once (an ape large sizes), such as Australopithecus boisei, Homo habilis and Homo erectus. In addition to everything, the remains of ancient animals were also found there: large antelopes, indigenous people of Africa - elephants, hares, etc. This historical monument has brought to our days all the remains of the various stages of development of our ancestors. Refuted any evidence that the cradle of mankind is not in Africa. Before us opened the source of life of hominids, their life. And in 1975, following the discovery of traces of hominids, it was claimed that they walked on two legs - one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.
During excavations, first of all, they pay great attention to the discovered antiquities - whether they are dusty clay shards or luxuriously painted frescoes. But on the surface, sometimes there are no less interesting finds that can tell about bygone days no less than the artifacts themselves.
1. Smiling pot
It is not often that you meet an ancient potter with a sense of humor. When archaeologists dug up a 4,000-year-old pot, it "smiled" at them. In 2017, when a seven-year-old excavation near the Syrian border uncovered another broken pot in Turkey near the Syrian border, it seemed that there was nothing unusual about it. But when the restoration team collected the pieces into a large pot-bellied pot, they noticed something very familiar. modern people- smiley.
Around 1700 B.C. someone squeezed out a pair of eyes in the wet clay and emphasized them with a “smile”. The single-handled white vessel used to consume sherbet is today considered the oldest emoji in history. The place where it was found is called Karkamis, and it once belonged to the Hittites.
2. Paleonora
In the 2000s, Brazilian geologists began to find strange caves. Most of them were long arched tunnels with perfectly level floors that merged into complex underground networks of chambers and passages. All indications indicated that these caves were not created by any natural geological process. But what made the whole network of such huge tunnels and caves in which a person can walk in full growth.
The solution was suggested by the deep grooves found on the ceilings and walls, which, after closer examination, turned out to be ancient claw marks. But what makes it all really strange is the scale of the so-called "paleonores". They are huge, even for the extinct giant sloths or armadillos, which are considered the most likely creators of these structures.
The largest hole was discovered in the state of Rondonia. The total length of its passages was 610 meters, while the tunnels were 1.8 meters high and 1.5 meters wide. To create just this hole, it took 4,000 meters of cubic rock to be dug. There is not the slightest explanation why animals needed such sophisticated shelters or why in North America there are no similar burrows, although giant sloths and armadillos also lived there thousands of years ago.
3. Resin in the burial ground
Near the River Deben in England, a 27-meter ship was excavated, which was used as a tomb. In fact, this discovery took place as early as eight decades ago at Sutton Hoo, an ancient cemetery considered one of the most important burial sites in the UK. Scientists suggest that the ship with precious metals and stones is the tomb of King Redwald, who died in 624 or 625 AD.
Most intriguing was the black substance found all over the boat. It was originally thought to be a waterproofing agent. But, thanks to the best technologies that became available in 2016, repeated tests showed an unexpected result. The tar-like material was a rare type of bitumen found exclusively in the Middle East. But what this bitumen did on the ship is not clear. It may have been exported at the time.
4. Prints on the sarcophagus
In 2005, a restoration team was working on a sarcophagus at the Cambridge Fitzwilliam Museum. The coffin belonged to a priest named Nespavershefit, who died around 1000 BC. Unexpectedly, under the lid, they found the dirty fingerprints of an artisan who made the coffin 3,000 years ago.
For some reason, the ancient workers worked on the inner lid before the varnish dried. As a result of such impatience, their prints were preserved for posterity. They were made public only 11 years later in 2016, when the unusual "artifact" was included in the first major exhibition dedicated to Egyptian artists and how their styles have evolved over 4,000 years.
5. Chrysocolla amulet
The Egyptians took flowers seriously and gave each one its own meaning and quality. Researchers knew that the color green symbolized growth, harvest and health in Egypt. It was important enough to place scarabs carved from green stone next to the hearts of mummies. But no one suspected why the color green was also prominent when it came to Egyptian children. According to ancient records and hieroglyphs, the youth even wore green make-up.
A recent discovery shows that Egyptian parents believed that this color could protect their offspring. When examining a child's mummy, a leather pouch with a bright green chrysocolla amulet was found on the body. When a child died 4,700 years ago, in Egypt, malachite was the most widely available green mineral. Chrysocolla was a rare commodity, available only in Sinai and the East Egyptian Desert.
A similar chrysocolla figurine depicting a boy supports the theory that a certain green-colored mineral was used only by children. Several experts agree that the amulet found on a toddler who died of malaria was likely meant to ensure health and safety in the afterlife.
6. Scythian burial mounds
When archaeologist Andrey Belinsky unearthed yet another mound in Russia, he found something he had kept secret for years. It was a Scythian grave belonging to a mysterious nomadic people, after which nothing remained but thousands of mounds. Not surprisingly, any new information about their culture is highly appreciated by scientists. In 2013, Belinsky's team found a 2,400-year-old hidden underground chamber with gold jewelry and vessels. To avoid looting, the discovery was kept silent. During the study, a lot of new things were found out about Everyday life Scythians.
A sticky black residue was found on the inside of one vessel, which was identified as cannabis and opium. This is the first confirmation of the claim of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus that nomads used drugs during rituals. Scenes of violence were depicted on the outer surface of this vessel. The other vessel depicts scenes that clearly reflect the cruel Scythian afterlife. On them, the Scythians fight each other, and also the old man kills the boy.
7. Bread of St. Francis
The monks from the monastery of Folloni faced a harsh and hungry winter. According to a 700-year-old legend, one night an angel brought bread and left it on the threshold of the monastery. The monks believed that the food was sent by Saint Francis of Assisi, who was in France at the time. The monks even considered the bag in which the bread was a shrine and kept it for seven centuries. Scientists decided to check the old legend and tested the preserved piece of the bag.
It turned out that the age of the fabric dates back to about 1220-1295, i.e. coincides perfectly with the year when the miracle happened (1224). The scientists then examined the inner surface of the textile and found ergosterol. This biomarker is commonly found in molds associated with baking, brewing and agriculture. Most likely, the medieval material came into contact with bread. These data, together with the age of the relic, confirm the myth.
8. New Testament stained with urine
Another religious artifact from Italy is an incomplete Bible called the purple Rossan Codex. The manuscript contains only the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, the 1500-year-old book is among the oldest New Testament manuscripts and has long puzzled scholars with its purple pages (dye was difficult to make in those days). Initially, it was assumed that the parchment was treated with a substance secreted by sea slugs of the genus Murex.
In 2016, when conducting X-ray fluorescence, scientists could not detect bromine on the pages (and it should be contained in substances obtained from slugs). As a result, it turned out that the manuscript was treated with orcein (a natural dye that is extracted from lichens), as well as ... fermented urine. The processing process required the presence of ammonia, and at that time there was no other source of ammonia other than urine.
9.
In 2010, the Egyptian Supreme Council for Antiquities experienced a real panic. Something began to happen in the tomb of Tutankhamun that scientists could not explain. Almost every surface, including frescoes, whitewash on the walls, and even silver, began to show brown spots. Worried that tourists' breath was spurring microbial growth, the council called in experts from Los Angeles. The stains did turn out to be bacteria that had been dead for thousands of years. These organisms led to another mystery.
Firstly, they could not be identified using DNA analysis, scientists could only establish that it was a fungus. Secondly, the presence of this fungus added questions about the already mysterious pharaoh. Tutankhamun died quite suddenly at the age of only 19, about 3,000 years ago. It seems that he was buried just as quickly. The most reasonable assumption is that Tutankhamun died without his own pyramid.
As you know, the pharaohs prepared places for rest long before death. In this case, the tomb was erected in the shortest possible time, hastily prepared and sealed, while the frescoes and plaster were still damp. This moisture, combined with the workers' skin cells and breath, led to the emergence of microbes. Similar stains have not been found in any other Egyptian tomb. Therefore, this is a real mystery: why the pharaoh was in such a hurry to bury.
10. archives
Another purple pigment damages scrolls all over the world. But the ancient scribes themselves never added pigment, which over the years "ate" the texts and destroyed the parchment. To get to the root of this problem, the researchers studied a damaged book from the Vatican Secret Archives. This 5 meter high goatskin scroll was a petition written in 1244 AD. Marginal notes have already disappeared under the purple color, and some pages have become completely unreadable.
Suspecting the presence of microbes, the researchers took samples from the scroll for gene sequencing. Unlike the mysterious "intruder" in Tutankhamun's tomb, this type of bacteria has been identified. However, the fact that it was marine bacteria caused bewilderment, because the history of the scroll was in no way connected with the ocean. But the damaged manuscripts had one thing in common - they were made from animal skins. This turned out to be the key that helped to find the solution.
The skins were treated with sea salt, which was contaminated with marine organisms, including those that produce a purple dye. Bacteria began to multiply in the goatskin when the temperature and humidity were right. Today, the damage done to many manuscripts is irreparable, but researchers continue to hope that one day they will be able to safely remove the remaining pigment.
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Archeology is one of the most important sciences that sheds light on our past. But what if our past is not quite the way we imagine it to be?
website collected for you unexpected finds that greatly surprised historians.
1. Central heating in the palace of the Minoans 2700-1400. BC e.
An unexpected discovery was made at Knossos, in the ruins of a palace. The ancient Minoans heated the castle with cylindrical structures with semicircular roofs, which were placed under the floor and heated with fire, as a result, heat spread throughout the palace.
2. Vending machine 100 BC e.
Surprisingly, modern vending machines had a very solid ancestor who traded holy water in ancient temples. It was invented by Heron of Alexandria, the author of many amazing inventions. The machine itself worked like this: people threw a coin, it pushed the lever, which, in turn, slightly opened the valve, allowing a small portion of holy water to flow out. Unfortunately, such a brilliant idea was forgotten and vending machines were reinvented at the end of the 19th century.
3. Venetian vampire - an artifact of the XVI century
An unusual artifact was found in Nuovo Lazzaretto (Lazzaretto Nuovo), located in the Venetian lagoon, in 2006-2007. During the excavations of the graves, a skull with a brick in the jaw was found. That is how, judging by the written sources of those times, vampires were buried (a brick in the mouth should neutralize it). Further studies of the skull showed that it belonged to a 60-70-year-old woman (and this is a very respectable age for those times), a European and a peasant woman, that is, she did not stand out in any way, except for age, from ordinary residents. So why was she considered a vampire? Science does not give an exact answer to this question.
4. An ancient Viking settlement in North America before its discovery by Columbus. Late 11th century
L'Anse aux Meadows is an ancient Viking settlement built 500 years before Columbus discovered North America. From 1961 to 1968, Helge Ingstad and Anne Stine Ingstad, after conducting a series of archaeological excavations, determined that the site was of Norwegian origin. Such a discovery forces us to reconsider the established geographic hypotheses. The question of where the Vikings came from in North America remains open.
5. Automatic doors in Ancient Greece. Second half of the 1st century A.D. e.
The same brilliant Heron of Alexandria invented automatic doors long before the turbulent 20th century. One can imagine how amazed the ancient people were when they saw such a miracle in their temples (namely, such doors stood in them). The air heated on the altar started the mechanism, and then, as they say, it was a matter of technology.
Source 6The Controversial 1937 Mr. Pynchon and the Settlement of Springfield Mural
"Mr. Pynchon and the Springfield Settlement" is a 1937 mural by Italian artist Umberto Romano that was found to contain what appeared to be a smartphone. If you look closely at the Indian on the right, it seems that he is typing a message on his phone. What it really is, no one knows. Although various theories have been put forward.
7. The first vertical shower from ancient Greece. Beginning of the 2nd century BC e.
Leonardo da Vinci was a brilliant inventor, and no one was surprised to discover in the 1950s a drawing of a robot, most likely intended for military operations. It is not known whether the scientist carried out his plan, but the robot itself looks very believable and could imitate simple human movements.
9. Ancient chemical weapons in 256 AD e.
During excavations in the Syrian city of Dura-Europos at the beginning of the 20th century, scientists discovered the remains of 19 Roman centurions and one Persian warrior in a tunnel. Initially, it was believed that they died in a collapse, but further research revealed an amazing truth. The soldiers suffocated from the gaseous mixture of burning sulfur and tar. Prior to this incident, archaeologists had not yet found evidence of the use of chemical weapons.
