10 Most MYSTERIOUS Archaeological Discoveries

From the newly discovered stone "wheels" in Saudi Arabia, to the oldest and most mysterious human temple in Turkey, these are 10 Most MYSTERIOUS Archaeological Discoveries ! 5. Chactun -- Ancient City -- In 2013, an enormous Maya city was found in Mexico’s Yucatan jungle. Archaeologists discovered the city ruins cover 54 acres, and includes the remains of pyramids, plazas, and ball courts. Three massive complexes with the remains of pyramids were found -- one of which stood 75 feet high. Named “Chactun” (shack-tun), this is one of the largest Maya sites ever discovered. Estimates indicate the Maya inhabited the city between the years 600 to 900 AD. The height of the Maya civilization ended some 1200 years ago thanks to the ravages of war and climate change. Loggers actually discovered these ruins decades ago, but didn’t consider them important enough to report. 4. The Terracotta Army -- Archaeologists in China made a discovery in 1974 that turned out to an incredible display of funeral art … some think it’s the greatest such display of all time. The excavation uncovered more than 8,000 clay soldiers buried close to the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (kin shy hwang). The terracotta army was buried as a means of protection for the emperor against any dangers he might encounter in the afterlife. Archaeologists also discovered various weapons along with the soldiers, who were precisely lined up within various clay corridors. Three of the four main pits at the site contain the miniature soldiers and weapons, while the fourth one remains empty. The emperor’s tomb and many areas of the complex remain unexcavated … The ancient complex is thought to be around 2,200 years old. 3. Lost Civilization -- In 2015, archaeologists discovered the stone foundations of two cities deep in the Honduran jungles. Experts date the area between 1000 and 1400 AD, and believe no humans have inhabited the area for at least 600 years. Remains of a pyramid, and plazas have been uncovered, along with the effigy of a half-human, half-jaguar spirit. It’s possible that the location is the legendary La Ciudad Blanca or White City, that the Spanish conquistadores were searching for … and was thought to be the birthplace of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. There’s also speculation this could be the Lost City of the Monkey God. Researchers were aided by using Light Detection and Ranging -- or LiDar technology that allowed them to identify ancient settlements and ruins through the forest. 2. Por Bajin (poor bah-gin) -- In 1891, archaeologists found a mysterious island high in the mountains of a remote Siberian lake. Located near the Mongolian border, Por Bajin appears like a fortress or a kind of prison. The labyrinthine structure sprawls more than 8 acres … and is thought to date back some 1,300 years. Despite that, many walls are still intact and we--preserved. Yet it’s still unknown why the rectangular fort was built … or what it was used for. Some theories suggest it may have built to attract people, not imprison them. Or it could have been used as a monastery, a summer palace, or even an astronomical observatory. Experts were surprised to find hints of Chinese influences, such as a Chinese roof tile that was uncovered … interesting, because some observers have pointed out that Por Bajin has the same approximate shape as China’s Forbidden City! Could there be a connection? Let us know what you think.. 1. A big discovery in Turkey might end up rewriting history. Archaeologists excavated a carving in the ancient Turkish city of Gobekli Tepe (go-beck-LEE tepay). The pictograms were found on a limestone pillar, and displayed a scene showing a human head on a vulture’s wing, with a decapitated human body below it. Experts think the pictograms could be around 12,000 years old … if so, that would make it the oldest written language discovered to date! The pictogram is thought to display the practice of sky burials, which were used during the Neolithic period when there were no graves. Sky burial is a ritual where corpses are left left on the mountainside for scavengers to eat. That practice still exists in areas of Tibet. Archaeologists have discovered around 200 T-shaped pillars in 20 circles, some as tall as 20 feet. Only a few ancient written languages have survived. While some cave paintings date back 30,000 years, they are considered more artistic than a writing system. Pictograms, however, are regarded as a basic form of written language, using pictures to convey meaning. Subscribe to Epic Wildlife http://goo.gl/6rzs5u Let's Connect -- http://www.epicadamwildlife.com/ -- http://www.facebook.com/epicadamwildlife -- http://www.twitter.com/epicwildlife -- http://gplus.to/epicwildlife