Amazing and unexplained things found on Earth (12 Photos)
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With all of the technology that we have, and for how long we’ve been around, you’d think that we’ve discovered everything there is to be discovered as far as the past goes. The truth is that, well, we haven’t. Sometimes, when we do find something, we don’t know or understand what they were used for.
Here are some cool discoveries, both explained and unexplained, that we’ve come across.
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Saksaywaman:
These giant stones have been sitting just outside of Peru ever since the year 1100. Built by the Inca Empire, these massive boulders are particularly impressive because they fit perfectly together without the use of mortar. The stones together create a citadel just outside of the city of Cusco, Peru, the historic capital of the Inca Empire.
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The Longyou Grottoes:
The Longyou Grottoes consist of manmade 24 caves, carved out of siltstone in Fenghuang Hill, near the village of Shiyan Beicun, China. Discovered in 1992, it is estimated that these caves are over 2,000 years old. Their construction isn’t documented anywhere in history, and no one really knows what they were for.
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The Voynich Manuscript:
There is virtually nothing known about this manuscript. It is estimated that it was created in the 15th century, possibly in Italy. It has been studied by professional cryptographers, including American and British codebreakers from both World War I and World War II to no avail. The fact that nobody has been able to decipher this book has titillated people all over the world since it was discovered in 1912.
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The Gate of the Sun:
Situated near Lake Titicaca and built somewhere around 500-950 CE, this archway was carved out of a monolith. It comes equipped with beautiful and intricate carvings that are thought to represent an early form of astrology. When it was discovered by explorers in the 19th-century, it had been toppled over and had a crack in it. Today, it stands where it was discovered- however, some people believe that where it is now wasn’t its original location.
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Gobekli Tepe:
Founded in the 10th millennium BCE, and abandoned in the 8th millennium BCE, this ancient site consists of over 200 pillars that weigh approximately 10 tons each. There is still much to be discovered here, and the things that have been discovered so far show a glimpse into the lives of the ancient people of what is now modern-day Turkey.
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Yonaguni Monument
These massive stairs and walkways that sit off the coast of Yonaguni, Japan, are the topic of controversy as people can’t decide whether or not it is man-made or a natural occurrence. These flat edges and perfect 90-degree angles seem to be manmade, but scientists believe that water currents have naturally cut these shapes out of the stones.
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L’Anse aux Meadows:
Dating to c. 1000, this archeological site is believed to be the only evidence of Norse settlement outside of Greenland. It is situated on the northernmost tip of of the Great Northern Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland, Canada. Today, the area is mostly grass and some re-creations, but 1000 years ago it was likely filled with trees that were good for buildings boats and houses. This area is proof that actual Vikings made their way to Canada and settled here for a bit. Amazing.
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Stone Age Tunnels
Stone Age tunnels that span across from Scotland to Turkey have been baffling experts for years. No one really knows how people back then were able to create such large and intricate tunnels. It is simply mind-blowing.
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Mohenjo-daro:
Built around 2500 BCE, this site was incredibly complex and advanced for the time. It is situated in Sindh, Pakistan, and is said to have been home to over 40,000 people. This major urban settlement has signs of city planning, social organization and a draining system.
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Unfinished Obelisk:
This ancient site in Egypt is a cool example of how the famous Obelisks of Egypt were constructed. Carved directly out of bedrock, cracks within the granite forced the project to b abandoned thousands of years ago.
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Stone Spheres of Costa Rica:
Sometimes referred to as the DiquÃs Spheres, there are over 300 of them located on the DiquÃs Delta and on Isla del Caño, Costa Rica. It is uncertain as to what they were really used for, but the best estimate is that they were placed in lines that lead to the houses of chiefs.
