10 Epic Ancient Discoveries
From cave paintings and mysterious lost cities; to the world’s oldest temples; Here are 10 Epic Ancient Discoveries!
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It Takes a Village
The remains of a human settlement estimated to be three times older than the Egyptian pyramids was discovered in British Columbia … and experts think it may help shed light on early civilization in North America. The 14,000 year old village was located on Triquet (trih-KAY) Island … over 300 miles northwest of Victoria, Canada. Artifacts like spears, fish hooks and tools for creating fire were found that date back to the Ice Age. Experts say the ancient discovery could help to alter the ideas of how North America was first inhabited by humans. The presence of the coastal village has led researchers to believe that a great migration of humans could have occurred on the coastline of British Columbia. The discovery also seems to coincide with stories found in the oral traditions of the indigenous Heiltsuk (HI-yelt-suk) Nation … Where tales of ancient coastal villages have been passed down for generations. Now it seems archaeological evidence could support those stories!
Por Bajin (poor bah-gin)
Did you know there is a mysterious island located high in the mountains of a remote Siberian lake? Archaeologists found it in 1891, located near the Mongolian border. The labyrinthine structure is called Por Bajin … and appears like it could be a fortress, or some sort of prison. Sprawling more than 8 acres, it’s thought to date back some 1,300 years … but much of the rectangular edifice is still well-preserved and remains intact. But its purpose still remains a mystery. Some researchers have suggested it was constructed to attract people, not to imprison them. Other theories speculate that Por Bajin could have been used as a summer palace, a monastery, or even an astronomical observatory. Some experts said they were surprised to
Find hints of Chinese architecture, such as a roof tile that was uncovered. Some experts have observed that the shape of Por Bajin is comparable to that of the Forbidden City in China. Do you think there’s a connection?
Ggantija (GAHN-tie-jah)
Located on the Maltese island of Gozo, this megalithic complex is comprised of two two temples, which are dated at more than 5,500 years old. After Gobekli Tepe (GO-beck-lee Teh-pay) in Turkey, this is thought to be the world’s second oldest religious structure created by humans. But exactly how it was constructed still presents a mystery. When it was made, island natives would not have had metal tools or the wheel. Experts say that the huge stone building blocks might have been transported to the site by using ball bearings -- small spherical stones have been found which might have fulfilled this purpose. Figurines and statuettes found there have been associated with fertility rites. That has led researchers to think the temples may have housed a fertility cult. But its exact function still remains unknown. What is known is that these temples are older than the pyramids of Egypt!
The Vulture Stone
Gobekli Tepe (GO-beck-lee Teh-pay) in Turkey is considered by many to be the oldest temple site in the world, estimated to date back to around 9,000 BC. Scientists examining a pillar called the Vulture Stone found ancient carvings there … that could suggest fragments from a swarm of comets struck the earth around 11,000 BC! That event is thought to have taken out animals like the woolly mammoth … and may have helped spark the rise of civilization. Experts from the University of Edinburgh (ED-in-burr-UH) were analyzing the mysterious animal carvings on the pillar to see if they might match up with constellations. The animals were interpreted as astronomical symbols. By using computer software to match their positions to patterns of stars, the event could be traced to around 11,000 BC. Experts think the fragments hit the earth after a giant comet from the inner solar system broke apart. The event's time frame would coincide with the Younger Dryas (DRY-us) Period … a time in which a sharp drop in temperature was experienced …and the first Neolithic civilizations were emerging. The comet’s impact is thought to have initiated a mini ice age that could have lasted for over 1,000 years. Scientists say the carvings were intended as a record of the catastrophic event … and suggests that Gobekli Tepe may have served as an observatory to monitor the constellations.