Surprising revelations about the planet’s greatest landmarks
The truth about Hierapolis’ ‘gate to hell’
The truth about Hierapolis’ ‘gate to hell’
In ancient times, animals would be led to Plutonium by priests as part of a sacrificial ritual, and the crowd would look on in awe as the beasts dropped dead once inside the temple’s cave-like interior. This earned the building a reputation as a passage to the underworld. Today, birds and insects have been known to perish upon entering and scientists recently discovered the cause – a fissure deep beneath the structure that releases toxic levels of carbon dioxide.
The secrets surrounding Egypt’s Bent Pyramid
The secrets surrounding Egypt’s Bent Pyramid
The 331-foot (101m) structure has benefited from a year of restoration efforts, and excavations all around the vast Dahshur pyramid site (home to the Pyramid of King Amenemhat II and the Black Pyramid too) have revealed a whole host of treasures. These included a network of hidden tombs, and a range of sarcophagi containing mummies dating to the Late Period (664–332 BC). Archaeologists also found stone-cutting tools and funerary masks.
Secrets of Tutankhamun’s tomb
Further south, in the Valley of the Kings, the last resting place of King Tutankhamun is still yielding secrets. And some are quite literally out of this world. When Howard Carter opened the tomb in 1925, two daggers were found with the sarcophagus, one of which was resting on the right thigh of the king. Studies have now confirmed this weapon is made from iron that probably came from a meteorite. The composition of the 13.4-inch (34.2cm) long dagger’s blade contains a high amount of nickel that’s not found anywhere on Earth, suggesting to scientists that its raw materials were extraterrestrial.
Surprising new sights at Chan Chan, Peru
Surprising new sights at Chan Chan, Peru
Hagia Sophia’s newly discovered treasures
One of Istanbul’s most striking sights, Hagia Sophia draws tourists in their droves with its domes, minarets and mosaic-filled interiors. Dating to the 6th century, the structure began life as a Byzantine church, before becoming a mosque in the 1400s. Since 1934 it has served primarily as a museum but in July 2020 it was announced Hagia Sophia would return to being a Muslim place of worship. Its secrets are only just coming to light and research at this spectacular site is ongoing and innumerable treasures have turned up in recent years.
Hagia Sophia’s newly discovered treasures
One of the most exciting finds is the Great Baptistery, where it’s thought that emperors baptized their kin for more than a millennia. Around the same time, researchers discovered a space they believe was a library, once home to around 1,000 ancient scrolls. Finally, alongside hordes of mosaics, graffiti and frescoes hiding beneath more modern plasterwork, experts uncovered a circular spot that may look like nothing to the untrained eye. However, those in the know think this was where Byzantine emperor Justinian I would have stood during religious ceremonies.
Domus Aurea’s secret chamber
Domus Aurea’s secret chamber
Thankfully, though, the palace complex was preserved underground, and it’s still revealing fresh secrets. The latest discovery is an entire room, happened on by chance during restoration work. Thought to have been constructed between AD 65 and 68, the Sphinx Room, as it has been named, is a small chamber adorned with murals, from garlands and fruit to centaurs and a lone sphinx. Though there’s more of the space to be discovered, experts are reluctant to excavate further for fear of making the structure unstable.
The Colosseum’s hidden details
Rome’s colossal amphitheater features high on many a bucket list and it’s a place ripe for archaeological discoveries. Construction of the Colosseum began around AD 70 for Roman emperor Vespasian and, upon its opening, thousands of viewers would come to witness bloody gladiatorial games and other spectacles. But recent studies of the site have revealed more of the historic arena’s hidden secrets. Firstly, during renovation efforts in the past few years, workers discovered a series of red numbers painted into the amphitheater’s arches.
The Colosseum’s hidden details
The exposed numbers indicate that Roman spectators at the Colosseum followed an ordered seating plan and system of entry, not too dissimilar to those we’d expect at modern concert venues and theatres today. Even more recently, in 2017, renovation efforts led to more surprises. This time discoveries were linked to a medieval baronial family (the Frangipane), who existed after the fall of the Roman Empire, and who built a fortress into the Colosseum’s southern side.
The Colosseum’s hidden details
Examinations discovered holes in the monument’s stone – these would have supported beams for a wooden walkway that the Frangipane used to look out for enemies. While little is left of the medieval family’s influence, these tiny details help open up a lesser-known portion of the Colosseum’s history.
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Tikal’s concealed sites
The ruins of Tikal, an ancient Maya civilization, take up pride of place in northern Guatemala’s Tikal National Park. It’s thought that the site could have been settled as early as 600 BC, but the imposing pyramidal temples that wow modern visitors were constructed later (between AD 600–900). Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tikal is still giving up its secrets. As recently as 2018, advanced LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) technology helped experts make some fascinating discoveries there.
Tikal’s concealed sites
The laser technology, which uses light to map previously concealed sites, revealed that the famed vestiges of Tikal are a mere fraction of the Maya ruins that exist here. Experts discovered previously uncharted palaces and fortresses, as well as ancient highways and irrigation systems. This new information has led scientists to conclude that the 800-square-mile (2,072sqkm) area of the Petén region surveyed could have supported a population of around 10-15 million people. This is compared with five million people, as originally thought.
The surprising scale of Angkor
The surprising scale of Angkor
Petra’s new monument
Petra’s new monument
The historic earthquake at Machu Picchu
Tucked away in the Andes Mountains, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu remain one of the world’s most lauded historic sites. More than half a million people usually journey here each year, often following the fabled Inca Trail. But the ancient site, built around the mid-15th century and made up of temples, plazas and a royal palace, has suffered under the weight of the huge visitor numbers. New restrictions were imposed in 2017 as a result, but still fascination with this ancient wonder is far from waning.
The historic earthquake at Machu Picchu
The historic earthquake at Machu Picchu
The ancient tunnels below the Pyramid of the Moon
The vast archaeological site of Teotihuacán is less than an hour north of Mexico City. Little has been concluded about the ancient city’s origins, but it’s thought to have flourished between 100 BC and AD 650, more than a millennia before it was settled by the Aztecs. The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest structure on the site, at more than 216 feet (66m) above the ground. But it is the smaller (140 feet/43m) Pyramid of the Moon that has yielded the most interesting secrets in recent years.
The ancient tunnels below the Pyramid of the Moon
Using complex electric resistance technology, archaeologists were able to map the area beneath the Pyramid of the Moon. They found a secret tunnel running around 26 feet (8m) beneath the pyramid, as well as a kind of chamber. Experts believe Aztec peoples could have used the chamber for funereal rituals or ceremonies, and therefore the tunnel itself could have signified the route to the underworld. The next step will be to explore these subterranean wonders and hopefully shed more light on the customs of this ancient civilization.
The real significance of the Taj Mahal’s garden
The real significance of the Taj Mahal’s garden
Using satellite technology, Sparavigna spent time plotting the path of the sun over the monument and found that its movements perfectly align with the Taj Mahal’s gardens. According to Sparavigna, if you visited the Taj Mahal before sunrise on the day of the Summer Solstice (usually 21 June), and you stayed right until sunset, you’d see the sun beat a perfect path from a pavilion in the site’s northeast to another pavilion in the northwest. As the sun moves overhead it beautifully frames the Taj Mahal’s mausoleum and minarets.
The real significance of the Taj Mahal’s garden
El Castillo’s newly discovered pyramid
El Castillo’s newly discovered pyramid
In 2016, scientists used imaging technology to peer inside El Castillo and found something amazing. Experts already knew of a second, smaller pyramid hidden away within El Castillo’s outer shell, but this technology uncovered a third. It’s thought that this third pyramid measures about 32 feet (10m), and the discovery has helped scientists conclude that Chichén Itzá’s heyday and its construction can be split into three key eras. The new pyramid is believed to have been built in the early ‘Pure Maya’ era from around AD 500 to 800, before the arrival of the Toltec peoples. Until now, little has been known of this ancient period of the site’s history.
The meaning behind Göbekli Tepe’s stone carvings
Widely touted as having the world’s oldest temple, the site of Göbekli Tepe in Turkey has its origins between 9,600 and 8,200 BC, dramatically predating better-known wonders, such as the revered Pyramids of Giza. The plot is made up of limestone megaliths and is said to have never been inhabited. Instead, experts believe Göbekli Tepe had a ceremonial or funereal purpose, and ancient peoples would come here to worship. Since the site was originally written off as a graveyard in the 1960s, real excavation work only began in the early 1990s. This means there’s still much to be uncovered.
The meaning behind Göbekli Tepe’s stone carvings
In 2017, experts from the University of Edinburgh made an exciting breakthrough. After studying the carvings on Göbekli Tepe’s stone pillars, they uncovered evidence that a comet struck Earth in 11,000 BC. Markings on a pillar nicknamed the ‘Vulture Stone’ turned out to be astronomical symbols that related to the comet and the constellations over the site at the time. Scientists then used technology to recreate the constellations, and nail down the exact time of the comet. The comet had great significance for this ancient community since it was linked to the start of a mini ice-age, which would deeply impact its people for years to come.
The real reason for Easter Island’s statues
The Chilean territory of Easter Island is famed for its gargantuan stone statues, or moai. There are hundreds of these somber stone heads and torsos dotted across the isle, and while the exact date of their origin is unconfirmed, estimates usually fall between AD 1,050 and 1,680. The real mystery, though, is why these monuments were erected in the first place. But after years of deliberation, some scientists think they have the answers. By carefully mapping the moai’s positions, experts found a correlation between the statues’ locations and the presence of fresh water.
The real reason for Easter Island’s statues
Pompeii’s hidden house
Pompeii’s hidden house
The buried ‘House of Jupiter’ (pictured) is an art-filled home thought to have belonged to a member of Pompeii’s elite. Archaeologists believe it had been unearthed before, in the 18th or 19th centuries, but was forgotten as other parts of the site were excavated. Experts rediscovering the house found paintings (including one of god Jupiter, hence its nickname), as well as colorful wall designs and frescoes, coins and ornaments. This find offers revealing insights into the lifestyle of Pompeii’s upper classes. Find more of Pompeii’s secrets here.
The Great Wall of China’s little-known segments
China’s famous Great Wall is a series of ramparts and fortifications, spooling out for thousands of miles across the country. While the best-known portions of the wall have their origins in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), parts of it are thought to date back to 220 BC. Still the well-preserved Badaling section, around one hour 30 minutes from Beijing, remains the wall’s most touristed segment. But some of the more remote sections are suffering, crumbling and weather-beaten, and if they’re not restored soon they may fall into irreparable ruin.
The Great Wall of China’s little-known segments
Today, though, advanced drone technology is giving archaeologists the chance to explore previously inaccessible parts of the structure. It’s allowing experts to acquire detailed site data, including the precise locations of battlements and arrow holes, and then produce 3D images. One affected section is Jiankou, a deteriorating chunk of the wall some 48 miles (77km) from Beijing. Archaeologists can then use the information gathered to plan restoration efforts and preserve this wonder for generations to come.
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The hidden history of Hadrian’s Wall
The hidden history of Hadrian’s Wall
A Roman barracks at the fort of Vindolanda, just south of Hadrian’s wall, was discovered in 2017, and excavated to reveal a whole heap of treasures. Findings included army accommodations, stables, fireplaces and pottery, as well as two wonderfully preserved Roman swords, an extremely rare find. Other discoveries included writing tablets, leather shoes, lances and arrowheads, and the value of the property left behind indicates that its occupants left in a hurry. Thought to have been established in AD 105, the barracks predate the wall. Thus, experts say, they offer an insight into the tumultuous stretch of time just before the wall’s eventual construction.
The curious case of the Ellora Caves
The curious case of the Ellora Caves
According to new research, the caves have remained so wonderfully intact for more than 1,000 years because hemp, or cannabis, was historically used to conserve them. A pair of Indian researchers who studied samples of plaster from the structure, concluded that hemp was used to strengthen the buildings and to ward off harmful insects that would have damaged the carvings and cave paintings here. The discovery is fascinating since it shows the ingenuity of architects potentially working as early as the 6th century.
The mystery of the Great Pyramid of Giza
One of the world’s most mesmerizing archaeological feats, the Great Pyramid is the largest of Egypt’s three Pyramids of Giza, and one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Ancient World’. It originally soared to a mammoth 481 feet (147m), with construction beginning from around 2,550 BC. Today, the triad of pyramids attract millions of tourists each year. But despite their celebrity status, they still hold some secrets, one of which was revealed in 2018.
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The mystery of the Great Pyramid of Giza
It has long been a mystery as to how the towering Great Pyramid was constructed more than four millennia ago. But a group of archaeologists from Cairo’s French Institute for Oriental Archaeology and the University of Liverpool think they’ve cracked it. In an ancient quarry in Hatnub, where it’s thought the pyramids’ building blocks were made, the team discovered remains of a curious contraption, dating back to the era when the structures were erected.
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The mystery of the Great Pyramid of Giza
The instrument, the team discovered, included a central ramp with a staircase on either side and several postholes. Experts believe this ramped device formed part of a system used to haul heavy rocks via a sled from the quarry, and transport them to the Great Pyramid’s construction site. While not conclusive, this imaginative tool offers some insight into how this ancient wonder came to be.
The secrets of Stonehenge
Experts have mused over the significance and purpose of these prehistoric pillars in England for years. The most common consensus is that Stonehenge, on Wiltshire’s Salisbury Plain, was used for religious or funereal ceremonies. The stone circle is thought to have been erected in around 2,500 BC and visitors have come from around the globe to gaze up at the imposing structures, and especially to see them silhouetted against a blazing sunset. While Stonehenge still holds many mysteries, experts believe they’ve unraveled a few of them.
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The secrets of Stonehenge
The secrets of Stonehenge
The new research involved carrying out detailed tests on the previously excavated remains of 25 people buried in pits beneath the henge. It found that 10 of these people hailed from parts of southwest Wales, where some of Stonehenge’s rock is also thought to come from. The other 15 people are believed to originate from somewhere in western Britain.
The secrets of Stonehenge
Most recently, in July 2020, a study pinpointed where Stonehenge’s large upright sandstone boulders, called sarsens, originated from. New chemical analysis of a stone that was removed during restoration works in 1958 shows it’s likely these huge blocks were quarried just 15 miles (24km) away in West Woods, Wiltshire. Further analysis shows that 50 of the 52 stones at the site have the same chemical structure, but where the other two boulders came from remains a mystery. Here, the stunning spot is pictured as the Comet NEOWISE passes over on 21 July 2020.
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