Over the years, a number of archaeological discoveries have made headlines for all the right and wrong reasons. While some discoveries left us enthralled, others left us completely baffled. In addition to baffling us, these unbelievable discoveries forced us to challenge our very view on how life existed before us in the ancient world. Here are 5 such stupefying archaeological discoveries that are considered the most baffling till date.
The Dropa Stones
Image Source : BadArchaeology
Discovered in 1938 in the caves of the Baian Kara Ula Mountains on the China-Tibet border, the Dropa Stones were unearthed along with a number of graves and wall depictions. The depictions showed images of the sun, moon and stars along with individuals with elongated heads. The graves contained beings no more than three feet tall and abnormally large skulls.
The stones were found inside the tombs and contained several grooves filled with small signs and carvings. Attempts made by Professor Tsum Um Nui from the Beijing Academy for Ancient Studies to translate the signs and carvings were thwarted. When he finally published his hypothesis, it was suggested that the stones could be a result of an alien race arriving on earth and mingling with the natives.
Antikythera Mechanism
Image Source : DecodingTheHeavens.Com
The discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism had many baffled about the existence of advanced scientific technology even before 2000 years. The artifact was discovered in the midst of the ruins of a sunken ship and is purported to be a Greek invention. Reports suggest that the mechanism was used to calculate everything from solar eclipses to astronomical events. Some even claim that the mechanism might have been related to Archimedes in some way.
Aluminum Wedge of Aiud
Image Source : Cloudfront.Net
Discovered in 1974, the Aluminum Wedge of Aiud predates any aluminum artifact ever unearthed. The wedge was discovered along with two mastodon bones at least 35 feet under the ground along the banks of the Mures River. Studies reveal that while aluminum itself was discovered in 1808, the discovery of the hammer shaped wedge along with the mastodon bones creates a theory of the existence of the metal even 11000 years ago. Some claim that the artifact resembles a part of the landing gear that might have been used in an alien spacecraft.
Voynich Manuscript
Image Source : Bbci.Co.Uk
Considered by many as an elaborate hoax, the Voynich Manuscript is a handwritten text book filled with statistical details of the natural world, complete with drawings and inscriptions. No codebreaker or cryptographer has been able to decipher the 15th century text till date. And in spite of being considered a hoax, the manuscript has everyone baffled by the sheer fluidity in which the book was written.
Giants of North America
Image Source : Cultofweird.Com
A baffling discovery in North America involved archeologists stumbling across the remains of what can only be considered as giant human beings. Dating back to the 1800s’, these skeletons were unearthed in several areas around the country and measured between 10 and 12 feet tall. They also featured a double row of teeth which were found to be twice as large as those present in humans today. While many claim these bones to belong to a race of Sasquatch that has gone extinct since then, others hint at the possibility of the existence of an ancient race of such humans.
A number of archeological discoveries made over the years have baffled us and continue to baffle us till date. These discoveries tend to redefine everything we have ever read in history books, providing us with facts and statistics that remain mysterious and unexplained to this day.