100 Tombs Opened for the First Time in Thousands of Years

KirTop Top 100

From a panda buried beside an emperor to Viking silver, lost cities, and a tomb sealed for 2,000 years, these discoveries prove the past is stranger than fiction. Join Kir Top for archaeology’s wildest mysteries—from buried treasures to a giant volcano on Mars. #History #Archaeology #AncientHistory Subscribe for more incredible stories from the past. Comment and tell us what you liked most from the video!  👉 This channel was created in collaboration with https://www.youtube.com/@kirtop-100samyh  0:00:00 - Tombs, Burials, and Ancient Monuments 0:10:24 - Ancient Sites and Archaeological Finds 0:21:10 - Lost Civilizations and Ancient Treasures 0:32:22 - Ancient Cultures, Artifacts, and Discoveries 0:43:38 - Hidden Places and Ancient Ways of Life 0:54:09 - Treasures, Tombs, and Monumental Finds 1:05:40 - Mummies, Mysteries, and Ancient Treasures 1:16:14 - Egyptian Tombs and Mars's Giant Volcano  We're now available on Spotify! Listen now https://open.spotify.com/show/03446rMw7NEQKZvD764T3X

Transcript

00:00:00I'm Kurthop and these are 100 tombs open for the first time in a thousand years.

00:00:09A panda in a tomb.

00:00:11The great Chinese emperor Wen, who lived 2200 years ago, passed away.

00:00:17And here's what's interesting.

00:00:18Near his final resting place, archaeologists discovered the remains of a giant panda and a tapir.

00:00:24Until that moment, scientists didn't even suspect that tapirs could have lived in China during the emperor's reign.

00:00:29And many other animals were also found near the tomb.

00:00:33From mighty tigers to peacocks and golden snub-nosed monkeys.

00:00:37Unfortunately, many of them are endangered today.

00:00:41Slavic Graves in Germany

00:00:43In the city of Brandenburg, Ander Havel in Germany, archaeologists came across something truly astonishing.

00:00:50They discovered a 10th century cemetery where each of the 18 graves held numerous grave goods,

00:00:55something never before seen in similar excavations across the region.

00:01:00Moreover, three of these graves are child burials, and each one tells an entire story without a single word.

00:01:06Have you ever wondered where the name Brandenburg came from?

00:01:09It might be connected to the Slavic term Brainy Boar, meaning defensive or border forest.

00:01:15And here, on this land settled by the Slavs since the 6th century, we see unique evidence of their life

00:01:21and culture.

00:01:22This cemetery is different from the others.

00:01:25Here, the graves are laid out in a specific pattern, and instead of coffins, peculiar wooden burial chambers were used,

00:01:30which was quite unusual for that time in this region.

00:01:33And the most fascinating part is the grave goods.

00:01:37Just imagine, about 40 items were recovered from the grave of a 6-year-old girl, including glass beads, fish

00:01:43vertebrae, and even a bronze bead,

00:01:45as well as quartz, carnelian, and glass beads of various colors.

00:01:50The Pyramids of Meroe

00:01:53Everyone knows about Egypt's pyramids built as tombs, but Sudan actually boasts the largest collection of these incredible ancient structures.

00:02:00What a twist!

00:02:01Sudan is often associated with civil wars and disease, but this country is a goldmine for culture and history enthusiasts.

00:02:08At the top of the list are the Pyramids of Meroe.

00:02:11They were built in Nubia, one of the earliest civilizations of ancient Africa, and served as the final resting place

00:02:17for the last pharaohs of the ancient city of Meroe.

00:02:20Over 200 pyramids, spread across three sites, were built as royal tombs for the 40 kings and queens, who ruled

00:02:26the Nubian kingdom of Kush for over a thousand years.

00:02:30This period is known as the Meroitic period.

00:02:33Unlike the pyramids of Giza, the Meroe pyramids are built from granite and sandstone and are characterized by their small

00:02:39bases and steep slopes.

00:02:40Inside the tombs, many artifacts are found. Ceramics, glass, quivers of arrows.

00:02:45Despite the damage, the pyramids retained their magic, especially at dawn and dusk.

00:02:51Bad reliefs depicting scenes from ancient Egyptian mythology point to the strong influence of that culture.

00:02:59Ritual figurines

00:03:01Built after 1325, the Templo Mayor served as the spiritual center of Tenochtitlan until 1521, when Spanish conquerors destroyed it.

00:03:11But thanks to the efforts of the Templo Mayor project and Aina, the history of this temple comes to life

00:03:17before us once again.

00:03:18The Templo Mayor was not just a building, it was a place of worship for Huitzilopochti and Tlaloc, symbolizing war

00:03:25and fertility.

00:03:26Today, its remains can be seen near the Zocalo in Mexico City. Recent excavations have uncovered the Petlackeli, a treasure

00:03:34chest where figurines and various artifacts were found.

00:03:37These discoveries shed light on the ancient Aztec culture and rituals. As archaeologist López Luján states, these figurines held a

00:03:45special significance in religious rituals.

00:03:46Also, a stone chest was found, dating back to the reign of Moctezuma, one containing more than 186 relics.

00:03:55These finds are a testament to the rich and unique culture of the Aztecs.

00:03:59The Terracotta Army, China, in the heart of China, at the foot of Mount Lician, a stunning panoramic view of

00:04:07the Terracotta Army, one of the 20th century's greatest archaeological discoveries, unfolds.

00:04:13Created over 2000 years ago to protect the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

00:04:20This army is a colossal collection of over 8000 warrior statues, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses.

00:04:28Each warrior is unique. Unique! His facial features, clothing, shoes, everything is crafted with astonishing detail.

00:04:33Uncovering this complex in 1974, archaeologists were stunned by the scale and excellence of this work.

00:04:36Incredibly, every figure in the Terracotta Army was painted.

00:04:39But many of them have faded over time.

00:04:50The Terracotta Army of China is a testament to the greatness of the Qin Empire and its quest for immortality.

00:04:56It stands as a living reminder of the might, talent and ambitions of ancient Chinese civilizations.

00:05:03Today, these statues represent not only a historical legacy, but also a symbol of China's cultural wealth.

00:05:10An unfinished antediluvian structure.

00:05:13In the mysterious valleys of Lebanon lies Baalbek, a city that holds the enigmas of ancient times.

00:05:19A recently discovered structure at this site has provided new information, confirming Baalbek's unique significance for archaeology and world culture.

00:05:27For a long time, the megalithic architecture of Baalbek remained a mystery to scientists.

00:05:33The construction methods and reasons for creating such large-scale structures were unparalleled.

00:05:37However, the latest discovery offers new interpretations and opportunities for understanding ancient civilizations.

00:05:43Baalbek, located in the Beka Valley, is renowned for its significant role during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

00:05:48From the moment it was conquered by Alexander the Great, the city underwent significant transformations, becoming a bridge between Eastern

00:05:56and Western cultures.

00:05:57We culture left its mark on the architecture and art of Baalbek, which is evident from the stylistic features of

00:06:03its structures.

00:06:04The Romans, in turn, expanded and reinforced its status as a religious and cultural center by erecting magnificent temples and

00:06:11public buildings.

00:06:12The most famous structures in Baalbek are the temples dedicated to Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus.

00:06:17These temples are known not only for their magnificence, but also for the engineering achievements embodied in their construction.

00:06:23One of the most significant elements is the stone of the pregnant woman, a gigantic megalith, weighing over a thousand

00:06:30tons,

00:06:30which was never included in the final construction of the temple.

00:06:33The 2014 discovery at the quarry has only deepened the mysteries surrounding these ancient construction techniques.

00:06:40The discovery showed that the ancient builders used technology far ahead of their time, which raises questions about the origin

00:06:47and spread of ancient engineering knowledge.

00:06:51Comparing Baalbek to other ancient wonders such as Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, one can notice common threads in their

00:06:56logistical and engineering approaches.

00:06:58For example, transporting the enormous stones for Stonehenge or building the pyramids at Giza required not just physical resources but

00:07:06advanced planning and astronomical knowledge as well.

00:07:09Modern archaeological methods such as ground penetrating radar surveys and 3D scanning are opening new horizons in the study of

00:07:16ancient technologies.

00:07:19Stone age bag around 2500 BC. A Neolithic dweller in what is now Germany came up with a unique solution

00:07:28to decorate his bag.

00:07:32During excavations near Leipzig in 2012, archaeologists discovered more than 100 dog teeth neatly arranged in a grave, suggesting they

00:07:39once adorned the flap of a bag.

00:07:42Archaeologists noted that over time the leather or fabric of the bag disintegrated, leaving only the teeth, all pointing in

00:07:48the same direction.

00:07:49These teeth likely decorated the outside of the bag. They are all oriented the same way, resembling a modern flap.

00:07:56These discoveries were made at the Profen quarry.

00:07:59Other significant artifacts were found in the same area, including the burial of a woman who lived around 1950 BC

00:08:06buried with half a kilogram of gold jewelry.

00:08:09Yet even against the backdrop of such rich finds, the bag with dog teeth was a true revelation.

00:08:15This is the first time archaeologists have found direct evidence of the existence of such an accessory.

00:08:21Decorating this bag required the teeth of 10 dogs.

00:08:25In other burials of that era, archaeologists also found wolf teeth, dog teeth and shells, which were apparently used to

00:08:31decorate blankets and clothing.

00:08:33When the fabric decomposed, only these decorative elements remained.

00:08:38A tomb, used for burials for 700 years, in one Egyptian tomb.

00:08:43People were buried for almost 700 years.

00:08:45New bodies were placed on top of the old ones, until the small burial chamber literally turned into a multi

00:08:51-tiered cemetery.

00:08:52And among these burials, archaeologists found one very strange detail.

00:08:57An adorned dog lying on the feet of a man and a woman.

00:09:00We are talking about tomb TT 209.

00:09:03Not far from Luxor.

00:09:05It began to be used around the 8th century BC, and the last burials appeared there already during the Ptolemaic

00:09:11period.

00:09:12The researchers counted 16 relatively well-preserved bodies and the remains of at least 4 more people.

00:09:17At first everything looked quite orderly.

00:09:19People were buried separately in their own coffins.

00:09:21Their personal belongings were left beside them.

00:09:24But generations passed, and space became increasingly scarce.

00:09:27Yet, for some reason, they continued to use that tomb.

00:09:30Eventually, they began placing new coffins directly on top of the old ones.

00:09:34In several layers, archaeologists literally see one burial on top of another.

00:09:38By the end of the tomb's history, it had become a veritable multi-level system.

00:09:43And somewhere in this burial confusion, a dog appeared.

00:09:45It was placed there intentionally, not brought in by chance.

00:09:49What exactly it symbolized is unknown.

00:09:51Perhaps the animal was meant to accompany the deceased into the afterlife.

00:09:55Such beliefs were quite common for Egypt.

00:09:58The very same burial chamber was opened again and again over hundreds of years, each time adding newly deceased to

00:10:04it.

00:10:05Why this tomb remained so important to people dozens of generations later, we still do not know.

00:10:12The King's Giant Table

00:10:15In the hills of the English county of Herefordshire, stands a stone structure that locals have linked with the legendary

00:10:22King Arthur for centuries.

00:10:24Nine vertical pillars support a massive flat slab.

00:10:27According to legend, it was right here that Arthur slew the giant, and the imprint left by the monster's fall

00:10:32is still pointed out on one of the stones to this day.

00:10:34It sounds like a fairy tale from a shivaric romance.

00:10:37And for a long time, that's just how everyone treated it.

00:10:40And then for the first time in history, archaeologists excavated what lies around and beneath the stones.

00:10:45The fairy tale dissolved because the reality turned out to be far more complex.

00:10:49The structure was built by Britain's first farmers, about 6000 years ago.

00:10:53That's 1500 years older than the Egyptian pyramids, and noticeably older than Stonehenge.

00:10:59There wasn't even a thought of Arthur back then.

00:11:01He was still several millennia away.

00:11:04A team from Cardiff and Manchester Universities, led by Professors Keith Ray and Julian Thomas,

00:11:09discovered that this is not a solitary stone, but the heart of an entire sacred landscape,

00:11:13with a mound, an entrance, and a ceremonial procession area.

00:11:17In terms of the scale of ambition, scientists compare it to Stonehenge and other great sanctuaries,

00:11:22except it was built much earlier.

00:11:24And here is what completely rewrites history.

00:11:26The people who erected this weren't savages stuck in one place.

00:11:30Near the monuments, they found the quarry where the material came from,

00:11:33and among the discoveries were rock crystal brought from North Wales,

00:11:37and a specific volcanic rock from a distant Scottish island.

00:11:40That's hundreds of kilometers on foot, without wheels, without roads, with no forests or rivers.

00:11:456000 years ago, someone purposefully hauled beautiful, rare stones across half the island just to place them in this spot.

00:11:52So the giant really had nothing to do with it.

00:11:55But what actually happened turned out to be far more fascinating than any legend about knights.

00:12:01A crown.

00:12:03The oldest crown found to date was discovered as part of the Nahal Mishmar Horde in 1961,

00:12:09in the Judean desert near the Dead Sea.

00:12:12This astonishing horde included over 400 objects dating back to the Copper Age.

00:12:17The crown, made of blackened copper, is about 18 centimeters in diameter,

00:12:22and its upper rim is adorned with five figures.

00:12:25Among them are two long-necked birds, presumably vultures, stylized doors or gates,

00:12:31and a T-shaped object which might symbolize the hilt of a sword.

00:12:36Along with the crown, the horde included a scepter featuring horned animals,

00:12:40a woven copper basket, and numerous ceramic vessels and bowls.

00:12:44Despite the majestic appearance of the crown, scholars do not believe it was worn by a ruler.

00:12:49Most likely, it was used in ritual ceremonies or funeral rites.

00:12:53It remains a mystery how these treasures were stored in the cave for millennia,

00:12:57and this crown can be considered the first crown in the form we are accustomed to.

00:13:03Lakshmana Temple, India

00:13:05Among the ancient monuments of India, the Lakshmana Temple holds a special place,

00:13:09a majestic sanctuary built in the 10th century in the city of Khajuraho.

00:13:14This temple, dedicated to the god Vishnu,

00:13:16serves as a striking example of temple architecture in northern India.

00:13:20The exterior of the temple is striking in its elegance and detail.

00:13:24The carvings on the facades depict various episodes from Hindu mythology

00:13:28as well as showcasing the lives of the people of that era.

00:13:31The erotic sculptures attract special attention,

00:13:34considered symbols of spiritual unity and love.

00:13:37The temple's courtyard is adorned with stone-carved pillars, each unique in its design.

00:13:42The temple sanctuary houses a statue of Vishnu, showcasing his various avatars.

00:13:48The Lakshmana Temple is not merely an architectural wonder,

00:13:51but also an important testament to the religious, cultural and social life of ancient India.

00:13:56Returning to this place, we immerse ourselves in the mysterious world of the past,

00:14:00full of deep philosophical and cultural knowledge.

00:14:04Unraveling the mystery of the mummified bishop

00:14:07Today, we have an unusual story from the 17th century.

00:14:11Between the legs of the prominent bishop, Peder Winstrup, a small mummified fetus was found.

00:14:17Bishop Winstrup was a prominent figure in the Lutheran church,

00:14:21and after his death in 1679, he was buried in the crypt of Lund Cathedral.

00:14:26For several years, scientists tried to figure out who this baby was,

00:14:30and thanks to DNA analysis, they determined that he was most likely the bishop's grandson.

00:14:36The boy was not fully developed,

00:14:37and researchers assumed that his mother had a miscarriage in the sixth month of pregnancy.

00:14:42The bishop and the child share 25% of their genetic material,

00:14:47which indicates a second-degree relationship.

00:14:50After analyzing the baby's DNA and Winstrup's family tree,

00:14:53the scientists concluded that the boy was the son of the bishop's son.

00:14:58The grandson was buried with his grandfather.

00:15:01This case once again highlights how extraordinary and fascinating exploring the past can be,

00:15:06with the help of archaeology and genetics,

00:15:09because that's exactly how we can reconstruct stories that have remained untold for centuries.

00:15:16The Time Capsule of Theopetra Cave.

00:15:18Just think about it.

00:15:19130,000 years ago, humans had already chosen this cave as their home.

00:15:24That is precisely the conclusion archaeologists reached

00:15:27while studying Theopetra Cave in the heart of Greece at the foot of Meteora.

00:15:31This remarkable piece of land was formed between 137 and 65 million years ago.

00:15:38Humans found a cozy place to live in this cave,

00:15:41and its interior turned out to be exceptionally spacious, around 500 square meters.

00:15:46And what is especially nice is that it's so bright in the cave thanks to the huge entrance.

00:15:50The exploration of the cave began in 1900 in 1887 and went on for a whole 20 years

00:15:56under the precise guidance of Dr. Nina Kiparisi Apostolica.

00:16:00Initially, the cave served as a shelter for the local shepherd's sheep,

00:16:04but then it became a key site for archaeologists from all over Greece.

00:16:07And here's an interesting fact.

00:16:09Theopetra is the only cave in Greece where the historical timeline

00:16:13from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic is clearly visible.

00:16:16Such a scientific window into the past is a true rarity.

00:16:20The birthplace of plantation slavery.

00:16:22At the end of the 15th century, the Portuguese began to settle the island of São Tomé,

00:16:27located 240 kilometers from Gabon.

00:16:31Timber, fresh water and fertile soil for sugar cane,

00:16:35all this made the island an ideal place for colonization.

00:16:38But São Tomé wasn't as harmless as it might have seemed.

00:16:42Dangerous malaria turned the island into a real trap.

00:16:45And what did they decide to do, you might ask?

00:16:48Resettle Jewish convicts and slaves from Africa here.

00:16:51They were the ones who established the first plantation economy in the tropics,

00:16:55where the entire process from growing cane to building mills was built on slave labor.

00:17:00By the 1530s, this cozy island had become the main sugar producer for Europe,

00:17:05even surpassing the famous island of Madeira.

00:17:08Among the archaeological finds on the island is the Praia Melau sugar mill,

00:17:12an ancient building with unique 16th century architecture.

00:17:15The ground floor housed living quarters,

00:17:17while the second floor was used for production where the sugar was boiled.

00:17:21However, as in many stories there were challenges.

00:17:24Due to the humidity, fast-growing forests and slave rebellions,

00:17:28sugar production faced problems.

00:17:30In the end, the Portuguese moved to Brazil,

00:17:32taking the foundations of their sugar business with them.

00:17:35Today, scientists continue to study São Tomé,

00:17:38searching for traces of old factories and places where enslaved people lived

00:17:42to learn more about life on the island and preserve its unique cultural heritage.

00:17:47Remains of a village in Teotihuacan.

00:17:49Imagine the mysterious world of the ancient Mexican city of Teotihuacan,

00:17:53which was home to up to 120 to 125,000 people.

00:17:57Recently, archaeologists made a stunning discovery in the Tlatelolco area of Mexico City.

00:18:03Remains of a Teotihuacan village, dating from 450 to 650 AD.

00:18:08This is not just a little village.

00:18:10It's a world of canals, stone structures, art and craft.

00:18:14This village was not merely a place for fishermen, as previously thought.

00:18:18It had a complex economy,

00:18:20and it was connected to other governmental centers of Teotihuacan.

00:18:23The village was an important part of Mexico's history,

00:18:26spanning from Aztec times to the 20th century.

00:18:30Archaeologists even discovered a unique agricultural system developed by the Aztecs.

00:18:35A lost city where gold was mined.

00:18:38Near Prague, archaeologists discovered a multilayered settlement

00:18:41bringing together artifacts from the Neolithic, Holstadt and Latin cultures,

00:18:45as well as the Middle Ages.

00:18:47Over 9,000 objects have been found,

00:18:50which led to the suspension of road construction.

00:18:52The earliest finds date back to the end of the 6th millennium BC.

00:18:56Eight post-built long houses, stone tools and a workshop for processing polished stone.

00:19:02People lived here later as well, right up to the 5th century BC,

00:19:06as evidenced by 10 semi-subterranean pithouses from the Holstadt and Latin periods.

00:19:11Among other artifacts, archaeologists discovered exquisite ceramics with rich decoration,

00:19:16a bronze ornament as well as a handle from a drinking vessel,

00:19:19likely brought from the Adriatic.

00:19:21All this points to the existence of trade ties with southern regions.

00:19:26Scientists believe that members of the nobility who had access to rare resources lived in the settlement.

00:19:31In addition, the researchers discovered several dozen round pits from the 13th century,

00:19:36which they believe are linked to gold prospecting or mining.

00:19:39A large medieval gold mine was located nearby.

00:19:42The findings span several eras at once.

00:19:45Two Sensational Discoveries at One Site

00:19:48An astonishing archaeological discovery was made in the village of Elabuga in Russia.

00:19:53A basalt boulder with petroglyphs was found, reminiscent of the famous Sikachi Alian rock art.

00:20:00An image of a praying mantis was also discovered on this stone, which is a rarity for this region.

00:20:05An expedition of scientists from Moscow arrived in the region to study the find.

00:20:09Initially archaeologists were skeptical about the report of the petroglyphs,

00:20:13but on site they confirmed the authenticity of the artifact.

00:20:16Various figures are depicted on the stone, including a rare image of a praying mantis, which is unique worldwide.

00:20:24Scientists continue to study this area, launching quadcopters to record coordinates and create a digital map of the petroglyphs.

00:20:31The main question that remains open is the origin of the boulder with such unique drawings.

00:20:36There are hypotheses suggesting that the stone could have been carried here by drifting ice or been brought in by

00:20:41other means.

00:20:42The 3D models made from the drawings allow archaeologists to see the whole picture.

00:20:46An exact replica of the Elabuga finds exists, confirming their importance and uniqueness.

00:20:51This find not only confirms the region's rich history, but also opens up new perspectives for the study of ancient

00:20:57civilizations.

00:20:59A fossilized book, archaeologists from Australia have stumbled upon a mysterious artifact resembling a book,

00:21:05whose age is estimated at over 330 million years.

00:21:10Yes, I know that not everyone likes it when I talk about thousands and millions of years.

00:21:15That's why such a discovery has sparked a lot of debate and speculation among scientists.

00:21:20Thomas Kaminsky, an ancient history researcher, claims that they found a mineralized book with a metal binding,

00:21:26but it is no longer possible to read it.

00:21:29Archaeology professor Jane Balm was also stunned by the find,

00:21:33although she expressed doubts regarding its antiquity.

00:21:35Other experts are amazed at how the book's pages have been preserved over millions of years.

00:21:41Geology professor Ian Plymer explains that under certain conditions,

00:21:45in an oxygen-free environment and under pressure, paper can fossilize.

00:21:51Kaminsky believes the depth at which the book was found indicates its authenticity.

00:21:55Nevertheless, the question remains as to why the book looks like a modern copy.

00:21:59Could this be an artifact left behind by a time traveler?

00:22:05An empire erased from history textbooks.

00:22:08In 2001 in southern Iran, a river overflowed its banks and eroded the riverbank in the Halil Valley.

00:22:14When the water receded, ancient graves were exposed.

00:22:17And it was pure coincidence, no one was looking for this place, or even suspected that something was there.

00:22:24The river's flood simply uncovered what science hadn't even suspected.

00:22:28An entire forgotten civilization, named after the nearest city, Jiroft.

00:22:33Stone vessels were pulled from the graves, completely covered in carvings.

00:22:37Snakes, scorpions, predators, mythical beasts.

00:22:40Intertwined so densely that on the dark stone they seemed to be writhing.

00:22:43Nothing like it had ever been found anywhere else.

00:22:46And they dated back four or even five thousand years.

00:22:49To the very dawn of written history.

00:22:51To the era of the first great cities.

00:22:53Since our school days we have understood that there was only one cradle of civilization.

00:22:58Mesopotamia.

00:22:58The land between two rivers.

00:23:00Where the first cities allegedly emerged.

00:23:02The first state and the first writing system.

00:23:05It's printed in every textbook.

00:23:07But Jiroft doesn't fit into it.

00:23:08Archaeologist Yusef Majidzadeh led the excavations here.

00:23:11And he stated plainly that this Iranian culture was by no means inferior to Mesopotamia.

00:23:15And in some respects, even ahead of it, other scholars disagreed.

00:23:18They argued there wasn't enough evidence and the debate continues to this day.

00:23:22But there is one trump card Jiroft undeniably holds.

00:23:25Clay tablets with inscriptions were found among the ruins.

00:23:27And this script is unlike anything else in the world.

00:23:30Neither Sumerian nor Egyptian.

00:23:32Not related to any known system at all.

00:23:34A system of symbols that had never been seen before or since.

00:23:37Here's what's strange.

00:23:38We have proof in our hands that a whole people once lived here with its own language and script.

00:23:43We hold their tablets in our hands, yet we still cannot read them.

00:23:47It is as if this civilization left us a letter, but gave us no way to read it.

00:23:52Bronze Age Gold Spirals.

00:23:55And now let's head to Germany.

00:23:57To the state of Lower Saxony.

00:23:59There, near the village of Gessel, archaeologists unearthed one of the largest Bronze Age gold hordes in Europe.

00:24:05At first glance it sounds simple enough.

00:24:07They found gold.

00:24:08But here's where it gets interesting.

00:24:10Buried in the ground were 117 gold objects with a total weight of over one and a half kilograms.

00:24:16They were buried around 3000 years ago, when Europe didn't yet have the states, cities or maps familiar to us

00:24:23today.

00:24:23Someone neatly packed this gold into a linen bag, secured it with bronze pins and hid it in the ground.

00:24:29Didn't toss it in a panic, didn't lose it by accident.

00:24:31They deliberately prepared it and buried it.

00:24:34And for over a decade now, scientists have been trying to understand why.

00:24:37What's also strange is that it's hardly even jewelry.

00:24:40There were only three personal items in the horde.

00:24:43Two bracelets and one gold brooch.

00:24:45Everything else was dozens of spiral rings and individual spirals.

00:24:49Archaeologists believe these might not have been jewelry, but a kind of Bronze Age currency.

00:24:53So what we have here is not just treasure, but an ancient store of wealth.

00:24:57The gold brooch stands out in particular.

00:24:58It was once about 16 centimeters long, decorated with solar symbols and rows of circles.

00:25:04But before the horde was buried, it was bent for some reason.

00:25:07And that makes the find even stranger.

00:25:09If someone wanted to preserve their faith, why ruin it?

00:25:13And if it was a ritual, who was it dedicated to?

00:25:16No settlement, no grave was found nearby.

00:25:19There's no clear explanation.

00:25:21Just a spot in the ground where someone hid immense wealth 3,300 years ago and never came back for

00:25:27it.

00:25:27There's another detail. Initial tests show that some of the gold might have come from very distant places.

00:25:32Possibly even from Central Asia.

00:25:34If this is confirmed, it means that even back in the Bronze Age, gold traveled thousands of kilometers through trade

00:25:40networks.

00:25:41About which we still know far too little.

00:25:43And right here, the ancient world once again proves more complex than we tend to think.

00:25:47Not small, scattered tribes that lived only around their village.

00:25:51But people who exchanged metal, ideas, symbols and wealth across vast distances.

00:25:57Caches in the Lost City.

00:25:59Have you heard of the Lost City of Tenea in Greece?

00:26:03Well, the other day, archaeologists uncovered several ancient coin caches there.

00:26:08Previously, many thought that Tenea was nothing more than a myth.

00:26:12But everything changed in 1984 when locals digging a well stumbled upon an ancient sarcophagus.

00:26:18Subsequent excavations brought even more interesting discoveries.

00:26:22Researchers discovered a massive Roman building spanning 156 square meters, featuring unique stonework.

00:26:29Inside this building, archaeologists uncovered a cache of 18 coins, a key, a stylus and Roman pottery.

00:26:35Elsewhere, another cache of 2710 coins was found.

00:26:39Dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries, among these coins are especially valuable specimens bearing the likenesses of ancient

00:26:45rulers.

00:26:46In addition, archaeologists found many figurines intended for sacrificial offerings.

00:26:51And here's another surprise.

00:26:53The researchers discovered a Roman tomb, where a small child was buried.

00:26:57Inside this tomb, they found astonishing artifacts, including rare coins and lamps depicting the god Ares.

00:27:02Tenea is indeed frequently mentioned in Greek myths.

00:27:06According to one legend, the city was founded by Trojan prisoners of war around 1100 BC.

00:27:13This incredible story proves that even lost cities can reveal their secrets thousands of years later.

00:27:19And who knows what else awaits us in Tenea?

00:27:22The Lost Golden City

00:27:25Beneath a layer of sand thousands of years old, scientists have discovered an ancient city in Egypt.

00:27:31Led by renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, the city was found near Luxor, home to the Valley of the Kings.

00:27:38This city, known as Atena, is the largest ever uncovered in Egypt.

00:27:43It is about 3000 years old.

00:27:45It was founded during the reign of Amenhotep III, and continued to be used under Tutankhamun and A.

00:27:52Scientists confidently claim that this is the second most important archaeological discovery after the tomb of Tutankhamun.

00:27:58Jewelry, colored pottery, scarab beetle amulets, and mud bricks bearing the seals of Amenhotep III were discovered here.

00:28:06Several districts have already been unearthed at the excavation site,

00:28:10including a bakery with ovens and pottery storage, as well as administrative and residential quarters.

00:28:16Archaeologists are confident that this city will give us a new perspective on the life of ancient Egyptians

00:28:21at a time when their empire was at the peak of its prosperity.

00:28:24Scientists hope that further excavations will yield even more amazing discoveries.

00:28:32Taksila, Pakistan

00:28:33Taksila, an ancient city located in modern-day Pakistan, is one of the greatest archaeological sites in South Asia.

00:28:42This city was an important cultural, religious and trading center of antiquity,

00:28:46which flourished from the 6th century BC to the 5th century AD.

00:28:51Taksila is famous for its universities, which were considered among the first educational institutions in the world.

00:28:58Students from all over Asia came here to study various sciences, including medicine, mathematics and astronomy.

00:29:05This place also played a key role in the spread of Buddhism across the continent.

00:29:09Archaeological excavations in Taksila have uncovered numerous temples, monasteries, stupas and other religious structures.

00:29:16Each of these buildings tells a unique story about the life and beliefs of the people who lived here many

00:29:22centuries ago.

00:29:23Taksila was also an important part of the Silk Road, the major highway connecting East and West.

00:29:30This led to a blend of cultures and traditions, making this city exceptionally fascinating to study.

00:29:35Today, Taksila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it continues to inspire scholars, researchers and travelers from around the

00:29:44world with its rich heritage and profound history.

00:29:48The tomb of the last Anunnaki king, Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, is one of the most important and enigmatic figures

00:29:56in the history of ancient Mesopotamia.

00:29:58Not only did he become the central figure in one of the oldest epic poems, but he also left a

00:30:03profound mark on culture and religion.

00:30:05Gilgamesh, whose name remains shrouded in mystery, was an extraordinary ruler whose achievements laid the groundwork for numerous myths and

00:30:13legends.

00:30:13During his reign, Gilgamesh was known as a great builder, strategist and warrior.

00:30:18He is credited with building the massive city walls of Uruk, which protected the inhabitants from enemies and natural disasters.

00:30:24According to legends, these walls were so impressive that the gods themselves took part in their construction.

00:30:30In addition, Gilgamesh's reign is associated with a period of economic prosperity and cultural flourishing,

00:30:35which made Uruk an important religious and cultural center of the ancient world.

00:30:39Gilgamesh became a central figure in mythology, thanks to an epic poem about his exploits, known as the Epic of

00:30:45Gilgamesh.

00:30:46This literary masterpiece, found in the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal in Nineveh, describes Gilgamesh's journey and adventures,

00:30:54his battle with natural and supernatural forces, as well as his quest for immortality.

00:31:00This poem is not only a crucial source for studying ancient Mesopotamian culture, but it also reflects eternal human aspirations

00:31:07and experiences.

00:31:09Archaeological findings confirm the historicity of Gilgamesh.

00:31:12During excavations in Uruk and other Mesopotamian cities, numerous artifacts were uncovered, including cuneiform tablets with texts and inscriptions mentioning

00:31:20his name.

00:31:21Of particular importance is the uncovered tomb, which, according to some theories, may belong to Gilgamesh himself.

00:31:28This discovery, if confirmed, could be key to understanding the historical figure of Gilgamesh.

00:31:33Among the archaeological finds, special attention is drawn to texts describing the Anunnaki,

00:31:39deities who played an important role in the mythology of ancient Mesopotamia.

00:31:43The Anunnaki are considered the offspring of the sky god Anne and the earth goddess Ki,

00:31:47and were associated with the creation of humanity and the governance of its destiny.

00:31:51Theories about the influence of the Anunnaki extend far beyond Mesopotamia,

00:31:56linking them to other ancient civilizations and even to extraterrestrial visitors from the planet Nibiru.

00:32:01Comparing the Nibiru theories with other cataclysm theories, such as the global flood or the Tunguska meteorite impact,

00:32:07reveals a wide spectrum of hypotheses about the origin and development of humanity.

00:32:12The discovery of Gilgamesh's tomb could shed light on many aspects of the life and reign of this legendary king,

00:32:17as well as confirm or refute the numerous myths about him.

00:32:21The DNA of modern Japanese people.

00:32:24Today Japan attracts people from all over the world, but it wasn't always this way.

00:32:30For 10,000 years the archipelago remained isolated until the first migrants from the continent began to arrive.

00:32:36This was confirmed by a genetic analysis of the remains of a Yayoi period individual.

00:32:42The Japanese population has a dual origin, but the details of this admixture remained unclear for a long time.

00:32:48Researchers from the University of Tokyo, led by Jun Hyun Kim and Jun Ohashi, decided to delve into the matter.

00:32:54According to their data, about 80% of the modern Japanese nuclear genome originates from people from East and Northeast

00:33:01Asia.

00:33:01There are two models explaining genetic diversity among the Japanese.

00:33:05One suggests a single migration wave during the Yayoi and Kofun periods, while the other allows for multiple sources.

00:33:13Geneticists analyzed the genome of a Yayoi period individual from the Doigahama cemetery,

00:33:17and compared it with ancient and modern populations.

00:33:21It turned out that the Yayoi and Kofun peoples were genetically closer to Koreans than modern Japanese are.

00:33:27This confirmed the hypothesis of a single source of migration from the Korean peninsula.

00:33:32Golden Shoes from the Steppe

00:33:35On the Mengishlag Peninsula in western Kazakhstan, at the Karakabakh burial site,

00:33:40archaeologists Andrey Astafyev and Evgeny Bogdanov excavated the 1,500-year-old grave of a young noblewoman.

00:33:48She was dressed in a ceremonial costume imitating royal attire.

00:33:52And the main element was the shoes, covered with thin gold plates, which in the publication were simply called the

00:33:59Golden Shoes.

00:34:01But on these shoes, just like on that woman's belt, the clasps were not functional.

00:34:05They simply lacked the fasteners needed for real everyday use.

00:34:10Researchers believe that both the shoes and the belt were made specifically for burial, not for everyday wear.

00:34:14In other words, what we're looking at isn't clothing the deceased wore in life, but an outfit made entirely for

00:34:19the burial ritual.

00:34:20The headpiece was decorated with a central plaque featuring an image reminiscent of the Gorgoneon,

00:34:25the head of the Gorgon Medusa, from Greek mythology, used as a protective amulet in the Hellenistic tradition.

00:34:32At the same time, other elements of the costume, like a buckle depicting birds of prey with outstretched wings,

00:34:37hark back to much older Scythian traditions.

00:34:39This reveals a blend of at least three cultural influences in a single burial outfit.

00:34:43The Karakabakh burial ground turned out to be not merely a burial site, but a major craft and trade center.

00:34:49Traces of metallurgy, jewelry making, glass making, and pottery production have been found here,

00:34:55and neighboring burials reveal Byzantine-style cloisonné enamel jewelry.

00:35:00The archaeological site itself was discovered back in 2006, and it dates back to between the 1st and 6th centuries

00:35:05AD.

00:35:06More than 150 coins from six different states were found there, ranging from Parthia and Sasanian Iran

00:35:12to Byzantium and China. For a remote settlement on the eastern shore of the Caspian,

00:35:16this is a surprisingly far-reaching network of connections.

00:35:20Apparently, Karakabakh was a crucial hub on the trade route connecting Central Asia

00:35:23with the North Caucasus, the Volga region, and the southern Urals.

00:35:27Some researchers even suggest that this might be the legendary city of Aspabota, mentioned in ancient sources.

00:35:34Although there is no direct evidence for this yet. The archaeologists themselves call it more of a hypothesis than an

00:35:40established fact.

00:35:42A place where missing people are found. Now imagine a place where you can walk for 10 days straight and

00:35:47still see the exact same thing around you.

00:35:50Water, moss, mud, fog, and endless quagmires. These are the Vasugan swamps in Siberia, between the Oba and the Irtish.

00:35:57One of the largest swamps on the planet. And it's hard to grasp the sheer scale of the place.

00:36:04About 53,000 square kilometers, hundreds of rivers, and around 800,000 lakes.

00:36:10Very few people live across this entire vast territory.

00:36:13So, it's no wonder that there have always been a lot of legends surrounding the Vasugan swamp.

00:36:18Locals talked about strange creatures, willow-the-wisps, men-eating bears, and bog-spirits.

00:36:23The Selcups even had an image of the master of these lands. Shellop. A huge, evil, seven-winged bear.

00:36:28And if you imagine someone walking through the fog at night, hearing the squelching moss beneath their feet,

00:36:33and seeing cold blue flashes somewhere ahead, it becomes clear why such stories appeared in the first place.

00:36:39But the strangest thing here isn't the legends. On the fringes of the bogs.

00:36:43They sometimes found the bodies of people who had disappeared many years ago,

00:36:46and yet they looked as if they had died just recently, without the usual decomposition, without any sense that years

00:36:51had passed.

00:36:52Science explains this through peat. There is little oxygen in the bog, cold water,

00:36:56and sphagnum moss releases substances that work almost like a natural antiseptic.

00:37:01The body doesn't decompose the usual way, but rather gets preserved, as it were.

00:37:05That's why bogs in various parts of the world sometimes preserve people better than tombs.

00:37:09And here's what's especially strange about this place.

00:37:11To a human, a bog looks like a dangerous place you'd better not enter,

00:37:15but to the planet, it's a massive living mechanism.

00:37:18The Vasugan swamp absorbs a colossal amount of carbon dioxide,

00:37:22releases oxygen, and stores carbon in peat, which could turn into coal in thousands of years.

00:37:28It turns out that a place that scared people for centuries with fog,

00:37:31phantom lights, and missing bodies actually helps the planet breathe.

00:37:35An ancient Roman winged phallus.

00:37:39In Eastern Serbia, archaeologists came across an unusual Roman artifact.

00:37:44The find is a tintinnabulum, a wind chime adorned with a phallus.

00:37:49This artifact, discovered on the porch of a house in the ancient city of Viminasium,

00:37:53is among the rare and valuable relics of Roman history.

00:37:57Tintinnabula were traditionally hung near doorways as magical protection for homes and shops.

00:38:02This was the second artifact of its kind found in the ruins of Viminasium,

00:38:06with its distinctive feature being that it was found fully intact.

00:38:10Made of bronze, the tintinnabulum remains preserved in the ground.

00:38:14Its unique configuration includes a magical phallus with wings, legs, and a tail, known as a fascinum.

00:38:19The phallic symbol in Roman culture was associated not only with eroticism, but also with good luck.

00:38:25It was considered a powerful amulet against the evil eye and was used to bring prosperity and provide protection.

00:38:31From thieves, the tintinnabulum is an apotropaic amulet intended to ward off evil forces and provide protection.

00:38:38Such objects were widespread in the Roman world and could take on the most unexpected forms.

00:38:46Ajanta Caves, India

00:38:48In the mysterious depths of Western India, on the sheer slopes of a gorge,

00:38:52hides one of the greatest wonders of ancient art, the Ajanta Caves.

00:38:57These thirty caves carved into the rock, served as a Buddhist place of worship for centuries.

00:39:03The walls and ceilings of the caves are decorated with exquisite religious murals,

00:39:09illustrating the life of Buddha and various Buddhist legends.

00:39:13The oldest of these caves are believed to date back to the second century BC.

00:39:17The vivid and detailed paintings are magnificent, testifying to the high level of skill of the ancient artists.

00:39:23The Ajanta Caves are not merely a monument of ancient art, but a bridge between the past and the present,

00:39:30allowing us a glimpse into the soul of ancient India.

00:39:34Luristan Bronzes

00:39:36Luristan Bronzes are a collection of bronze artifacts originating from the Luristan Province in Western Iran.

00:39:42These objects date back to the period between the 12th and 6th centuries BC,

00:39:47and represent some of the most exquisite examples of ancient metallurgy and art.

00:39:52Most Luristan Bronzes are small figurines, weapons, jewelry and tableware.

00:39:57Their designs often feature geometric motifs and depictions of animals, especially goats and other horned creatures.

00:40:05Some of these items may have been used for religious or ritual purposes, while others were perhaps everyday objects.

00:40:13Luristan Bronzes reflects the culture of the peoples who inhabited the territory of modern Iran during the first millennium BC.

00:40:20Their uniqueness lies in their quality and style, which sets them apart from other bronze artifacts of that era.

00:40:285 Skeletons Found in the Wolf's Lair

00:40:32During excavations at the Wolf's Lair in Poland, Adolf Hitler's military headquarters, archaeologists, discovered five human skeletons.

00:40:40The discovery included the remains of three adults and two children, one of whom was a newborn.

00:40:46The peculiar detail of the burial is that the bodies were stripped naked and missing their extremities, pointing to the

00:40:52unusual nature of the burial.

00:40:54The Wolf's Lair, tucked away in a dense forest and fortified with barbed wire, watchtowers and minefields, served as the

00:41:01place where Nazi leaders planned their military operations.

00:41:04This base was destroyed by the Nazis as they retreated before the Red Army in January 1945.

00:41:12Among the artifacts found near the bodies were thunderstones, the fossils of ancient marine creatures that in antiquity were believed

00:41:18to be magical talismans capable of bringing luck in battle or protecting against lightning.

00:41:24Octavian Bartoshevsky, one of the excavators, suggested that the bodies might have been buried as a ritual sacrifice to ensure

00:41:30success and prosperity for those occupying the building.

00:41:33Hermann Göring, the previous owner of the building, was known for his interest in the occult, which might explain the

00:41:39presence of such an unusual burial at his residence.

00:41:42The Nazis, including Hitler, were known for their obsession with the supernatural, which was reflected in their penchant for various

00:41:49occult practices and theories.

00:41:51This discovery not only confirms the dark legacy of the Nazi regime, but also once again demonstrates its willingness to

00:41:58use any means, including mysticism and sacrifices, to achieve its goals.

00:42:04An ancient love of sweets.

00:42:06The craving for sweets originated in humans long before their diets changed, and as scientists have discovered, our ancestors were

00:42:13prepared for this thanks to ancient DNA.

00:42:16AMO1, which is responsible for breaking down complex carbohydrates, appeared much earlier than previously thought, and may have played a

00:42:23key role in the development of civilization.

00:42:26The digestive process begins in the oral cavity, where saliva contains amylase, an enzyme that converts starch into simple carbohydrates.

00:42:34It was previously thought that this enzyme emerged with the dawn of agriculture, when bread and starchy foods entered the

00:42:41human diet.

00:42:42However, a study by the University at Buffalo and the Jackson Laboratory in the US showed that salivary amylase existed

00:42:48over 800,000 years ago, long before the advent of agriculture.

00:42:52A study of ancient genomes, including those of people who lived 45,000 years ago in Siberia, revealed that they

00:42:58already had 4 to 8 copies of the AMY1 gene.

00:43:02This suggests that the mutation responsible for the synthesis of amylase emerged as a result of natural selection.

00:43:09Moreover, this gene was also present in Neanderthals and Denisovans, confirming its ancient origin.

00:43:15The comparison also showed that in modern Europeans, especially farmers of the last 4000 years, the number of copies of

00:43:22this gene increased, which is linked to dietary changes.

00:43:26Wood that looked brand new.

00:43:28During the construction of a stormwater drain, in the Bavarian city of Aschaffenburg, workers stumbled upon oak beams at a

00:43:36depth of 8 meters.

00:43:37The wood looked so fresh, that at first everyone was sure it was the remains of some recent construction and

00:43:44not something ancient.

00:43:45The endochronological analysis of the tree rings in the lab showed something completely different.

00:43:50The oaks were felled between 372 and 352 BC.

00:43:54This corresponds to the Celtic-Laten culture of the European Iron Age.

00:43:59Each log was 3 to 4 meters long, with some weighing up to 250 kg.

00:44:03They were lifted out with a crane.

00:44:06After painstaking manual clearing, the structure combined massive timber with stonework.

00:44:10A fairly rare engineering solution for that period, because it was built right on the marshy bank of the main

00:44:15river,

00:44:16on unstable ground where an ordinary foundation would have simply shifted.

00:44:20What exactly it was remains unknown.

00:44:23Perhaps a river gate, that guarded the path from the river to the settlement.

00:44:27Or maybe a wharf where boats with people and cargo moored.

00:44:31The oak for the construction was transported from the Spessart Forest along with the stone.

00:44:35Quite a long journey for that era.

00:44:37The beams still show well-preserved marks from axes and adzes,

00:44:40which allow us to study the exact techniques used by Celtic carpenters.

00:44:44Given that a golden figurine, an animal head fibula, and other opulent artifacts have already been discovered nearby.

00:44:51Archaeologists suspect that they are looking at a major early Celtic center,

00:44:54whose existence was previously almost completely unknown.

00:44:57Each log is now undergoing conservation in wet storage.

00:45:01Without this, the Iron Age wood unearthed from the ground begins to deteriorate in just a matter of days.

00:45:07Before that, specialists manage to make a 3D scan of each element,

00:45:11and they ultimately plan to display part of the structure at the Stiefs Museum in Aschaffenburg.

00:45:17Another maze beneath the city.

00:45:19Now we head to Scotland, to the southern outskirts of Edinburgh.

00:45:23There lies Gilmerton, a former mining village.

00:45:26On the outside, it looks completely normal.

00:45:29Houses, streets, cars, and people going about their day.

00:45:32Yet just a few meters beneath the ground lies a man-made labyrinth,

00:45:36whose origin still defies a proper explanation.

00:45:38This is Gilmerton Cove.

00:45:40Inside are corridors, chambers, stone benches, tables, alcoves, drainage channels, and a deep vertical shaft.

00:45:47All of this was carved directly into the sandstone by hand.

00:45:50No explosives, no modern technology, no machinery.

00:45:54Someone spent a very long time painstakingly carving an entire network of rooms underground.

00:45:58The official story was quite simple.

00:46:00It was believed that the cave was created by a local blacksmith named George Patterson.

00:46:04Supposedly, he worked almost completely alone for five years.

00:46:08And by 1724, he had built himself an underground dwelling.

00:46:12Later, he used this place as a secret.

00:46:14Tavern.

00:46:15Local gentlemen would head down there on weekends to drink away from prying eyes.

00:46:19It sounds weird, but it's still believable.

00:46:21A blacksmith, an underground pub, stone tables, secret gatherings.

00:46:25It sounds like a pretty plausible story.

00:46:27The problem is that later on, researchers began to notice

00:46:30that the cave might be much older than Patterson himself.

00:46:33Perhaps he didn't carve it out from scratch, but simply found pre-existing passages,

00:46:38expanded them, and adapted them for his needs.

00:46:40And that's when things get much more interesting.

00:46:43If the blacksmith wasn't the real creator, then who made this labyrinth?

00:46:47There are many theories.

00:46:49Some point to the Templars, who could have hidden here following their persecution.

00:46:54Others bring up the Freemasons.

00:46:56Because the layout seems far too deliberate for an ordinary seller.

00:46:59Some see a connection to ancient Celtic rituals, especially because of the deep vertical shaft.

00:47:04And a more down-to-earth version suggests smugglers who needed a place to secretly store

00:47:09whiskey and goods to avoid taxes.

00:47:11And the most frustrating part for historians is that verifying it for sure is now almost impossible.

00:47:16For centuries, the cave was used, altered, rebuilt, soiled, cleaned, and modified again.

00:47:21Too many people left their mark there, and the earliest evidence could have simply vanished.

00:47:25Gilmerton Cove is fascinating, not because it's massive or older than the pyramids.

00:47:30It's strange, because it sits directly beneath an ordinary residential neighborhood.

00:47:35Yet no one knows for sure who made it, or why.

00:47:38Sometimes, a mystery isn't hidden in a desert or at the bottom of the sea,

00:47:42but literally beneath the feet of people, who walk above it every day,

00:47:46never even imagining that an entire subterranean world lies below.

00:47:49Slaves' Quarters

00:47:51Archaeologists in Italy have discovered a small room in an ancient villa near Pompeii.

00:47:55Apparently slaves lived there.

00:47:57Inside, they found two beds, but only one with a mattress,

00:48:00as well as various small items and the remains of rodents.

00:48:03Just think, even the slaves' quarters had no bars or locks.

00:48:06This suggests that slaves were kept under control not so much with chains,

00:48:10but through the system of slavery itself.

00:48:12The villa where the room was found is located near Pompeii,

00:48:15a city that was buried under ash 2,000 years ago due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

00:48:21The entire city and its inhabitants were buried,

00:48:23while their homes, belongings and stories were preserved beneath a layer of ash.

00:48:28An Entrance to an Ice Age Cave

00:48:30In southern Germany, in the Brudertal Valley,

00:48:33scientists discovered the entrance to a cave shrouded in mystery.

00:48:38It was likely visited by primitive humans during the last Ice Age around 16,000 years ago.

00:48:44Patch the scene!

00:48:45A rural landscape, a lake and the town of Constance nearby.

00:48:49Then you look up and see a hidden entrance to a cave.

00:48:53Archaeologists believe this cave was home to ancient hunter-gatherers,

00:48:57and they left traces of their presence here.

00:49:00But what secrets might the walls of this cave hold?

00:49:03Presumably this place is associated with the Magdalenian culture of the Upper Paleolithic,

00:49:09archaeologists found flint tools, antler jewelry, images on the walls,

00:49:13and even figurines made of mammoth ivory.

00:49:15The Brudertal Valley is not new to archaeologists.

00:49:18In this same valley, the Petersfels Cave was discovered,

00:49:21where delicate figurines carved from jet resembling female bodies were found.

00:49:25This cave has an interesting story.

00:49:28In 1978, while installing a sewer main,

00:49:31scientists accidentally discovered an underground chamber.

00:49:34It carried out excavations and found evidence of primitive people visiting the cave,

00:49:39and then sealed off the entrance.

00:49:41And only in 2023, thanks to modern research methods,

00:49:45scientists managed to rediscover this secret.

00:49:49A thousand-year-old mummy

00:49:51Have you heard about the latest archaeological discovery from Peru's capital, Lima?

00:49:55Researchers discovered a thousand-year-old mummy.

00:49:58The discovery was made in the prestigious district of Miraflores,

00:50:01where researchers also found two ceramic vessels and ancient textiles.

00:50:05They say that the mummy is associated with the Ixma culture,

00:50:09an ancient people who lived south of Lima.

00:50:12Interestingly, Lima has already surprised us like this before.

00:50:15Recently, right there on top of a hill, they found another mummy surrounded by coca leaves.

00:50:20And the most interesting thing is that this site, Waka Puklana,

00:50:23is considered an archaeological gold mine.

00:50:26Scientists are sure there are still many secrets there, waiting to be discovered.

00:50:31Mysterious Nubian stone tablets

00:50:33In the Sidgenga necropolis in northern Sudan,

00:50:37a huge collection of inscriptions in one of Africa's oldest written languages,

00:50:41Meroitic was discovered.

00:50:43This cave region was once part of ancient Nubia, famous for its gold mines.

00:50:49Nubia was home to some of Africa's earliest kingdoms,

00:50:53and some of them even ruled Egypt as pharaohs.

00:50:57Archaeologists believe that Sidgenga was a key location for trade routes

00:51:01leading straight into Egypt via desert roads.

00:51:04Most surprisingly, archaeologists discovered the largest collection of texts in the Meroitic language.

00:51:09These inscriptions most likely commemorate the dead.

00:51:13Many artifacts in Sidgenga were dedicated to high-ranking women,

00:51:17as in Nubia, a matriarchal society,

00:51:19tracing lineage through the female line was very important.

00:51:23Sigiriya Fortress, Sri Lanka

00:51:25In the very heart of Sri Lanka,

00:51:27atop a massive rock plateau,

00:51:29rises the ancient fortress of Sigiriya.

00:51:32This place, surrounded by legends,

00:51:34is one of the island's most striking architectural and cultural landmarks.

00:51:39It is believed that Sigiriya was built in the 5th century AD,

00:51:43by King Kashyapa, as a royal residence.

00:51:47The climb to the summit takes you past the majestic lion paws,

00:51:50a symbol of power and authority.

00:51:54Amazing frescoes depicting cloud maidens are preserved on the rock walls,

00:51:58enigmatic beauties whose story still sparks debate among scholars.

00:52:02There are also gardens and pools at the summit,

00:52:04demonstrating the advanced engineering of the ancient builders.

00:52:08Sigiriya is not only a site of great historical significance,

00:52:11but also a place of meditation and inspiration.

00:52:14The view from the top overlooking the Sri Lankan jungle is an unforgettable sight,

00:52:18a reminder of the power of nature and human culture.

00:52:22Board games.

00:52:24Humanity's love for board games was born thousands of years ago.

00:52:28These games appeared before many civilizations and have accompanied people for millennia.

00:52:33Archaeologists believe that dice games were the most ancient of them all.

00:52:37Dice unearthed during excavations, dating back more than 5000 years,

00:52:41are practically indistinguishable from modern ones.

00:52:43This confirms that the passion for gaming existed even in prehistoric times.

00:52:48One of the most ancient games with a board and counters is the Egyptian game Senet,

00:52:52which originated around 3500 BC.

00:52:55According to legend, it was invented by the god of wisdom Thoth

00:52:59to lift a curse placed on the sky goddess Nutt by the moon god Konsu.

00:53:03Senet was not merely entertainment, but a game of sacred significance,

00:53:07symbolizing the struggle between good and evil, as well as the soul's journey to the afterlife.

00:53:12In the East, one of the oldest games is considered to be Go, whose history begins around 2000 BC.

00:53:18This strategy game, popular to this day, symbolized wisdom and focus.

00:53:23Pebek Gammon, on the other hand, likely originated in ancient Iran and appeared about 5000 years ago,

00:53:30although its rules were documented only in Byzantium in the 5th century AD.

00:53:34The Romans also loved board games and played them in taverns where they ate and entertained themselves.

00:53:40Game boards were often carved directly onto tables.

00:53:43Although gambling for money was prohibited on the streets, it could be played freely indoors.

00:53:49Archaeologists have also found loaded dice with weights inside, pointing to attempts at cheating even in antiquity.

00:53:56A FORTRESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT

00:53:59Lost in an ocean of sand dunes, the ruins of the ancient Berber Xardra are a remarkable architectural monument

00:54:06and a testament to the lives of people who settled in the desert.

00:54:10Located in Algeria, this Xardra remained buried under layers of sand for a long time, which helped preserve it to

00:54:16this day.

00:54:16Xardra is a traditional fortified village typical of the North African region.

00:54:22It was built to protect its inhabitants and their property from raids and harsh desert conditions.

00:54:27The fortifications include massive walls and towers that not only protected the inhabitants,

00:54:31but also served as shelter from the scorching sun.

00:54:34The date of the Xardra's construction remains unknown, adding an extra layer of mystery to it.

00:54:39Modern technologies, such as satellite imagery, allow researchers to explore the ruins and their surroundings from above,

00:54:45revealing a new perspective on the Berber architectural heritage.

00:54:50A GIANT SWORD FROM JAPAN

00:54:52Japan is home to a unique sword believed to have been forged during the Edo period.

00:54:57Measuring 465 sin and sansin in length and weighing 75 keijin,

00:55:01it is recognized as the largest Japanese sword in the country.

00:55:04This sword was dedicated to Hanaoka Hachiman Shrine in 1859.

00:55:09It was dedicated during an imperial monument ceremony by followers

00:55:14who shared the views of imperial loyalists like Yoshida Shoin.

00:55:18The sword was forged with the hope that it would ward off evil and demons

00:55:21and help create a bright, pure and peaceful society.

00:55:24The sword is kept in the treasure house of Hanaoka Hachiman Shrine

00:55:28and is usually not on public display.

00:55:30However, it can be viewed with a special guide by advance reservation.

00:55:35Treasure under the new terrace.

00:55:37Treasure under the new terrace.

00:55:39In the Netherlands, a man was clearing his garden of stones and gravel,

00:55:43getting ready to pour a new concrete patio.

00:55:45But the shovel struck something metallic.

00:55:48Just a few hours later, it wasn't construction workers at the site, but archaeologists.

00:55:52The man, who wished to remain anonymous, had unearthed the largest Viking Age silver horde in Denmark's history.

00:55:59Over 700 items with a total weight of 18.5 kg.

00:56:03Ingots, bracelets, coins, coin fragments and a tiny Thor's hammer.

00:56:08Part of the horde, about 320 items weighing 6.5 kg, remained inside the clay vessel in which it had

00:56:15once been hidden.

00:56:17Archeologists recovered the rest from the surrounding soil.

00:56:20For comparison, the previous record holder, the famous Terzlev horde weighed about 6.5 kg.

00:56:26The new horde is almost three times heavier.

00:56:29And mind you, this is no longer just an isolated find, but a new national record.

00:56:34The horde dates back to the 10th century.

00:56:37Among the coins were both English and Arab ones.

00:56:40A good example of how far silver traveled in the Viking Age.

00:56:43Some of these coins could have traveled across Europe, while others reached Scandinavia from the east.

00:56:49Who hid all this wealth and why they never returned for it remains unknown.

00:56:54But about a thousand years later, it was discovered completely by chance during routine garden work.

00:56:59These ruins are older than the Egyptian pyramids.

00:57:04Archeologists near Prague have discovered a mysterious new Stone Age complex

00:57:07that turns out to be older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.

00:57:11The roundel they uncovered, built around 7000 years ago, could have served as a gathering place for local farmers.

00:57:17Its diameter is approximately 55 meters, which would allow the Leaning Tower of Pisa to fit inside.

00:57:23Miroslav Kraus, the head of the excavation, claims that the structure belonged to the stroked pottery culture,

00:57:29which existed between 4900 and 4400 BC.

00:57:35The first mention of the Vinojrandel appeared in the 1980s, when it was partially unearthed during utility line construction.

00:57:43Modern excavations allowed us to see it in its entirety, and revealed pottery, animal bones and stone tools.

00:57:50Analysis of the organic remains will help establish the exact time of construction,

00:57:54and possibly link it to the nearby Neolithic settlement.

00:57:57Studying the roundel shows that the culture of its builders spread throughout Central Europe,

00:58:03reaching the territories of modern Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic,

00:58:08where they lived in long houses capable of accommodating up to 30 people.

00:58:12What was found after the looters?

00:58:15On June 21, 1971, at 2 o'clock pm, in southern Ukraine, in the Dnipropetrovsk region,

00:58:23archaeologist Boris Mosolevsky descends into the excavation of a huge Scythian burial mound

00:58:28with the not-so-promising name of Tovsta Mohila.

00:58:31Everyone's mood is quite grim.

00:58:32The burial mound is gigantic, the work has been going on for a long time,

00:58:36and ancient looters had already been almost everywhere.

00:58:38You can tell by the broken vessels, the ransacked burials, and, most importantly,

00:58:43by the emptiness where gold should have been lying.

00:58:45The thieves beat the archaeologists by more than 2,000 years!

00:58:49Mosolevsky himself was an extraordinary man, a historian, archaeologist and poet,

00:58:54who excavated around 150 mounds throughout his life, a man who literally lived for this step.

00:58:59They say that before setting out for the excavation,

00:59:01he left a note with a bold promise to find something big and shiny,

00:59:05and there he is, crawling through the narrow passage dug out by those very robbers.

00:59:09He follows their footsteps into the main chamber, toward the burial of the king himself.

00:59:13And then, the kind of moment an archaeologist lives for happens.

00:59:17In the chamber the thieves never reached.

00:59:19Something gleams in the beam of his flashlight.

00:59:21Gold!

00:59:22A large object, lying in the exact spot where it was left 2,500 years ago.

00:59:28Mosolevsky himself later admitted that, for a moment, he simply froze.

00:59:32It was a pectoral, a massive gold chest ornament belonging to a Scythian king.

00:59:36Over a kilogram of the purest gold, almost as pure as in a wedding band.

00:59:40Over 30 cm in diameter.

00:59:42And on it, around a hundred tiny figures, crafted with jewel-like precision.

00:59:46People milking sheep, griffins tearing into horses, lions chasing wild boars.

00:59:51An entire frozen world of the Scythians,

00:59:53casting gold by Greek masters commissioned by the steppe nobility.

00:59:56What follows is practically a detective story.

00:59:58A find of such caliber, they wanted to take it to Moscow, the seat of power.

01:00:02According to a romanticized legend, Mosolevsky carried the priceless gold to Kyiv,

01:00:05hidden beneath an ordinary padded jacket.

01:00:07In reality, it was much more serious.

01:00:09The pectoral was transported by train under the protection of armed police officers in a private compartment.

01:00:14They managed to keep the treasure in Kyiv.

01:00:16And it was practically for its sake that they created an entire treasury,

01:00:19which came to be known as the Golden Treasury.

01:00:22And that is where the pectoral remains to this day.

01:00:24Today, it is kept at the Museum of Historical Treasures in Kyiv

01:00:28and is considered priceless in the truest sense of the word.

01:00:31Well, if you really want to hear some kind of figure,

01:00:33over the years it has been valued at sums of up to 200 million dollars.

01:00:38200 million for a piece of metal that lay in the ground for 2,500 years

01:00:42and miraculously eluded both ancient grave robbers and those who later wanted to take it far away from home.

01:00:49A ring inscribed For Allah.

01:00:52A ring with an Arabic inscription dating back to the 9th century

01:00:56was discovered by researchers from Stockholm University in the town of Birka,

01:01:00an ancient Viking trading center in Sweden.

01:01:03This unique piece of jewelry, featuring a purple stone,

01:01:05points to connections between the Vikings and the Islamic world,

01:01:08confirming the theory of trade between these cultures.

01:01:11Initial assumptions suggested that the stone in the ring was an amethyst,

01:01:15but further research showed that it was purple glass,

01:01:18a material that was a rarity in those days.

01:01:21Scientists believed that such glass could have come from Egypt or Mesopotamia,

01:01:26confirming the idea of trade connections.

01:01:28Traces of silver are visible on the inside of the ring,

01:01:31indicating that it was acquired new before becoming the property of the Vikings.

01:01:35This artifact confirms the hypothesis of cultural and trade exchange between Scandinavia and the Arab world,

01:01:41making it one of the most important discoveries of its time.

01:01:46A wooden stonehenge.

01:01:48Archaeologist Antonio Valera and his team at the Perdigoines complex

01:01:51discovered an ancient wooden stonehenge dating back to 2800-2600 BC.

01:01:58This 20 meter diameter circular foundation is part of a vast megalithic landscape in the eastern part of the country.

01:02:04Such structures are typically found only in Central Europe and the British Isles.

01:02:08This wooden structure was a gathering center for tribes for ceremonial rituals and astronomical observations.

01:02:15It was built and used for 1400 years, making it the first structure of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula.

01:02:22Even the layout shows that it served as a kind of ancient calendar,

01:02:25as the entrances to the halls are aligned with the solstices and equinoxes.

01:02:31Unknown head.

01:02:32The Lidenberg heads are a collection of terracotta heads discovered in South Africa.

01:02:38They date back to 500 AD and are the oldest known examples of Iron Age art south of the equator.

01:02:47In 1957, as a ten-year-old boy, Ludwig von Besing found these heads on his father's farm.

01:02:54A total of seven heads were found.

01:02:57Two of them are large enough to fit over a child's head, while the other five are half that size.

01:03:02They are all different, but each has something in common.

01:03:05For example, clay rings around the neck, which may have symbolized prosperity.

01:03:10They may have been worn as masks during rituals, or perhaps they were attached to something during ceremonies.

01:03:17The burial story of an ancient Egyptian prince.

01:03:20In a cemetery in Middlebury, Vermont, there is an unusual grave that stands out from the rest.

01:03:27It is believed to be the burial of an Egyptian prince, Amum Harhepesh E.F., who was born in 1881

01:03:35BC during the Middle Kingdom of Egypt and died at the age of two and a half.

01:03:41His father, Sinusret III, later became a pharaoh and ruled during the 12th dynasty known for his military campaigns and

01:03:49the construction of the Canal of Sesostris.

01:03:52The boy's mummy was likely taken from Egypt by grave robbers during the Victorian era and entered the collection of

01:03:58a 19th century American museum.

01:04:02Henry Sheldon, a collector and founder of the Vermont History Museum, acquired the mummy from Spanish sailors and kept it

01:04:08in his museum's attic due to its poor condition.

01:04:12After Sheldon's death in 1907, the mummy remained unclaimed until 1945, when museum director George Schmidt decided to cremate the

01:04:21decayed remains and bury them in a cemetery to prevent potential student vandalism.

01:04:26The headstone is adorned with a Christian cross surrounded by the Egyptian symbols Ang and Ba, which represent life and

01:04:33spirit.

01:04:34A real life find straight out of Indiana Jones.

01:04:39Archaeologists have made an astonishing discovery beneath one of Jordan's major tourist attractions.

01:04:44Twelve fully intact skeletons found in a tomb under the famous structure in Petra known as the Treasury.

01:04:50This place was made famous by the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

01:04:55The Treasury, believed to be a mausoleum, was carved out by the Nabataian people around 2000 years ago.

01:05:01Vetra was the capital of the Nabataian kingdom and its majestic structure, carved out of rose-red stone, still boggles

01:05:08the mind.

01:05:09This discovery will help us learn more about the ancient Nabataians.

01:05:12Many other tombs in Petra contain only fragments of human remains.

01:05:16But in this tomb, twelve complete skeletons were found.

01:05:19This important discovery will allow us to study the rituals associated with the life and death of the Nabataians,

01:05:25as well as their lifestyle based on the analysis of teeth and bones.

01:05:27Preliminary dating places the tomb between the first century BC and the first century AD.

01:05:34At the height of the Nabataian kingdom, which was annexed by Rome in 106 AD,

01:05:40inside one of the skeletons they found a ceramic vessel resembling the famous chalice from the Indiana Jones movie,

01:05:46which added an extra layer of intrigue to the discovery.

01:05:49An amulet from outer space.

01:05:52Turkish archaeologists have discovered a 4,700-year-old amulet made of meteoric iron.

01:05:59This artifact, found in an early Bronze Age burial in Asia Minor,

01:06:03is considered the oldest firmly dated find of its kind in the region.

01:06:08The amulet was discovered in the Kesik-Servi burial ground, located in southwestern Turkey.

01:06:13The object was resting inside a pithos, a large clay vessel used for burials.

01:06:17As of today, the earliest confirmed artifacts made of meteoric iron are beads from Egypt.

01:06:23Found near the settlement of El-Gerze and dated to around 3300 BC,

01:06:28discoveries from the Orenburg region in Russia are also well known,

01:06:32where in a Yamnai culture Kurgan, archaeologists unearthed a knife, a chisel, and an Adzei planar dating back to 2700

01:06:39BC.

01:06:40During the excavations in Kesik-Servi, besides the amulet,

01:06:43graves with rich burial goods were found, which indicates the deceased's high status.

01:06:48Analysis confirmed that the iron of the amulet is indeed of meteoric origin,

01:06:53which further increases its historical and scientific value.

01:06:58The timeless past met the 20th century.

01:07:01Imagine a place where the wind is so strong that no trees grow there,

01:07:04because it just tears them away.

01:07:07Bare rocks drop straight into the ocean, surrounded by freezing cold water.

01:07:11And the nearest land is more than 60 kilometers away.

01:07:14This is St Kilda, the outermost point of the British Isles.

01:07:17And on this tiny patch of rock in the middle of the ocean, people lived for more than 4,000

01:07:22years.

01:07:22They lived entirely differently from the rest of Britain.

01:07:25While people in London rode trains and turned on electric lights, on St Kilda it was essentially still the Stone

01:07:32Age.

01:07:32They barely fished here.

01:07:33The sea was far too rough, but they ate birds instead.

01:07:36And not just a few.

01:07:38According to statistics, in a single year the islanders took more than 89,000 puffins.

01:07:42Those are seabirds with bright beaks.

01:07:44They went through them like sunflower seeds.

01:07:47Harvesting food was more dangerous than any extreme sport.

01:07:51Men climbed down sheer cliffs hundreds of meters high on ropes barefoot, without any safety gear.

01:07:56After eggs and chicks, they made pillows from the feathers, shoes from bird skins, and fueled lamps with the fat

01:08:02instead of kerosene.

01:08:03To survive the winter when the birds fly away, they built over a thousand stone storehouses with vented walls all

01:08:09across the island.

01:08:10The wind blew right through them and dried the bird carcasses like a natural refrigerator.

01:08:15Nothing went to waste at all.

01:08:16And then everything collapsed.

01:08:17In an instant.

01:08:18When ships from the mainland started visiting the island more often, people got their first taste of regular store-bought

01:08:24food and regular mail.

01:08:26And they forgot how to survive on their own.

01:08:28Crops perished in the salty wind.

01:08:30And without doctors, people started dying even from treatable conditions.

01:08:33The final straw came in 1930.

01:08:35A young woman fell ill with appendicitis.

01:08:38They tried to take her to the mainland, but didn't make it in time.

01:08:41That was when the islanders themselves wrote to the government.

01:08:43In the letter, which many signed with the simple cross, because they couldn't write, they asked for just one thing.

01:08:49Help us leave.

01:08:51There are only 36 of us left.

01:08:53And the elderly and widows simply won't survive the next winter.

01:08:57On August 29, 1930, the last 36 residents boarded the ship.

01:09:01They only took their suitcases with them.

01:09:04The island where their ancestors had lived for 4,000 years became deserted in a single day.

01:09:09And no one lives there anymore.

01:09:11A shocking discovery by miners.

01:09:15Sometimes miners stumble upon unusual artifacts capable of surprising even archaeologists.

01:09:20In 2008 at the Zapadnaya mine in Donetsk, Rostov Oblast, at a depth of 900 meters, an unusual discovery was

01:09:28made.

01:09:28In sandstone dating back to the Carboniferous period, 360 to 300 million years ago, the imprint of a wheel was

01:09:35found.

01:09:36Mine foreman Kasatkin, who worked at the mine, shared photographs of the find.

01:09:40According to him in the mine, which was classified as hazardous, due to the risk of sudden coal and gas

01:09:46outbursts, management prohibited any investigation of the object and ordered work to be expedited.

01:09:51As a result, another smaller imprint discovered later was not recovered for study.

01:09:56Kasatkin claimed that other astonishing discoveries were made in the mine, which was shut down and flooded in 2009, including

01:10:04imprints of giant snakes and possibly winged reptiles.

01:10:08He also mentioned other unusual discoveries in coal mines around the world, including a wall made of stone blocks and

01:10:14hieroglyphs.

01:10:16These stories, despite sounding fantastic, make us wonder about the possible existence of ancient civilizations we still know nothing about.

01:10:23Such discoveries could open new horizons for archaeology and history, although mainstream science often ignores such evidence, dismissing it as

01:10:33miners' tales.

01:10:34What do you think?

01:10:36Could these mysterious findings really be proof of ancient civilizations?

01:10:40Or are they just coincidences?

01:10:42Share your thoughts in the comments.

01:10:45Why were mummies hidden in caves?

01:10:48In caves in Lebanon back in 1991, archaeologists and speleologists discovered a true treasure.

01:10:55Eight remarkably well-preserved mummies that are nearly eight centuries old.

01:11:00People might have once lived in this mysterious cave in the Khadisha valley.

01:11:04There was even an artificial pond near the cave, and the cave itself had two rooms where someone might have

01:11:10lived.

01:11:11The mummies found here belonged to the Maronite people and were naturally mummified in the cave.

01:11:17Unlike Egyptian mummies, no one embalmed the bodies here.

01:11:20Among them was a little girl, buried with her mother on her left shoulder, just as they still do in

01:11:26Lebanon today.

01:11:27Along with the mummies, many amazing artifacts were found.

01:11:30For example, a baby girl named Yasmin was dressed in three dresses, blue, beige and dark beige with silk embroidery.

01:11:37They even put a beautiful silk headband and jewelry on her.

01:11:40This amazing find in Lebanon isn't just a historical treasure.

01:11:45It's a mysterious tale of people who lived eight centuries ago, and a secret we are only just beginning to

01:11:51unravel.

01:11:51Egypt is Rewriting History

01:11:54Archaeologists in Egypt have stumbled upon something absolutely mind-blowing.

01:11:58In Hierakonpolis, an ancient city on the banks of the Nile that served as Egypt's cultural center before the pyramids,

01:12:04a cemetery was unearthed, but not an ordinary one.

01:12:07Dr. Rene Friedman and her team expected a routine excavation, but what they discovered left them completely breathless.

01:12:14Alongside human remains in the tombs lay unexpected guests, baboons, wildcats, even hippos.

01:12:21Animals not typically found in Egypt.

01:12:24The most astonishing thing was that all these animals had been cared for.

01:12:28They received medical treatment, were fed, and even lived in captivity for a long time.

01:12:33In Friedman's view, this might have been the world's very first zoo.

01:12:36These animals were symbols of power and might, demonstrations of wealth and dominion over the wild.

01:12:42The zoo is one of the most astonishing discoveries in Egypt.

01:12:45Imagine how these ancient Egyptians cared for their wild pets, using them in religious rituals and displaying their power.

01:12:55Bactrian gold Afghanistan

01:12:56In the very heart of Afghanistan, at the crossroads of ancient civilizations,

01:13:02one of the most spectacular archaeological treasures of the 20th century was discovered, the Bactrian gold.

01:13:09This astonishing find, consisting of more than 20,000 gold objects, was discovered in 1978 by archaeologist Victor Sarianidi.

01:13:19These treasures date back to the first millennium BC, and belong to an ancient people who inhabited the Tilya-Tepeh

01:13:25area in northern Afghanistan.

01:13:27Jewelry, coins, figurines, and many other art objects reflect a blend of diverse cultures, ranging from Greece and Rome to

01:13:34China and India.

01:13:35The jewelry attracts particular attention – diadems, earrings, necklaces.

01:13:40Everything is exquisitely decorated with precious stones and inlaid with the finest gold wire.

01:13:46Among the imagery on the jewelry, one can see panthers, deer, dragons, and many other mythical creatures.

01:13:53Interestingly, after their discovery, the treasures were considered lost for a long time due to political instability in the region.

01:14:00But in 2003, they were found in a vault of the central bank of Afghanistan.

01:14:04Today, this treasure serves as a reminder of Afghanistan's rich and multifaceted history and its place in world civilization.

01:14:12E.G.Y.P.T. in Krokolo Armor

01:14:16Egyptian crocodile armor is truly a unique find.

01:14:19It was crafted from crocodile skin and used in religious rituals in ancient Egypt.

01:14:24During the time of the pharaohs, crocodiles were considered sacred animals and symbolized strength and power.

01:14:30The god Sobek, often depicted as a man with the head of a crocodile, was one of the most important

01:14:36deities in Egyptian mythology.

01:14:37He was frequently associated with the pharaoh's power as well as with protection and fertility.

01:14:43Armor made of crocodile skin was presumably used by priests during religious ceremonies, in honor of Sobek.

01:14:49Crocodile skin, in turn, was considered a powerful amulet that protected against enemies and evil spirits.

01:14:56The oldest Christian church.

01:14:59Archeologists have discovered the remains of an Armenian church that is nearly 2,000 years old, making it one of

01:15:04the oldest in the world and the oldest in Armenia.

01:15:07The University of Munster in Germany, which collaborated with the Armenian Academy of Sciences on the excavations, called this find

01:15:15a sensational piece of evidence for early Christianity in Armenia.

01:15:18The church was uncovered during excavations in Atashat, which was once a thriving metropolis and the capital of the ancient

01:15:25Armenian kingdom.

01:15:26Experts believe the church was built in the 4th century AD, around the same time as Echmiadzin Cathedral, considered the

01:15:33first Armenian church and the oldest in the world was built.

01:15:37The Unearthed building is the oldest archaeologically documented church in Armenia.

01:15:43This is the first known octagonal church in Armenia.

01:15:46Similar structures are found on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and also date back to the 4th century.

01:15:52The church resembled early Christian memorial buildings. Its diameter was about 30 meters.

01:15:57The floor was made of a mixture of sand and cement and the walls were made of terracotta, probably brought

01:16:04from Greece or Italy.

01:16:05Scientists also found traces of wooden platforms, which made it possible to accurately date the structure using radiocarbon analysis.

01:16:14Princesses who could fight.

01:16:16In the tomb of Egyptian princesses, archaeologists found bows, arrows, maces and daggers.

01:16:22For a long time, all this was considered standard burial gifts.

01:16:27Beautiful weapons that were meant to accompany the woman into the afterlife.

01:16:31But when scientists re-examined their bones, it turned out that some of these princesses might have actually used these

01:16:37weapons in life.

01:16:38We are talking about the mummies of the daughters of Pharaoh Amenemhat II, who lived about 4000 years ago.

01:16:44They were discovered back in the 19th century and more than a hundred years later.

01:16:49The remains were rediscovered and studied in the collection of the Cairo Museum.

01:16:53The soft tissues were barely preserved.

01:16:55But the bones revealed far more than the researchers had expected.

01:16:59One of the princesses had such a well-developed upper body that it seemed she had been making the same

01:17:04strenuous arm movements for years.

01:17:06Researchers believe that such strain could have been linked to the use of a mace or dagger.

01:17:12In another, they found changes consistent with regular use of a bow.

01:17:17Moreover, old fractures were found on her ribs and foot, which had completely healed.

01:17:23This doesn't mean that Egyptian princesses marched onto the battlefield alongside the army.

01:17:29It's simply impossible to prove that from bones alone.

01:17:32They could have trained, hunted or performed other heavy physical labor.

01:17:36But now the weapons from these tombs look completely different.

01:17:41Perhaps these weren't just symbolic objects, but things these women actually knew how to use.

01:17:47And the image of an Egyptian princess who spent her entire life just sitting in a palace surrounded by servants

01:17:52becomes considerably less convincing after this.

01:17:55The tomb they are afraid to explore.

01:17:58And now let's return to the place where this video began.

01:18:01In China, near the city of Xi'an, under a massive mound lies the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the

01:18:07first emperor who unified China and introduced a standardized script, currency and laws.

01:18:13In 1974, farmers were digging a well and accidentally found the first terracotta warrior.

01:18:19Then an entire army emerged from the ground.

01:18:22Thousands of clay soldiers, chariots, horses and weapons.

01:18:25Each warrior has distinct facial features and unique details.

01:18:28But that was only the outer part of the complex.

01:18:31The emperor's main tomb still hasn't been opened.

01:18:34And the reason isn't that they can't find it.

01:18:37Location is known.

01:18:38The mound has been studied for decades.

01:18:40Beneath it, according to researchers, lies a vast underground palace.

01:18:44But archaeologists are in no hurry to open that door.

01:18:46The ancient historian Sima Chan wrote that rivers of mercury flow inside the tomb.

01:18:51The ceiling is decorated like a starry sky.

01:18:53And self-firing crossbows are hidden in the floor for uninvited guests.

01:18:57For a long time it sounded like a legend.

01:18:59But soil analysis above the mound showed abnormally high levels of mercury.

01:19:03This means the story about mercury rivers might not have been a myth.

01:19:06And that is already a serious problem.

01:19:08If there really are large amounts of mercury inside opening it could be dangerous for people and the environment.

01:19:14No one knows for sure what will happen if we disturb a chamber that has been sealed for over 2000

01:19:18years.

01:19:20The traps can't be completely dismissed as fairy tales either.

01:19:23Ancient crossbow mechanisms that were remarkably well preserved have been found in neighboring Chin-era tombs.

01:19:29But that's not even the main fear.

01:19:31The main fear is destroying what lies inside.

01:19:33When the pits with the terracotta army were open, the vibrant paint on the figures began to deteriorate almost immediately

01:19:40upon contact with the air.

01:19:41And in the main tomb there could be textiles, wood, paintings, bronze, documents and items that no one has seen

01:19:47since the emperor's funeral.

01:19:48That is why China officially states that the tomb will not be opened until technology allows for the preservation of

01:19:54everything found inside.

01:19:55And there is logic in that.

01:19:56Sometimes archaeology is not just the desire to uncover a secret but also the ability to stop in time.

01:20:02The strangest thing is that we know where one of the greatest unexcavated tombs in history is located.

01:20:07We have radar, sensors, laboratories and money.

01:20:10But the door still remains closed.

01:20:13Qin Shi Huang wanted to control everything in life.

01:20:16And 2200 years later, it seems he still won't let people into his underworld.

01:20:23The most gigantic object in the universe!

01:20:26And the last mystery on this list is no longer on Earth.

01:20:29This is Olympus Mons on Mars.

01:20:32The largest volcano and the highest mountain in the entire solar system.

01:20:37If measured from base to peak, its height is about 26 km.

01:20:41For comparison, Everest is less than 9 km.

01:20:45That is, Martian Olympus Mons is 3 times higher than the highest mountain on Earth.

01:20:50And its base spans roughly 500 km.

01:20:53And that's not just a mountain anymore, but an object the size of an entire country.

01:20:57But the strangest thing is that if a person were on its slope,

01:21:01he probably wouldn't even realize he was standing on a volcano.

01:21:04The slopes of Olympus are so gentle that the ascent would look like an endless plain.

01:21:09The true scale of this mountain can only be seen from space.

01:21:12Scientists explain its size by the unique characteristics of Mars.

01:21:15The gravity there is weaker, so the volcano could grow much taller than Earth's mountains.

01:21:19And what's more, Mars most likely didn't have plate tectonics as active as ours.

01:21:23On Earth, tectonic plates move, and a hotspot gradually creates a chain of volcanoes.

01:21:28But on Mars, a lava source could remain beneath the exact same spot for a very long time.

01:21:33Eruption.

01:21:33After eruption, layer upon layer, and so over millions of years, a giant grew.

01:21:38But Olympus has a feature that makes it even more interesting.

01:21:41The base of the volcano is surrounded by an enormous scarp several kilometers high.

01:21:45Some of its features resemble structures that form on Earth where lava meets water.

01:21:50And that led to a daring hypothesis.

01:21:52Air.

01:21:53Perhaps Olympus once stood beside an ancient Martian ocean.

01:21:56Or maybe it was a gigantic volcanic island altogether.

01:21:59Imagine Mars not as a cold red desert,

01:22:01but as a planet where water might have splashed around a gigantic volcano.

01:22:05If that's true, then what we have before us isn't just a huge mountain.

01:22:09It's a trace of an entirely different Mars.

01:22:12More alive, warmer, with oceans, shores, and processes that today seem almost impossible.

01:22:18Now, Olympus Mons is considered an extinct volcano.

01:22:20It no longer erupts.

01:22:22There is no sea around it.

01:22:23And the planet itself looks dead and frozen to the core.

01:22:26Yet its sheer size still serves as a reminder that Mars was once more than just a red dot in

01:22:30the sky.

01:22:30It was a world with its own geological power, its own catastrophes, and, perhaps, its own water.

01:22:37And after that, it feels strange to return to Earth and think that we've got it almost all figured out.

01:22:42Right here, continents crack apart, billions of years of history vanish, bogs preserve bodies, and sands swallow ships.

01:22:48And beneath a Chinese mound, a sealed tomb has been lying for over 2000 years.

01:22:53And nearby on another planet sits a 26 kilometer high volcano that might have once overlooked an ancient ocean.

01:23:01Let me know in the comments which of these stories surprised you the most.

01:23:05And hit like on the video. Every like and comment helps grow the channel.

01:23:09Subscribe and turn on notifications, because a new video is coming soon.

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