While exploring around 3,000 years old tombs in Luoyang, China, archaeologists discovered a large pit that contained the remains of horses and wooden chariots. A total of five chariots and 12 horse remains were found. Further tests have shown that these excavated items were from way back in 770 BC. The remains of the horses reveal evidence that they were first slaughtered before being buried.
Many other items were also found in the tombs, which include bronze wares and ceramics that are from the early Western Zhou dynasty. For archaeologists, this discovery shines a light on how people back from that period in time performed funerals.
Cannibal Neanderthals
A group of skeletons from 12 Neanderthals were found in a cave in Northern Spain on an expedition in 2010. Tests conducted have shown that the group of Neanderthals died around 49,000 years ago. Some evidence was also found in the same location that suggests that they were tortured.
Many archaeological studies have shown that cannibalism was a practice that was not exclusive to the Neanderthals, and this is the exact same reason why they went extinct.
Adam's Calendar
The Blaauboschkraal stone ruins, also known as Adam's Calendar, is a heritage site located in Mpumalanga, South Africa. In 1975 it was declared a national monument. These ruins make what was once a large stone complex of a walling system, and to this day, the exact age is unknown.
It is believed that the site used to be used for agriculture, cattle enclosures, and the habitat of the Bokoni people. It is thought that Adam'a Calendar is the oldest stone structure on earth that was made by man.
Unfinished Obelisk
An unfinished ancient obelisk was found in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt in Aswan. It was thought that this unfinished obelisk was built to complement the Lateran Obelisk, which is the largest standing ancient Egyptian obelisk.
What’s amazing about this is that it is nearly one-third larger than any Egyptian obelisk that was ever erected. When completed, it would have measured 137 feet high and weighed 1,090 metric tons. During its creation, however, cracks appeared in the granite, and the project was abandoned. The Egyptians’ masterful stone-working techniques can also still be seen and observed from it.
Copper Scroll
The Copper Dead Sea Scroll was discovered by one archaeologist in a cave near Qumran, Israel, in 1952. It was part of the Dead Sea scrolls, written in Hebrew, and was estimated to be from around 50-100 BC. The difference with the Copper Dead Sea Scroll is that it was made of a huge block of copper which had to be cut into sheets and laid flat to be able to read what was written on it.
Upon inspection and study of the scroll’s inscriptions - the text describes a map where certain treasures from either the first or second temple of Jerusalem can be found.