Our fascination with the past seems to never end. We dig, we discover, we decipher and it’s all in the hope of getting our hands on amazing archaeological finds. As we unearth such things, we get to know more about what happened in eras bygone. We meet lost cities and forgotten societies. We get acquainted with hidden history. We marvel at ancient innovations that showcase humans’ curiosity and creativity.
People have uncovered many interesting finds in the past and we’ll continue to do so. But in this feature, we spotlight seven of the most unexpected archaeological discoveries that rewrote history and changed how we view the past as we know it.
1. Gobekli Tepe: A Glimpse of The World’s Ritualistic Beginnings
Cultures around the world boast some sets of rituals. But just how long has the world been doing ritualistic activities?
Gobekli Tepe, one of the most amazing archaeological finds in recent decades, reveals one truth: Early humans didn’t only gather to survive. They also did some rituals. Before experts did a more in-depth study of the ancient site in the 90s (it was first discovered in the 60s but dismissed as a cemetery), historians believed that our early ancestors were primarily nomadic. They still lacked knowledge of agriculture and architecture.
The site, located in southeastern Turkiye and certainly one of the most important historical discoveries, dates back over 11,000 years. It even actually predates the popular Stonehenge by about 6,000 years. Gobekli Tepe comprises large stone pillars adorned with animal carvings and organized in circular formations, prompting researchers to theorize that it served as a ritual site.
2. The Antikythera Mechanism: A 2,000-Year-Old Analog Computer
The ancient Greek civilization is one of the most storied ancient civilizations. And part of it is their long list of inventions and their contribution to modern mathematics, engineering, medicine, and, of course, astronomy.
Speaking of astronomy, nothing captures the Greeks’ ingenuity like the Antikythera Mechanism. Historians consider it the earliest analog computer. First discovered in a shipwreck off the coast of Antikythera in 1901, it’s an intricate device with a series of gears and mechanisms. Scholars believe that the ancient Greeks used this hand-powered tool to predict planetary movements, lunar phases, and eclipses.
3. Terracotta Warriors: An Eerie, Monumental Ancient Tomb
Ancient tombs have a special place in archeologists’ hearts. They’re far different from some of the most haunted places we know. These hold some historical significance. After all, they offer a unique glimpse into the rituals, beliefs, and daily lives of past civilizations, especially that of royalties.
One of the most amazing archaeological finds in this field is the Terracotta Warriors. Discovered accidentally by farmers in China’s Shaanxi Province in the 1970s, the site turned out to be the mausoleum of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
The mausoleum is eerie as it is monumental: It has an army of over 8,000 life-sized warriors weighing up to over 270 kilograms, each with unique facial features, hairstyles, clothes, and poses. The army also comes complete with clay horses, chariots, and even acrobats.
4. Yonaguni Monument: One of Japan’s Amazing Archaeological Finds
You’ve probably heard of Atlantis, the legendary utopic city mentioned in Plato’s works. But have you encountered Japan’s own Atlantis?
Yonaguni Monument, off the coast of the Yonaguni Island in western Japan, is a stepped pyramid structure. It measures over 165 feet long and 65 feet wide. Discovered in the 1980s, it’s one of today’s most talked about archaeology mysteries.
Some believe that it’s a relic of a lost city, suggesting that it could be at least 5,000 years old. Proponents of this idea believe that a cataclysmic event wiped out the ancient culture and had it submerged underwater. On the other side, some researchers argue that the rectangular monument was born out of natural circumstances. They note that the structure seems solid rock rather than separate blocks, and the supposed carvings are just natural scratches.
5. Prehistoric Tools in Maryland: Raising Questions About Humans’ Arrival in North America
This year, Darrin Lowery, a geologist affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, discovered ancient artifacts that could alter the timeline for when humans first arrived in North America.
When Lowery was excavating in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, he and his team unearthed nearly 300 tools. The oldest of which? An artifact embedded in charcoal dating back over 22,000 years. For a long time, experts have believed the so-called Clovis First theory, which posits that the Clovis people were the first to inhabit the Americas about 13,000 years ago.
This discovery in Maryland is one of the recent archaeological discoveries that rewrote history. And it supports separate evidence from New Mexico, wherein archeologists have found human footprints dated from 21,000 to 23,000 years ago.
6. Tell el-Hammam: The Real-Life Sodom?
If you’re a Bible believer fascinated with amazing archaeological finds, knowing the real-life locations from the Holy Book would certainly pique your interest.
The ancient city of Tell el-Hammam, located near the Dead Sea in Jordan, may provide a basis for the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah. The infamous sinful cities serve as a cautionary tale of God’s divine punishment, memorialized in the Book of Genesis.
Historical evidence (e.g., layers of melted pottery, scorched stones, and thick ash deposits) shows that Tell el-Hammam faced a celestial impact. Some experts say it matches the description of a city destroyed by fire from the heavens. However, not everyone agrees with the theory that this is the legendary Sodom. In fact, many scholars, correcting historical revisionism, believe Tell el-Hammam might actually be the ancient city of Abel-Shittim, which is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as one of the Stations of the Exodus.
7. The Library of Ashurbanipal: Brimming with Ancient Knowledge
As you learned in high school, The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest-known piece of literature. This was among the amazing archaeological finds in the library of Ashurbanipal.
Ashurbanipal was a 7th-century BCE Assyrian king. His library, one of the most extensive in the ancient world, has over 30,000 tablets. These tablets contain writings on various topics, such as literature, law, medicine, and astronomy.
It was British archaeologist Austen Henry Layard who discovered the treasure trove of ancient knowledge in 1849. Up until today, the library continues to inform today’s historians about ancient Mesopotamia and its people’s cultural and scholarly pursuits.
Archaeological Discoveries that Rewrote History are Here to Shed Light on Our Past
Indeed, our fascination with the past seems to never end. These amazing archaeological finds don’t just give us a glimpse of the ancient past. They also help spark new perspectives. And the next time we dig, discover, and decipher something new, we may just find ourselves rewriting history once again.