The Most Puzzling Archaeological Discoveries Ever Made

Discovered in a shipwreck off the coast of Greece in 1901, the Antikythera Mechanism is a complex ancient Greek device used for predicting astronomical events. It has been dated to around 100 BC and is considered the world's first known analog computer.

Located in present-day Turkey, Gobekli Tepe is a series of stone structures dating back to the 10th millennium BC. The site predates Stonehenge by 6,000 years and challenges the conventional understanding of the development of agriculture and the rise of civilization.

The Nazca Lines are a series of massive geoglyphs etched into the desert in southern Peru. Created between 500 BC and 500 AD, the lines depict various animals, plants, and geometric shapes. The purpose of these enormous drawings, visible only from the air, remains a mystery.

The Voynich Manuscript is a 15th-century book written in an unknown script and filled with mysterious illustrations. Despite numerous attempts by cryptographers and linguists, no one has been able to decipher the text, leaving its contents and purpose a mystery.

Discovered in modern-day Iraq, the Baghdad Battery is a set of three artifacts dating back to the Parthian period (250 BC - 224 AD). It consists of a ceramic pot, a copper tube, and an iron rod, and some believe it may have been used as a simple galvanic cell, capable of producing a small electric current.

The Piri Reis Map is a 16th-century map drawn by Ottoman admiral and cartographer Piri Reis. The map shows a surprisingly accurate representation of the Americas and Antarctica, raising questions about the sources of information available to the cartographer.

Located in Cusco, Peru, the Sacsayhuaman Walls are an impressive example of Inca masonry. The enormous stones, some weighing more than 100 tons, fit together so precisely that not even a sheet of paper can be inserted between them. The construction techniques used to build these walls remain a mystery.

The Moai are large stone statues found on Easter Island, a remote island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. The statues, created by the Rapa Nui people between 1250 and 1500 AD, weigh up to 75 tons each. The purpose and methods used to transport and erect these massive statues are still debated among researchers.

The Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth believed by some to be the burial shroud of Jesus Christ. It bears the image of a man who appears to have suffered physical trauma consistent with crucifixion. Despite extensive scientific analysis, the authenticity and origins of the shroud remain controversial.

The Dropa Stones are a collection of small, circular stone discs allegedly discovered in 1938 in a cave in China. The discs are said to be around 12,000 years old and feature tiny hieroglyphic markings. Some believe the stones tell the story of an ancient alien civilization, though the authenticity and existence of the Dropa Stones are widely disputed.