Great Sphinx of Giza

10 Most Mysterious Man Made Structures From Ancient Times

According to genetic and fossil researches, origin of the humans date back to nearly 200,000 years ago. Man began to make objects and structures from Mesolithic and Neolithic era of the human evolution. There are many instances where the human settlements and civilizations have left no clue to their creations. In recent times, geologists, archaeologists and scholars have come across several sites and structures which date back to thousands of years ago. Though, purposes of many of these old buildings and structures are known, there are few whose purpose is still a mystery. These structures are not only old but there are many mysteries surrounding them.

Check out the list of 10 oldest and mysterious man-made structures and buildings:

Large Stone Structure, Israel – (1,000 to 2,000 Years Old)

Large Stone Structure in Israel

Large Stone Structure in Israel is a large mysterious building ruin from the City of David. The mystery structure is from the period when Lord Jesus spent his last days in the holy city of Jerusalem. Israeli archaeologists unearthed the remains of a building whose purpose remains a mystery. The “Large Stone Structure” has pyramid staircases and this design bewilders many scientists. Eilat Mazar, the discoverer of the building believes that the structure may be the remains of King David’s palace as recorded in the Books of Samuel. One hypothesis about the building says that it was a podium to announce important messages to the people due to its proximity to the important pathway. Oddly, the structure leads to no other building and such a structure has never been found anywhere else in the world.

Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt (2,000 Years Old)

Great Sphinx of Giza

Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the world’s oldest and largest statues which is still a subject of big debate about who built it, when and why. Simply known as “Sphinx”, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human built using limestone. All believe that the mysterious sculpture was built by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom during the reign of the Pharaoh Khafre. In the Old Kingdom, there are no inscriptions anywhere describing its construction or its original purpose. The original name of the statue is neither known nor written anywhere by its creators. There are numerous theories and hypothesis regarding the reason behind its construction. The mystery is to remain as it is in the far future.

Yonaguni Monument, Japan – (2,000 to 3,000 Years Old)

Yonaguni Monument in Japan

An interesting rock formation below the sea, off the coast of Yonaguni, the southernmost of the Ryukyu Islands, in Japan has left many scholars mystified. The mysterious formation under the sea is known as Yonaguni Monument. Masaaki Kimura, a professor and faculty at the University of the Ryukyus claims that the ruins are artificial monoliths. The site is highly debatable and mysterious to whether the formation is natural or man-made. One hypothesis suggests that the ruins could be of Mu, a lost civilization of the Pacific. The “Japan’s Mysterious Pyramids” could be somewhere from 2,000 to 3,000 years old. A research suggests that the peculiar formations in the shape of animals and faces within a small area are not possible by sea currents alone.

Bimini Road, Bahamas – 3,500 Years Old (Approx.)

Bimini Road Bahamas

Bimini Road is another underwater mysterious rock formation which is near North Bimini Island in the Bahamas. According to various claims, Bimini Road could be remains of an ancient road, wall, or some other deliberately man-made feature. However, credible evidence or arguments are lacking for such an origin. The formations are rectangular to sub-rectangular limestone blocks. Many geologists and archaeologists are unable to explain whether the formation is natural or man-made.

Few explorers and scholars believe that the Bimini Road might have been part of the lost AtlantisQuest for Atlantis: Startling New Secrets by Sci Fi, a research group in search of the legendary Atlantis once focused on Bimini Road as well. Bimini Road have also been a topic of research and discussion in season 4, episode 22 of the TV series In Search Of, as well as season 4, episode 22 of the History channel’s TV series Ancient Aliens.

Stonehenge, England – 5,000 Years Old (Approx.)

Stonehenge in England

According to many, Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England is the most mysterious place in the world. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument which is as old as 5,000 years. It is a British cultural icon and the most famous landmarks in the UK. The site and its surroundings are in the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites from 1986. Who placed these megalithic structures and for why are some of the most mysterious questions without any answers. It took Neolithic builders an estimated 1,500 years to erect these 160 massive stones in a circular formation. The largest stone weighs 40 tons. Some believe that Stonehenge could have been burial grounds from its earliest beginnings where deposits containing human bones have been recovered. Who built these strange and weird structures remains a mystery which left many geologists and archaeologists puzzled.

Monte d’Accoddi, Italy – Around 6000 Years Old

Monte d'Accoddi

Monte d’Accoddi is a mysterious archaeological site in Italy which dates back to around c. 4,000-3,650 BC. After its discovery in 1954, in a field owned by Segni family several mysterious carved stones and small structures have been found. The most amazing thing found at the site is that of a large boulder in the shape of an egg and then cut through on a subtle curving three-dimensional line. There are various descriptions regarding its purpose such as an altar, a mound, a temple or a step pyramid. The exact purpose of the structure is still a mystery. The intriguing ancient site holds several ancient secrets still waiting to be fully examined.

Goseck Circle – 7,000 Years Old (approx.)

Goseck Circle

Goseck Circle is a mysterious Neolithic structure in Goseck, Germany which is believed to be the oldest Circular Enclosures of the Central European Neolithic. The structure may be the oldest solar observatories in the world. The construction of the structure dates back to 49th century BC and it was in use until 47th century BC. In 1991, an aerial survey photographs first gave clue to this structure which later became a major excavation site in 2002. Excavators also found the remains of what may have been ritual fires, animal and human bones, and a headless skeleton near the south-eastern gate. All of this interprets to traces of human sacrifice or specific burial ritual. Reason behind its abandonment is a mystery. The actual purpose and who built the structures is again a bigger mystery.

Desert Kites or Works of the Old Men – (3,000 to 9,000 Years Old)

Desert Kites or Works of the Old Men
Source

Though modern research has proven that the Desert Kites were used for hunting wild animals, their exact purpose remains a mystery. In the 1920s, pilots of the Royal Air Force found them while flying over the deserts of Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Due to its resemblance to kites in the sky, these strange structures got the name “Desert Kites”. The locals Bedouin knew about them for thousands of years and they call them as “Works of the Old Men”. T.E. Lawrence, an explorer found something more interesting and mysterious in areas around Negev. He found a long and puzzling walls starting from this Byzantine village and goes so aimlessly, perhaps three-quarters of a mile. According to Lawrence, these are not like the ones found elsewhere in the Arabian deserts whose purpose is mysterious.

Göbekli Tepe – (9,000 or more years old)

Göbekli Tepe

Göbekli Tepe is a mystery structure and archaeological site in Turkey. The site has some of the oldest known megaliths which are more than 9,000 years old. The site was excavated by a team of German archaeologists under the leadership of Klaus Schmidt. Schmidt believes that the site were probably holy site and not a settlement. According to geophysical surveys there were more than 200 pillars in about 20 circles. Each pillar is of 20 ft height and weighs 20 tons. There are different interpretations of the structure and the location; few believe that it might have been the oldest known temple in the world. The exact purpose of the structure remains a mystery.

Mysterious Circular Structure in Sea of Galilee, Israel – (2,000 to 12,000 Years)

Mysterious Circular Structure in the Sea of Galilee

A mysterious “monumental” cone or circular structure was found beneath the Sea of Galilee in Israel. According to researchers, the structure weighs 60,000 tons which is heavier than most modern-day warships. Its purpose and age remains a puzzle. The structure appears to be a giant cairn with rocks on top of each other. Ancient structures of these kinds found elsewhere were burials but it is unknown whether the newly found structures were actually burials. In 2003, a team surveying the bottom of the lake using sonar first found these mysterious objects. These structures could be somewhere from 2,000 to 12,000 years old – according to researchers researching the soil beneath the structure. A future explorations and excavations would throw lights on the purpose of these unusual objects underneath the Sea of Galilee.

Vinod Suthersan is an young tech enthusiast, Blogger addict, Internet craze and thriving to learn new things on the world of Internet.