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In the era of high technology, it may seem that all the secrets of the past have long been revealed. However, archeology continues to amaze us with stunning discoveries that shed light on ancient civilizations and rewrite the pages of history.
Mass child sacrifice in Peru
In 2018, the largest children's grave was discovered in northwestern Peru. More than 140 children and 200 llama cubs were sacrificed by the Chimu Indians in the mid-XV century. It is believed that the ritual was performed to appease the gods after severe floods. An unusual ritual knife was found near the ancient capital of Chan-Chan.
DNA analysis showed that the children aged 5-14 were healthy and came from different regions. Their faces were covered with red vermillion and their heads were tied with cotton ribbons. Archaeologists note the uniqueness of the find: children and llamas were buried in a certain order on a low cliff near the ocean. Such a large-scale sacrifice of children has never been seen before.
Ancient ships in the Black Sea
During a 2015 expedition off the coast of Bulgaria, researchers accidentally discovered an amazing find - many sunken ships from the Byzantine and Ottoman Empire in the area of the Greek Fourni archipelago. The uniqueness of this discovery lies in the exceptional safety of the vessels, due to the special conditions of the Black Sea. At depths of over 150 meters, the absence of light and oxygen creates an ideal environment for preserving wood.
An international team of maritime archaeologists counted more than 60 ships. The most valuable specimen is considered to be a Greek merchant ship that sank about 2500 years ago. Its structure, including the masts, rudder and even everyday items, remained virtually untouched. Before this discovery, such ships were known only from images on antique vases. To preserve this unique artifact, scientists decided to leave it on the seabed.
“Book of the Dead” in Egypt
In early 2023, a significant copy of the “Book of the Dead”, an ancient Egyptian collection of spells for the afterlife, was discovered near the Pyramid of Djoser. The 16-meter-long papyrus, dating back to 300 BC, belonged to a noble and wealthy man named Ahmose, mentioned 260 times in the text.
The scroll, created during Ptolemaic times, contains detailed instructions for traveling to the afterlife. Various scenarios of posthumous fate are depicted in black and red ink, including a meeting with Osiris, the judge of the souls of the departed.
The illustrations show Ahmose and his wife presenting gifts to the gods, boats for traveling through the underworld, and the monster Amat devouring the hearts of sinners. This papyrus represents a unique source of information about ancient Egyptian ideas about the afterlife.
Unexplored tunnel in the Cheops pyramid
In March 2023, a group of international researchers made a sensational discovery in the Cheops Pyramid in Giza - a previously unknown tunnel. The passage, 9 m long and over 2 m wide, has remained untouched since the construction of the pyramid in 2560 BC. The expedition was led by Zahi Hawass, the former Minister of Antiquities of Egypt. He suggested that behind this find something even more significant could be hidden, perhaps even the tomb of Pharaoh Cheops himself.
Unique prosthetic palate in Poland
During excavations of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Krakow, Polish archaeologists made a unique find - a 300-year-old prosthetic palate. This product made of gold, copper and wool is considered the first of its kind and has no analogues in the world's collections.
The palatal obturator was developed for a man with a congenital cleft palate, a defect that could not be treated surgically at that time. The device permitted the patient to swallow, breathe and speak normally.
This discovery demonstrates a high level of medical knowledge and skill from three centuries ago, previously unknown to science.
Of course, this is not a complete list of amazing archaeological finds of recent years. Who knows what other incredible discoveries await us in the future, and how they will change our understanding of ancient cultures and civilizations?
Resource: www.rbc.ru; style.rbc.ru; techno.nv.ua
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