12 Ancient Devices Scientists Can’t Explain

Here's a journey through 12 mysterious ancient devices that challenge our understanding of science, technology, and human ingenuity.

Alyana Aguja
November 17, 2025
4 min read

12 Ancient Devices Scientists Can’t Explain — Aaron Greenwood from Unsplash

Across centuries and continents, humanity has crafted artifacts far ahead of their time. These devices — from the Antikythera Mechanism to the Voynich Manuscript — defy easy explanation and reveal how advanced ancient minds may have been. They remind us that the ancient world was far more complex, inventive, and mysterious than we often imagine.

1. 1. The Antikythera Mechanism (Greece)

Discovered off the coast of Antikythera, Greece, this 2,000-year-old bronze machine is often called the world’s first analog computer. It contains a complex system of gears used to predict astronomical events, such as eclipses and planetary positions. The mechanism suggests a forgotten era of advanced engineering and astronomical understanding.

2. 2. The Baghdad Battery (Iraq)

Unearthed near Baghdad, this small clay jar contains a copper cylinder and an iron rod, resembling a simple battery. Some researchers believe it was used for electroplating or minor electrical experiments. Others argue it may have served purely as a storage container. Its true purpose remains debated, but it hints that ancient Mesopotamians may have known about electricity long before modern science.

3. 3. The Nebra Sky Disk (Germany)

This bronze disk, dated to around 1600 BCE, shows the oldest known representation of the cosmos. Gold inlays depict the sun, moon, and stars, including the Pleiades cluster. Scholars remain uncertain about how Bronze Age people could possess such accurate astronomical knowledge. The disk challenges assumptions about the sophistication of early European civilizations.

4. 4. The Roman Dodecahedron (Europe)

Over a hundred small, hollow bronze objects with 12 pentagonal faces have been found across Europe. Their use is a mystery, with theories ranging from measuring tools to ritual artifacts or even knitting aids. No historical records explain them, and their size varies widely. The dodecahedron remains one of Rome’s most enigmatic creations.

5. 5. The Uunartoq Disc (Greenland)

This wooden compass, found in a Norse monastery in Greenland, is believed to be a 1,000-year-old navigation device. It may have helped Vikings cross the North Atlantic by tracking the sun’s position even when it was low on the horizon. Its existence reveals how seafarers may have combined astronomy and craftsmanship to master long voyages.

6. 6. The Ark of the Covenant (Israel)

Though described primarily in biblical texts, the Ark is believed by some historians to have been a real physical object. It was said to carry the Ten Commandments and emit dangerous energy when touched. Some suggest it might have functioned as a rudimentary capacitor, though no direct evidence supports this.

7. 7. The Saqqara Bird (Egypt)

Discovered in an ancient Egyptian tomb, this small wooden bird resembles an airplane more than a typical carving. It dates back over 2,000 years and appears to have aerodynamic features like a tail rudder. Some theorists argue it may represent an early understanding of flight principles. Others dismiss it as a simple toy or religious symbol, but its design continues to puzzle experts.

8. 8. The Stone Spheres of Costa Rica (Costa Rica)

Hundreds of perfectly round stone spheres, some weighing tons, are scattered across Costa Rica. Crafted by the Diquís culture, their purpose and method of creation are still unknown. The precision of their shapes suggests advanced measurement skills. Whether markers, ceremonial symbols, or astronomical tools, they remain one of Central America’s greatest mysteries.

9. 9. The London Hammer (United States)

Found encased in rock near London, Texas, this hammer appears to be of modern design but embedded in stone dated to millions of years ago. The iron head and wooden handle challenge conventional timelines. Some believe it’s evidence of anachronistic artifacts, while others say it’s a natural concretion.

10. 10. The Phaistos Disc (Crete)

Unearthed in the ruins of Phaistos on Crete, this clay disc bears mysterious symbols arranged in a spiral. Dating to around 1700 BCE, it’s considered one of archaeology’s great unsolved scripts. Despite decades of study, no one has conclusively deciphered its language or purpose. The disc may hold clues to a lost writing system of the Minoan civilization.

11. 11. The Dendera Light (Egypt)

Inside the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, carvings show figures holding objects resembling modern light bulbs. While mainstream Egyptologists interpret these as symbolic depictions of creation myths, some theorists believe they represent actual electrical devices. No physical remnants of such technology exist. The carvings continue to spark debate over how much the ancient Egyptians truly knew about electricity.

12. 12. The Voynich Manuscript (Italy)

Written in an uncrackable script and filled with strange diagrams of unknown plants and celestial charts, this 15th-century manuscript baffles cryptographers and historians alike. Linguists cannot match its symbols to any known language, and its content resists clear interpretation. The Voynich Manuscript remains one of the world’s most confounding coded texts.