14 Events in History That Are Still Unexplained
History is full of mysteries that continue to puzzle experts and spark debate even today.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Some moments in history leave behind more questions than answers. Even modern science and technology have not cracked the truth behind many of these stories. These enduring mysteries keep the past alive and make us wonder what else remains hidden.
1. The Roanoke Colony Disappearance
NASA on Wikimedia Commons
In 1587, more than 100 settlers vanished from Roanoke Island without a trace. The only clue left behind was the word “CROATOAN” carved into a post. Historians still debate whether they were absorbed by local tribes, lost at sea, or met some other fate.
2. The Mystery of Stonehenge
Sumit Surai on Wikimedia Commons
The massive stone circle in England has stood for thousands of years. Scholars still cannot fully explain how ancient people moved and arranged such heavy stones without advanced tools. Its exact purpose remains a subject of endless debate.
3. The Lost City of Atlantis
George Grie on Wikimedia Commons
Plato wrote about Atlantis as a great civilization that mysteriously vanished. Some believe it was based on a real place destroyed by a natural disaster, while others think it was pure myth. The allure of Atlantis continues to inspire explorers worldwide.
4. The Voynich Manuscript
Unknown author on Pexels
This 15th-century book is filled with strange symbols, undeciphered text, and bizarre plant drawings. Despite years of study, no one has cracked its meaning or origin. It remains one of history’s strangest unsolved puzzles.
5. The Tunguska Event
Leonid Kulik, the expedition to the Tunguska event on Wikimedia Commons
In 1908, a massive explosion flattened 800 square miles of Siberian forest. No crater was found, fueling theories of an asteroid, comet, or something even stranger. The mystery of Tunguska has never been fully solved.
6. The Bermuda Triangle
AlexFloresXIII on Wikimedia Commons
Ships and planes have vanished in the stretch of ocean between Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. Explanations range from magnetic anomalies to human error. Its reputation as a danger zone still captures the public’s imagination.
7. The Dancing Plague of 1518
Pieter Brueghel the Elder on Wikimedia Commons
Hundreds of people in Strasbourg reportedly danced uncontrollably for days. Some even died of exhaustion, and no one knows why it started. Theories range from mass hysteria to poisoned food supplies.
8. The Wow! Signal
Philip Terry Graham on Wikimedia Commons
In 1977, a radio telescope picked up a powerful signal from deep space. The signal lasted just 72 seconds but matched what scientists expected from extraterrestrial communication. It has never been detected again.
9. The Mary Celeste
was RedCoat10 at en.wikipedia on Wikimedia Commons
In 1872, a ship was found drifting in the Atlantic with no crew on board. Everything inside was untouched, as if the people had simply vanished. What happened to the crew remains one of maritime history’s biggest mysteries.
10. The Nazca Lines
Diego Delso on Wikimedia Commons
Huge geoglyphs etched into Peru’s desert form animals and shapes best seen from the sky. How ancient people designed them so precisely is still unclear. Their true purpose may never be fully known.
11. The Mystery of Jack the Ripper
R. Taylor (R. & E. Taylor (Firm)) on Wikimedia Commons
The infamous serial killer terrorized London in 1888, but his identity was never discovered. Despite modern DNA analysis, the case remains unsolved. His gruesome crimes still haunt the imagination of true-crime followers.
12. The Taos Hum
Doug Kerr on Wikimedia Commons
Residents of Taos, New Mexico, report a low, humming sound that has no clear source. Scientists have studied the phenomenon but cannot find a single explanation. The hum continues to frustrate and intrigue locals.
13. The Antikythera Mechanism
No machine-readable author provided. Marsyas assumed (based on copyright claims). on Wikimedia Commons
Found in a shipwreck, this ancient Greek device is often called the world’s first computer. It was used to track celestial movements with incredible precision. Its complexity has shocked modern researchers.
14. The Shroud of Turin
Krzysztof Dobrzański from Stalowa Wola, Poland on Wikimedia Commons
This cloth bears the faint image of a man believed by many to be Jesus. Carbon dating suggests it may be medieval, but the image’s exact creation method is unknown. The debate over its authenticity continues to this day.