20 Mysterious Artifacts Experts Still Can’t Explain
These ancient objects have left scientists scratching their heads, and theories are still swirling.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Across the globe, mysterious artifacts have been unearthed that seem to defy logic, history, or even science. Archaeologists and researchers have tried to make sense of them, but many of these relics continue to challenge our understanding of the past. Each slide takes a closer look at a puzzling piece of history that refuses to give up its secrets.
1. The Antikythera Mechanism
Tilemahos Efthimiadis on Wikimedia Commons
Dubbed the world’s first analog computer, this 2,000-year-old Greek device could track the movements of celestial bodies. Its intricate gearwork stunned scientists and remains a marvel that seems centuries ahead of its time.
2. The Baghdad Battery
Ironie on Wikimedia Commons
Found in Iraq, this jar-shaped artifact contains copper and iron parts that suggest it might have been used to generate electricity. No one knows what it powered or if it was even a battery.
3. The Voynich Manuscript
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
Written in an unknown script and filled with bizarre illustrations, this centuries-old book has baffled cryptographers and historians alike. No one has cracked its code or identified its purpose.
4. The Saqqara Bird
ArchaiOptix on Wikimedia Commons
This small, bird-like object carved from wood was found in an Egyptian tomb, and some believe it could be a model of an ancient flying machine. Its aerodynamic shape only fuels the theories.
5. The Dropa Stones
GNU Free Documentation License on Wikimedia Commons
Allegedly discovered in a Chinese cave, these stone discs contain tiny etched grooves. Some claim they’re messages from extraterrestrials, though mainstream scholars remain skeptical.
6. The Piri Reis Map
Piri Reis on Wikimedia Commons
Drawn in 1513, this map accurately outlines the coasts of South America and Antarctica before those areas were supposedly explored. Its origins and accuracy remain mysterious.
7. The London Hammer
S. J. Miba on Wikimedia Commons
This hammer was found encased in 400-million-year-old rock in Texas. Skeptics say it’s a hoax, but no one’s definitively explained how modern metal ended up in ancient stone.
8. The Nebra Sky Disk
Frank Vincentz on Wikimedia Commons
Discovered in Germany, this bronze disk is believed to be one of the oldest known star maps. Its celestial symbols are surprisingly accurate and still raise questions about early astronomy.
9. The Stones of Sacsayhuamán
Diego Delso on Wikimedia Commons
The giant stones at this Incan site fit together so perfectly that not even a blade of grass fits between them. No one can fully explain how such precision was achieved without modern tools.
10. The Shroud of Turin
TravelingOtter on Wikimedia Commons
Believed by some to be Jesus’ burial cloth, the shroud shows a faint image of a man’s body. Tests yield mixed results, leaving the artifact stuck between faith and science.
11. The Stones of Puma Punku
Janikorpi on Wikimedia Commons
Located in Bolivia, these massive stones were cut and placed with laser-like precision. Many wonder how ancient builders achieved such accuracy without advanced tools.
12. The Costa Rican Stone Spheres
FriendlyGhostUser on Wikimedia Commons
Hundreds of near-perfect stone spheres were found scattered across Costa Rica. Their purpose and method of creation remain completely unknown.
13. Mohenjo-Daro’s “Nuclear” Destruction
Saqib Qayyum on Wikimedia Commons
Some researchers claim signs of extreme heat and strange radiation at this ancient site suggest a mysterious explosion. The theories range from natural disasters to ancient technology.
14. The Coso Artifact
Pierre Stromberg on Wikimedia Commons
This spark plug-like object was found encased in a rock estimated to be 500,000 years old. That timeline simply doesn’t add up and neither do the explanations.
15. Erosion on the Great Sphinx
Hesham Ebaid on Wikimedia Commons
Some geologists argue that weathering on the Sphinx shows signs of water erosion, suggesting it’s much older than Egyptologists claim. If true, it could rewrite history.
16. The Island of the Dolls
Wa17gs on Wikimedia Commons
Found in Mexico, this island is covered with hundreds of decaying dolls. It started as a tribute to a drowned girl, but visitors report strange occurrences that deepen the mystery.
17. The Rongorongo Tablets
unknown (for GFDL, cite source above as old copyright holder) on Wikimedia Commons
These wooden tablets from Easter Island feature an unknown script that no one has been able to decode. Their meaning and origin remain locked away.
18. The Siberian Sinkhole Structures
Hendrik Dacquin on Wikimedia Commons
Deep in Siberia, mysterious stone structures were discovered within a massive sinkhole. Their shape and location raise more questions than answers.
19. The Quimbaya “Airplanes”
Santandergrl on Wikimedia Commons
These small gold figurines from Colombia resemble modern jets more than birds. Some think they’re proof of ancient flight, or at least knowledge of it.
20. The Dendera Light
Twthmoses on Wikimedia Commons
A carving in an Egyptian temple shows what looks like a giant lightbulb. Supporters of alternative history believe it proves ancient electric technology, though others see only symbolism.