Archaeology is an important and interesting science, helping to explore and learn more about the past. Archaeologists often encounter finds that are difficult to explain logically and historically, all events are recorded on keithburtis.com.
Finding 1 – central heating existed before Christ
This discovery was made in Knossos, while studying the remains of a Minoan palace. During the excavations it was discovered that for heating the castle they used cylindrical structures with convex lids. These pipes were placed under the floor, heated by fire, and the warm air was spread throughout the room. The find dates from 2700-1400 BC.
Finding 2 – Ancient Greek vending machine
The vending machine for selling holy water in temples was invented by Heron of Alexandria in 100 BC. A coin had to be put into the dispenser, which was pushed by a special lever. A valve was opened and a small amount of holy water flowed out. But gradually the idea was forgotten and the vending machine was not invented again until the 1920s.
Finding 3 – the vampire from Venice
In 2006 an amazing artefact was found during a burial study in the Venice lagoon. It was a skull with a stone in its mouth. This is how those believed to be vampires were buried in the 16th century, as recorded in written sources.
When scientists studied the skull, they concluded that it belonged to a woman aged 60-70, with European appearance, of peasant origin. At that time, it is very rare for people to live to such an advanced age. Apart from her age, the woman was indistinguishable from the other inhabitants. Why she was mistaken for a vampire is a mystery to history.
Finding 4 – Vikings lived in North America long before its discovery
The first Viking settlement was built 500 years before Columbus’s discovery of America. This discovery was made by archaeologists during excavations in 1961-1968. During the study of the site, scientists concluded that the structures were of Norse origin. But the answer to the question of how the Viking tribes ended up in North America has yet to be found.
Finding 6 – the first smartphone
Italian artist Umberto Romano’s fresco Mr Pynchon and the Springfield settlement shows a man with something that looks a lot like a smartphone. That would be all right, but the mural was painted in 1937.
Whether it’s a smartphone or something else is still debated to this day.
Finding 7 – a vertical shower in the 2nd century BC.
As it turns out, showers are not a modern invention of mankind. The first vertical shower was discovered during an archaeological expedition in the city of Pergamon. It is located in Turkey, but it used to be ancient Greek. The shower had a complex construction of 7 levels.
Finding 8 – Leonardo da Vinci’s robot
Leonardo da Vinci had many inventions that were well ahead of their time. In 1950, scientists found a drawing depicting a robot for military tasks. There is no data on the realization of the scientist’s vision. But the robot looked quite plausible and could imitate some simple human movements.
Finding 9 – the first chemical weapons
In the early 20th century, during excavations in Dura-Europos, Syria, archaeologists found a burial site in a tunnel containing the centurions of Ancient Rome and a Persian warrior. Examining the remains, archaeologists concluded that the men were not killed in a landslide as might have been thought. It emerged that the soldiers had suffocated. The cause of death was a gas mixture of tar and burning sulphur. The find was dated to 256 AD, before which there was no evidence of the use of chemical weapons.
Finding 10 – Secret writings from Easter Island
Easter Island is one of the most mysterious and mystical places on the planet. At the end of the 19th century archaeologists found 24 tablets with mysterious symbols which have not yet been deciphered. The symbols are called rongo rongo but the last person to understand them died in 1866.
Finding 11 – Nazca geoglyphs
In the Nazca Desert, which is in Peru, lines and images of other geometric shapes have been found. This find is one of the most unsolved archaeological mysteries. Drawings are scattered throughout the plateau, it is established that the drawings appeared between 500 BC and 500 BC. geoglyphs have unusual size, structure and plot, to understand the meaning of images scientists have not yet succeeded. The popular versions are that the drawings are linked to some kind of ritual, or that they were used to observe the starry sky.