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Lost ancient civilizations. Irrefutable Evidence That Ancient Civilizations Had Advanced Technology

At any moment, humanity can disappear, if not all, then part of it. This has happened before, and entire civilizations have disappeared as a result of wars, epidemics, climate change, military invasions or volcanic eruptions. Although in most cases the reasons remain mysterious. We offer an overview of 10 civilizations that mysteriously disappeared thousands of years ago.

Clovis

Time of existence:
11500 BC e.

Territory:
North America

Very little is known about the Clovis culture, a prehistoric Stone Age culture of the tribes that inhabited North America at the time. The name of the culture comes from the Clovis archaeological site, located near the city of Clovis, New Mexico. Among the archaeological finds found here in the 20s of the last century, one can name stone and bone knives, etc. Probably, these people came from Siberia through the Bering Strait to Alaska at the end of the Ice Age. No one knows if this was the first culture in the territory North America or not. The Clovis culture vanished as suddenly as it appeared. Perhaps the members of this culture assimilated with other tribes.

Trypillia culture

Time of existence:
5500 - 2750 BC e.

Territory:
Ukraine Moldova and Romania

The largest settlements in Europe during the Neolithic period were built by representatives of the Trypillian culture, whose area was the territory of modern Ukraine, Romania and Moldova. The civilization numbered about 15,000 people and is known for its pottery, the fact that they burned their old settlements, having lived in them for 60-80 years, before building new ones. Today, about 3,000 settlements of the Trypillians are known, who had matriarchy, and they worshiped the mother goddess of the clan. Their extinction may have been due to dramatic climate change leading to drought and famine. According to other scientists, Trypillians assimilated among other tribes.

Indian civilization

Time of existence:
3300-1300 BC e.

Territory:
Pakistan

The Indian civilization was one of the most numerous and significant in the territory of modern Pakistan and India, but, unfortunately, little is known about it. It is only known that representatives of the Indian civilization built hundreds of cities and villages. Each of the cities had a sewer system and a cleaning system. Civilization was non-class, not militant, because it did not even have its own army, but interested in astronomy and agriculture. It was the first civilization to produce cotton fabrics and clothing. Civilization disappeared 4500 years ago, and no one knew about its existence until the ruins of ancient cities were discovered in the 20s of the last century. Scientists have put forward several theories regarding the reasons for the disappearance, including climate change, a sharp temperature drop from frost to extreme heat. According to another theory, the Aryans destroyed civilization by attacking in 1500 BC. e.

Minoan civilization

Time of existence:
3000-630 BC

Territory:
Crete

The existence of the Minoan civilization was not known until the beginning of the 20th century, but then it was found out that the civilization existed for 7000 years and reached its peak of development by 1600 BC. e. For many centuries, palaces were built, completed and rebuilt, forming entire complexes. An example of such complexes can be called palaces in Knossos, this is a labyrinth with which the legend of the Minotaur and King Minos is associated. Today it is an important archaeological center. The first Minoans used Cretan Linear A, which was later changed to Linear B, both of which were based on hieroglyphs. It is believed that the Minoan civilization died as a result of a volcanic eruption on the island of Thera (Santorini). It is believed that people would have survived if the vegetation had not died as a result of the eruption and famine had not set in. The Minoan fleet was dilapidated and the trade-based economy was in decline. According to another version, civilization disappeared as a result of the invasion of the Mycenaeans. The Minoan civilization was one of the most advanced.

Mayan civilization

Time of existence:
2600 BC - 1520 AD

Territory:
Central America

The Maya are a classic example of the disappearance of civilization. Their majestic temples, monuments, cities and roads were swallowed up by the jungle, and the people disappeared. The language and traditions of the Mayan tribe still exist, but the civilization itself experienced the peak of its development in the first millennium of our era, when majestic temples were built. The Maya had a written language, people studied mathematics, created their own calendar, engaged in engineering activities, built pyramids. Among the reasons for the disappearance of the tribe is climate change, which lasted for 900 years and led to drought and famine.

Mycenaean civilization

Time of existence:
1600-1100 BC e.

Territory:
Greece

Unlike Minoan civilization The Mycenaeans prospered not only thanks to trade, but also to conquest - they owned the territory of almost all of Greece. The Mycenaean civilization lasted for 500 years before disappearing in 1100 BC. Several Greek myths are based on the stories of this particular civilization, such as the legend of King Agamemnon, who led the troops during the Trojan War. The Mycenaean civilization was well developed both culturally and economically and left behind many artifacts. The cause of her death is not known. An earthquake, invasions, or peasant uprisings are expected.

Olmec civilization

Time of existence:
1400 BC

Territory: Mexico
There was once a powerful and prosperous pre-Columbian civilization, the Olmec civilization. The first finds belonging to her, archaeologists date back to 1400 BC. e. In the San Lorenzo area, scientists have found two of the three main Olmec centers, Tenochtitlan and Potrero Nuevo. The Olmecs were skilled builders. Archaeologists found during excavations big monuments in the form of huge stone heads. The Olmec civilization became the ancestor of the Mesoamerican culture, which still exists today. They say that it was she who invented writing, the compass and the calendar. They understood the benefits of bloodletting, sacrificed people and came up with the concept of the number zero. Until the 19th century, historians knew nothing about the existence of civilization.

Nabatea

Time of existence:
600 BC e.

Territory:
Jordan

Nabataea existed in the southern part of Jordan, in the region of Canaan and Arabia from the 6th century BC. They built an amazing cave city Petra in the red mountains of Jordan. The Nabateans are known for their complexes of dams, canals and water reservoirs that helped them survive in the desert. There are no written sources confirming their existence. It is known that they organized an active trade in silk, tusks, spices, precious metals, precious stones, incense, sugar, perfumes and medicines. Unlike other civilizations existing at that time, they did not keep slaves and equally contributed to the development of society. In the 4th century BC e. the Nabataeans left Petra and no one knows why. Archaeological finds indicate that they did not leave the city in a hurry, that they did not survive the attack. Scholars think the nomadic tribe moved north to better lands.

Aksumite kingdom

Time of existence:
100 AD

Territory:
Ethiopia

The Aksumite kingdom was formed in the first century AD. in what is now Ethiopia. According to legend, the Queen of Sheba was born in this area. Aksum was important shopping center who traded in ivory, natural resources, agricultural products and gold with the Roman Empire and India. The Aksumite kingdom was a rich society and the ancestor of African culture, the creator of its own currency, a symbol of power. The most characteristic were monuments in the form of steles, giant cave obelisks, which played the role burial chambers for kings and queens. At the very beginning, the inhabitants of the kingdom worshiped many gods, among which was the supreme god Astar. In 324, King Ezana II converted to Christianity and began to promote Christian culture in the kingdom. According to legend, a Jewish queen named Yodit took over the kingdom of Aksum and burned churches and books. According to other sources, it was the pagan queen of Bani al-Hamriyya. Others believe that climate change and famine led to the decline of the kingdom.

Khmer Empire

Time of existence:
1000-1400 AD

Territory:
Cambodia

The Khmer Empire, one of the most powerful empires and the largest vanished civilizations, was located on the territory of modern Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Malaysia, Thailand and Laos. The capital of the empire, the city of Angkor, has become one of the most famous archaeological centers in Cambodia. The empire, which at that time had up to a million inhabitants, flourished in the first millennium. The inhabitants of the empire professed Hinduism and Buddhism, built numerous temples, towers and other architectural complexes such as the temple of Angkor, dedicated to the god Vishnu. The decline of the empire was the result of several causes. One of them was roads, along which it was convenient not only to transport goods, but also to advance enemy troops.

Over the past century, humanity has become a powerful technological civilization. And many believe that our ancient ancestors did nothing to help us in this. Of course it isn't. All the technologies we have on this moment, were based on the work of our ancestors. In the past, people were much smarter than we might think.

Batteries are used almost everywhere these days. But they are not a modern invention. Some scientists believe that the first battery was invented 250 BC. The "ancient battery" was found near Baghdad in 1938. It looks like a large clay jar with an asphalt stopper, inside of which there is an iron rod surrounded by a copper cylinder. When filled with vinegar or other electrolytic liquid, it produces 0.2 to 2 volts of electricity.

In terms of functionality, this design resembles our batteries, but has a rougher design. Why were they used? So that liquid metals such as gold, silver, chromium can adhere to the surface during the gilding process. This technology is still used today, only in a more advanced variation.

Iron column in Delhi

The iron pillar in Delhi, which was built over 1600 years ago, is not considered an indicator scientific and technological progress, however, many scientists are interested in why this column, more than six meters long, has been standing for more than a thousand years and still does not rust?

By itself, it is not considered a unique object, but it reflects the skills of metallurgists of that time. In Dhara there are ancient cannons that have not rusted, as well as other similar pillars. This may indicate that the unique methodology by which such projects were developed has been lost. Who knows what heights in the field of metallurgy humanity could achieve if it had lost knowledge.

Longyou Caves

In ancient times, our ancestors used caves as a shelter from predators. After some time, people came to increase the living space of the cave. Today, technology makes it possible to dig huge tunnels.

The Longyou Caves were discovered in 1992. A local resident wanted to pump water out of a small hole, but as a result he discovered a huge man-made cave. In total, there are 24 caves that were created by manual labor. All of them begin their history 2500 years ago. Many of the rooms are symmetrical and feature various animals and symbols representing nature on the walls.

It has been estimated that the Chinese needed to carve a million cubic meters of stone to create them. What's interesting is what that makes sense. Since there are no records left, we cannot even guess why this was done.

Lens of Nimrud

It is difficult to figure out exactly what this lens was used for, but some scientists hypothesize that it was part of the telescope. This would explain how the Assyrians knew astronomy so well. The lens was created approximately 3000 years ago, and was found by an archaeologist from England during excavations in 1853.

It is also hypothesized that the Nimrud lens could have been used as a magnifying glass for simple carving, or it could have been used to make fire.

Chinese earthquake detector

A Scottish physicist invented the modern seismograph in 1841. However, it cannot be said that he was the first to create a device for measuring seismic activity. The Chinese created a device that could detect earthquakes in advance as early as 132.

The device was a large bronze vessel with a diameter of just under two meters. He had eight dragons that looked in all directions of the world. Each of the kites pointed to a toad with its mouth open. It is not clear exactly how this device worked, but scientists suggest that a pendulum was placed in the center, which began to move in the direction of the earthquake.

Gobekli Tepe

This remarkable find once again proves how much we underestimated our ancestors. Göbekli Tepe is a huge temple complex estimated to be 12,000 years old. What makes it so unique? This is a detailed stone work. Means that at that time technology allowed people to process huge blocks.

Initially, researchers believed that this place was an ancient cemetery, but a long study showed that the construction of the temple lasted for many years, and it was a rich religious building.

Göbekli Tepe is located three hundred meters from the neighboring valley. This is probably the first place for spiritual ceremonies. It is surprising how skillfully the stones are processed, because at that time there were no metal tools.

Antikythera mechanism

At the moment, it is possible to pave the way through the entire planet using the GPS system. However, the people of that time did not have our technology. Sailors in ancient times relied on the movement of the planets and stars to navigate the sea.

The found device remained unexplored for many years, and only a thorough examination helped to understand what it was used for.

The Antikythera Mechanism could track movements celestial bodies with incredible accuracy. It has gears, just like modern watches. However, at the time it was created, no such technology existed. Although many parts of the find were lost, it was found that the device had seven hands that resembled a clock. Obviously, they indicated the direction of motion of the seven planets that were known at that time.

This is the only find that speaks of the great contribution of the Greeks to science. By the way, the device is more than 2200 years old. To this day, exactly how it was used remains a mystery. It is unlikely that this will give us an impetus for the development of new directions, but it has become useful for educational purposes.

Lycurgus Cup

The Lycurgus Cup dates from the fourth century AD. It depicts Lycurgus, who fell into a trap. Visually, this is a very beautiful thing. Inside the green glass are millions of incredibly small fragments of gold and silver. The color of the cup depends on the angle from which you look at it.

Damascus steel

Damascus steel began to be made around the third century. It was part of the Syrian arms market until the 17th century, when the technology was lost, but some experts believe that it can be restored. You can easily recognize Damascus steel by the characteristic pattern on the product. Steel is considered incredibly strong, making it resistant to damage.

Due to their rarity, Damascus steel blades are still in great demand among collectors to this day.

Heron's ancient Greek steam engine

The first steam engine was patented in 1698 by Thomas Saveny. Indeed, it became useful in 1781 when James Watt adapted it for industrial use. Despite this, about two thousand years ago, the great mathematician Heron had already invented the steam engine.

The water in the closed sphere warmed up at the base, at the top there were tubes looking in different directions. When ejecting steam, they turned the entire device along its axis due to torque.

The device was first described in the first century. It is still not clear for what purpose it was created. Perhaps it was simply an attribute of the temple of science in which it was kept. Just imagine what the world would be like today if the creator had thought of substituting an ordinary wheel for this engine.

Lost cities are often mentioned in literature about past civilizations. The most famous of them is the legendary Atlantis, swallowed up by the sea and lost forever. However, the story of Atlantis is not unique; other cultures have similar legends of cities that disappeared underwater, under desert sands, or buried under thick layers of vegetation. Most of these legendary cities have never been found, but with the help of new technology, some have been discovered and others are waiting to be discovered.

Iram multi-column: Atlantis of the sands

The ruins of the fortress in the city of Iram. Photo: Wikipedia

Arabia also has its own legend about lost civilization, the so-called Atlantis of the Sands - the lost city, which is mentioned in the Koran. It is also known as Iram the multi-column.

The Qur'an says that Iram has high buildings and inhabited by Adites. Since they turned away from Allah and became immoral, the Prophet Hud was sent to call them back to the worship of Allah. But the people of Iram did not heed the words of Hud. As a result, people were punished: a sandstorm was directed at the city, it lasted for seven nights and eight days. After that, Iram disappeared into the sands, as if he had never existed.

The story of Iram says that people should obey Allah and not act arrogantly. Many believe that such a city really existed.

In the early 1990s, a team of archaeologists led by Nicolai Klapp, an amateur archaeologist and filmmaker, announced that they had found the lost city of Ubar, which had been identified as Iram. This was achieved using remote sensing from NASA satellites, data from the Landsat program, and images taken by the Space Shuttle Challenger. These resources have allowed archaeologists to identify old trade routes and the points where they converge. One of these points was a famous well in Shisr, Dhofar province in Oman. During excavations, a large octagonal fortress with high walls and tall towers. Unfortunately, most of the fortress was destroyed, plunging into a sinkhole.

The sunken city of Helik

Excavations of Helik. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The story of the death of Atlantis is one of the most famous. However, there is a similar story about the sunken city of Helik. Unlike Atlantis, there is written evidence about it that has helped archaeologists determine the true location of the lost city.

Helik was located in Achaia, in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. During its heyday, Helik was the leader of the Achaean Union, which consisted of 12 cities.

Helik's patron god was Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea and earthquakes. The city really was located in one of the most seismically active zones in Europe. In Helik there was a temple and a sanctuary of Poseidon, a bronze statue of Poseidon and coins with his image were found there.

In 373 BC the city was destroyed. Prior to this, some signs of the doom of the city had already appeared, including the appearance of "huge pillars of flame" and the mass migration of small animals from the coast to the mountains in the days before the disaster. A strong earthquake and then a powerful tsunami from the Gulf of Corinth wiped the city of Helik off the face of the earth. No one is left alive.

Although the search for the actual location of Helik began at the beginning of the 19th century, it was only at the end of the 20th century that it was found. This sunken city has been one of the biggest mysteries of underwater archaeology. However, it was the belief that the city was somewhere in the Gulf of Corinth that made its discovery impossible. In 1988, Greek archaeologist Dora Katsonopoulo suggested that the "poros" mentioned in ancient texts could not have been in the sea, but in the inner lagoon. If this is the case, then it is quite possible that Helik is inland and the lagoon has been filled with silt for millennia. In 2001, archaeologists discovered the ruins of a city in Achaia in Greece. In 2012, a layer of silt and river deposits was removed, then it became obvious that this was Helik.

Urkesh: the lost city of the Hurrians

Excavations in Urkesh. Photo: Archaeological Institute of America

Ancient Urkesh was once major center ancient Middle Eastern Hurrian civilization, known in mythology as the home of the primordial god. Little was known about Urkesh and the mysterious Hurrian civilization, as the ancient city had been buried under the desert sands for thousands of years and lost in the pages of history. However, in the 1980s, archaeologists unearthed Tell Mozan, a mound that contained the ruins of an ancient temple and palace. Ten years later, researchers have drawn the exciting conclusion that Tell Mozan is the lost city of Urkesh.

Located in northern Syria, near its current borders with Turkey and Iraq, ancient Urkesh was big city Mesopotamia, which flourished between 4000 and 1300 B.C. BC. It is one of the earliest known cities in history.

The excavations revealed not only brick structures, but also rare stone structures - a monumental staircase and a deep underground shaft - "transition to the underworld" - which was associated with religious rituals.

Urkesh contained monumental public buildings, including a large temple and a palace. Many of them date from the Akkadian period (about 2350-2200 BC)

Sunken Gwaelod-y-Ghart in Wales

Remains of a petrified forest on the coast of Wales. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Gwaelod was located between the islands of Ramsay and Barcy in the area known today as Cardigan Bay, in the west of Wales, UK. It is believed that Gwaelod protruded into the bay for 32 km.

In the 6th century, Gwaelod was ruled by the legendary king Guidno Garanhir. Until about the 17th century, Gwaelod was known as Maes Gwyddno ("Land of Gwyddno"), named after this Welsh ruler. An earlier version of the legend associated with Maes Gwyddno claims that the area went under water due to the fact that the floodgates were not closed in time during a storm.

The legend says that Guayeloda had extremely fertile soil, an acre of land there was worth four times more than elsewhere. But the city depended on a dam to protect it from the sea. At low tide, the locks were opened to allow the water to drain, and at high tide, the gates were closed.

In a later version, it is said that Gwindo Garanhir appointed his friend Seitennin, who was a drunkard, to guard the gates of the dam. One night, a storm swept in from the southwest, when Seitenin was at a party in the palace, he drank too much and fell asleep, so he did not close the floodgates in time. As a result, 16 villages were flooded. Gwindo Garanhir and his retinue were forced to leave the fertile valleys and seek refuge in less fertile regions.

Some believe in the existence of Gwaelod and even plan to organize an underwater expedition to find this lost land. The remains of prehistoric forests sometimes appear on the surface of the water in stormy weather or during low tides. In addition, fossils with traces of humans and animals on them, as well as some tools, were found there.

In Search of the Lost City of the Monkey God

Photo: public domain/Wikimedia Commons

Two years ago, an aerial survey of the dense jungles of Honduras was carried out. It involved scientists inspired by local legends about the lost ancient city. After that, the news quickly spread that archaeologists had found La Ciudad Blanca (The White City, known as the Lost City of the Monkey God). A ground-based expedition has recently ended, which confirmed that aerial photography indeed showed traces of a lost civilization. Archaeologists have discovered vast areas, earthworks, mounds, earthen pyramids and dozens of different artifacts belonging to a mysterious culture that is practically unknown.

La Ciudad Blanca - mysterious city, located, according to legend, in virgin tropical forests La Mosquitia in eastern Honduras. The Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortés reported that he had received "reliable information" about the ancient ruins, but did not find them. In 1927, pilot Charles Lindbergh reported that while flying over the eastern territories of Honduras, he saw monuments built of white stone.
In 1952, the explorer Tibor Sekelj went in search of white city, the expedition was funded by the Ministry of Culture of Honduras, but he returned empty-handed. Research continued and in 2012 the first significant discovery was made.

In May 2012, a team of researchers led by documentary filmmaker Steve Elkins conducted aerial photography in La Mosquitia using remote sensing (lidar). The scan showed the presence of artificial characteristics, all the media reported a possible discovery lost city Monkey god. In May 2013, additional laser analysis revealed the presence of large architectural structures under the forest canopy. It's time for ground reconnaissance.

Discovery of the long-lost Musasir temple

Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo: Wikimedia

The Temple of Musasir was dedicated to Khaldi, the supreme god of the kingdom of Urartu, located on the Armenian Highlands, which extended into the territory where Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Armenia are currently located. The temple was built in the holy city of Ararat in 825 BC. But after Musasir fell, defeated by the Assyrians in the 18th century BC, ancient temple was lost and only recently rediscovered.

The Temple of Musasir dates back to a time when the Urartians, Assyrians and Scythians were at odds trying to gain control of the area that is now northern part Iraq. In ancient writings, Musasir is called "the holy city built in the rock", while the name Musasir means "the exit of the serpent". The temple is depicted on an Assyrian bas-relief that adorned the palace of King Sargon II in honor of his victory over the "seven kings of Ararat" in 714 BC.

In July 2014, an exciting announcement was made about the discovery of the long-lost temple of Musasir in Kurdistan, northern Iraq. Life-size sculptures of a man, the bases of the columns of a temple dedicated to the god Khaldi, were found.

The discovery was made with local residents who stumbled upon the ruins by accident, Dishad Marf Zamua of the University of Leiden in the Netherlands examined archaeological finds on site, the most significant of which are the bases of the columns. Sculptures of bearded men up to 2.3 meters in height are also considered an unusual find. They are made of limestone, basalt or sandstone. Some were partially destroyed within 2800 years.

Lost city in the jungle of Cambodia

Australian archaeologists using advanced remote sensing technology have made a remarkable discovery in Cambodia - a 1200-year-old city has been discovered there, which is older than the famous temple complex Angkor Wat.

Damian Evans, director of the archaeological research center at the University of Sydney in Cambodia, and a small group of scientists working in the Siem Reap area. They received permission to use lidar laser technology in the remote jungles of Cambodia. For the first time, the technology was used for archaeological research in tropical Asia, with its help you can get a complete picture of the area.

The discovery was made when the lidar data appeared on a computer screen. “Thanks to this tool, we saw a picture of the whole city, the existence of which no one knew. It's great," Evans said.

An amazing find is made after many years of searching for Mahendraparvat, lost medieval city, built on Mount Phnom Kulen, 350 years before the construction of the famous temple complex Angkor Wat in northwestern Cambodia. The city was part of the Hindu-Buddhist Khmer Empire, which ruled in South-East Asia from 800 to 1400 AD.

Research and excavations of Mahendraparvat are in their initial stages, so scientists are waiting for new discoveries.

Karal Supe: 5,000 year old city of pyramids

Karal Supe. Photo: public domain

It is widely believed in historical circles that Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and India are the first civilizations of mankind. However, few know that at the same time, and in some cases even earlier, there was a great civilization of Norte Chico in Supa, Peru - the first known civilization of Northern and South America. Its capital was the sacred city of Caral, a 5,000-year-old metropolis of rich culture and monumental architecture - it had six large pyramidal structures, stone and earthen platforms, temples, amphitheaters, circular squares and residential areas.

In 1970, archaeologists discovered that the hills, originally identified as natural formations, were step pyramids. By 1990, the great city of Caral was fully manifested. But the biggest surprise was yet to come - in 2000, radiocarbon analysis of reed bags found during excavations showed that Caral dates from the late archaic period, around 3000 BC. Caral provides numerous evidence of the life of ancient people in North and South America.

Caral is one of 18 settlements in the Supe Valley, with an area of about 65 hectares. It is located in the desert, in the valley of the river Supe. Exceptionally well-preserved, the city impresses with its complexity of planning and architecture.

Two ancient Mayan cities in the jungles of Mexico

Hellerick/BY-SA 4.0/wikipedia

In the jungles of Mexico, archaeologists have discovered two ancient Mayan cities: the ruins of pyramidal temples, a palace, an entrance that looks like a monster's mouth, altars and other stone structures. One of the cities was already found several decades ago, but then it was “lost” again. The existence of another city was not previously known - this discovery sheds New World on the ancient civilization Mayan.

Expedition leader Ivan Spradzhik from the research center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU) explained that the cities were discovered using aerial photography of the rainforests of the central Yucatán in the state of Campeche, Mexico. Some anomalies were noticed among the dense vegetation of the forest, a group of scientists was sent there to study.

Archaeologists were stunned when they discovered an entire city between the Rio Bec and Chenes. One of the most impressive features of this city is the huge entrance, which looks like the mouth of a monster, it is the personification of the deity of fertility. “This is a symbolic entrance to the cave, and in general - the watery underworld, the place of the mythological origin of corn and the abode of the ancestors,” Sprajik told Discovery News. Having passed through the "underworld", archaeologists saw a large temple-pyramid 20 meters high, as well as the ruins of a palace complex located around four large areas. There they found numerous stone sculptures and several altars with well-preserved bas-reliefs and inscriptions.

Even more startling than the rediscovery of Lagunite was the discovery of previously unknown ancient ruins nearby, including pyramids, an altar, and a large acropolis surrounded by three temples. These structures are reminiscent of another Mayan city, which was named Tamchen (deep well), as more than thirty deep underground chambers were found there, used to collect rainwater.

The Egyptian labyrinth keeps the secrets of ancient civilizations Everyone knows about the existence in Egypt mysterious pyramids, but not everyone knows that a huge labyrinth is hidden under them. The secrets kept there are able to reveal the secrets of not only Egyptian civilization but of all mankind. This ancient egyptian labyrinth was located next to Lake Birket-Karun, west of the Nile River, 80 kilometers south of modern city Cairo. It was built back in 2300 BC and was a building surrounded by a high wall, where there were one and a half thousand ground and the same number of underground rooms. The total area of the labyrinth was 70 thousand square meters. Visitors were not allowed to explore the underground rooms of the labyrinth, there were tombs for pharaohs and crocodiles - sacred animals in Egypt. Above the entrance to the Egyptian labyrinth, the following words were inscribed: "Madness or death - this is what the weak or vicious finds here, only the strong and good find life and immortality here." Many frivolous people entered this door and did not leave it. It is an abyss that brings back only the brave in spirit. The complex system of corridors, courtyards and rooms in the labyrinth was so intricate that without a guide, an outsider could never find a way or exit in it. The labyrinth was immersed in absolute darkness, and when some doors were opened, they made a terrible sound, like thunder or the roar of a thousand lions. Before big holidays, mysteries were performed in the labyrinth and ritual sacrifices were made, including human ones. So the ancient Egyptians showed their respect to the god Sebek - a huge crocodile. In ancient manuscripts, information has been preserved that crocodiles actually lived in the labyrinth, reaching 30 meters in length. The Egyptian labyrinth is an unusually large structure - the dimensions of its base are 305 x 244 meters. The Greeks admired this labyrinth more than any other Egyptian building, with the exception of the pyramids. In antiquity it was called "the labyrinth" and served as a model for the labyrinth in Crete. With the exception of a few columns, it is now completely destroyed. Everything we know about it is based on ancient evidence, as well as on the results of excavations carried out by Sir Flinders Petrie, who attempted to reconstruct this building. The earliest mention belongs to the Greek historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus (about 484-430 BC), he mentions in his "History" that Egypt is divided into twelve administrative districts, ruled by twelve rulers, and further cites his own impressions of this structure: “And so they decided to leave a common monument, and having decided this, they erected a labyrinth a little higher than Lake Merida, near the so-called Crocodile City. I have seen this labyrinth inside: it is beyond description. After all, if all the walls and great structures erected by the Hellenes were collected, then in general it would turn out that less labor was spent on them and Money than this one maze. Meanwhile, the temples in Ephesus and Samos are very remarkable. Of course, the pyramids are huge structures and each of them is worth many creations of the Hellenic building art, taken together, although they are also large. However, the labyrinth is larger than these pyramids. It has twenty courtyards with gates placed one against the other, with six facing north and six facing south, adjacent to each other. Outside, a single wall runs around them. Inside this wall there are chambers of two kinds: one underground, the other above the ground, numbering 3000, exactly 1500 of each. I myself had to go through the above-ground chambers and inspect them, and I speak of them as an eyewitness. I know about the underground chambers only from stories: the Egyptian overseers would never show them to me, saying that there are the tombs of the kings who erected this labyrinth, as well as the tombs of the sacred crocodiles. That is why I speak of the lower chambers only by hearsay. The upper chambers, which I happened to see, surpass all the creations of human hands. The passages through the chambers and the winding passages through the courtyards, being very intricate, evoke a feeling of endless amazement: from the courtyards you pass into the chambers, from the chambers into the galleries with colonnades, then back into the chambers and from there again into the courtyards. There are stone roofs everywhere, as well as walls, and these walls are covered with many relief images. Each courtyard is surrounded by columns of carefully fitted pieces of white stone. And on the corner at the end of the labyrinth, a pyramid 40 orgies high was erected, with huge figures carved on it. An underground passage leads to the pyramid. Manetho, the high priest of Egypt from Heliopolis, who wrote in Greek, notes in his surviving work in fragments dating from the 3rd century BC. e. and dedicated to the history and religion of the ancient Egyptians, that the creator of the labyrinth was the fourth pharaoh of the XII dynasty, Amenemhat III, whom he calls Lahares, Lampares or Labaris and about whom he writes: “He ruled for eight years. In the Arsinoe nome, he built a tomb for himself - a labyrinth with many rooms. Between 60 and 57 B.C. e. Greek historian Diodorus Siculus temporarily lived in Egypt. In his Historical Library, he states that the Egyptian labyrinth is in good condition. “After the death of this ruler, the Egyptians again became independent and installed a compatriot ruler, Mendes, whom some call Marrus. He did not conduct any military operations, but built for himself a tomb, known as the Labyrinth. This Labyrinth is remarkable not so much for its size, but for its cunning and skill. internal device which cannot be reproduced. For when a person enters this Labyrinth, he cannot find his way back himself, and he needs the help of an experienced guide. who knows the structure of the building thoroughly. Some also say that Daedalus, who visited Egypt and admired this wonderful creation, built a similar labyrinth for the Cretan king Minos, in which he was kept. as the myth goes, a monster named the Minotaur. However, the Cretan labyrinth no longer exists, perhaps it was razed to the ground by one of the rulers, or time did this work, while the Egyptian labyrinth stood completely intact until our times. Diodorus himself did not see this building, he only gathered together the data that turned out to be available to him. When describing the Egyptian labyrinth, he used two sources and failed to recognize that both of them tell about the same building. Soon after compiling his first description, he begins to consider this building as a common monument to the twelve nomarchs of Egypt: “There was no ruler in Egypt for two years, and rebellions and murders began among the people, then the twelve most important leaders united in a holy union. They met in council at Memphis and entered into an agreement of mutual loyalty and friendship and proclaimed themselves rulers. They ruled in accordance with their oaths and promises, maintained mutual agreement for fifteen years, after which they decided to build a common tomb for themselves. Their idea was such that, just as during their lifetime they cherished a cordial disposition towards each other, they were given equal honors, so after death their bodies should rest in one place, and the monument erected by their order should symbolize the glory and power of the buried there. It was to surpass the creations of its predecessors. And so, choosing a place for their monument near Lake Merida in Libya, they built a tomb of magnificent stone in the shape of a square, but in size each side of it was equal to one stage. The craftsmanship of carved ornaments and all other work could never be surpassed by posterity. A hall was built behind the fence, surrounded by columns, forty on each side, while the roof of the courtyard was made of solid stone, hollowed out from the inside and adorned with skillful and multi-colored paintings. The courtyard was also decorated with magnificent picturesque images of the places where each of the rulers came from, as well as the temples and shrines that existed there. In general, it is known about these rulers that the scope of their plans for the construction of their tomb was so great - both in terms of its size and in terms of costs - that if they had not been overthrown before the completion of construction, their creation would have remained unsurpassed. And after these rulers reigned in Egypt for fifteen years, it so happened that the rule passed to one person ... ”In contrast to Diodorus, the Greek geographer and historian Strabo of Amasea (about 64 BC - 24 AD). BC) gives a description based on personal impressions. In 25 BC. e. he, as part of the retinue of the prefect of Egypt Gaius Cornelius Gallus, traveled to Egypt, which he describes in detail in his Geography: “In addition, this nome has a labyrinth - a structure that can be compared with pyramids - and next to it is the tomb of the king , the builder of the labyrinth. Near the first entrance to the canal, having gone forward 30 or 40 stadia, we reach a flat area in the shape of a trapezoid, where there is a village, as well as a large palace, consisting of many palace rooms, as many as there were nomes in former times, for there are so many halls which are surrounded by adjoining colonnades, all these colonnades are arranged in one row and along one wall, which is like a long wall with halls in front of it, and the paths leading to them are directly opposite the wall. In front of the entrances to the halls there are many long covered vaults with winding paths between them, so that without a guide, not a single stranger can find either an entrance or an exit. It is astonishing that the roof of each chamber is made of one stone, and that the roofed vaults are likewise covered in breadth with slabs of solid stone of extremely large size, without any admixture of wood anywhere or any other substance. Climbing up to the roof of a small height, since the labyrinth is one-story, one can see a stone plain, consisting of stones of the same large size; from here, going down again into the halls, you can see that they are arranged in a row and rest on 27 columns, their walls are also made of stones of no less size. At the end of this building, which occupies a space larger than a stage, a tomb is placed - a quadrangular pyramid, each side of which is about a pleura in width with equal height. The name of the person buried there is Imandes. It is said that such a number of halls were built by virtue of the custom to gather here for all the nomes according to the significance of each, together with their priests and priestesses to perform sacrifices, bring gifts to the gods and for legal proceedings on important matters. Each nome was assigned a hall intended for him. Somewhat further, in the 38th chapter, Strabo gives a description of his trip to the sacred crocodiles of Arsinoe (Crocodilopolis). This place is located next to the labyrinth, so it can be assumed that he also saw the labyrinth. Pliny the Elder (23/24-79 AD) in his Natural History gives the most detailed description labyrinth. “Let's also talk about labyrinths, perhaps the most outlandish creation of human extravagance, but not fictional, as they might think. The one that was first created, as they say, 3600 years ago by King Petesukh or Titoes, still exists in Egypt in the Heracleopolis nome, although Herodotus says that this whole structure was created by 12 kings, the last of which was Psammetich. His appointment is interpreted in different ways: according to Demotel, it was royal palace Moterida, according to Lycaeus - the tomb of Merida, according to the interpretation of many, it was built as a sanctuary of the Sun, which is most likely. In any case, there is no doubt that Daedalus borrowed from here the model of the labyrinth that he created in Crete, but reproduced only its hundredth part, which contains the rotation of the paths and intricate passages back and forth, not as we see on paviments or in The field games of the boys, containing on a small patch many thousands of steps of walking, and with many built-in doors for deceitful moves and return to the same wanderings. It was the second labyrinth after the Egyptian one, the third was in Lemnos, the fourth in Italy, all covered with hewn stone vaults. In Egyptian, which surprises me personally, the entrance and columns are made of stone from Paros, the rest is made of blocks of syenite - pink and red granite, which can hardly destroy even centuries, even with the assistance of the Herakleopolites who belonged to this structure with extraordinary hatred. It is impossible to describe in detail the location of this structure and each part separately, since it is divided into regions, as well as into prefectures, which are called nomes, and 21 names of them are given as many spacious rooms, in addition, there are temples of all the gods of Egypt, and , moreover, Nemesis in 40 aedicules of closed chapels of mortuary temples concluded many pyramids of forty girths, occupying six aruras 0.024 hectares at the base. Tired of walking, they fall into that famous tangled trap of roads. Moreover, here are the second floors high on the slopes, and ninety steps descending porticos. Inside - columns made of porphyrite stone, images of gods, statues of kings, monstrous figures. Some rooms are arranged in such a way that when the doors are opened, a terrible thunder is heard inside. And most of the time they go in the dark. And beyond the wall of the labyrinth there are other huge buildings - they are called the pteron of the colonnade. From there, passages dug underground lead to other underground rooms. Something was restored there by only one Chaeremon, the eunuch of King Necteb [Nectaneb I], 500 years before Alexander the Great. It is also reported that during the construction of vaults of hewn stone, the supports were made from the trunks of the back [Egyptian acacia], boiled in oil. Description of the Roman geographer Pomponius Mela, who in 43 AD e. outlined in his essay “On the Condition of the Earth”, consisting of three books, the views on the known world adopted in Rome: “The labyrinth built by Psammetichus covers three thousand halls and twelve palaces with one continuous wall. Its walls and roof are marble. The labyrinth has only one entrance. Inside it there are countless winding passages. All of them are directed in different directions and communicate with each other. In the corridors of the labyrinth there are porticos, pairwise similar to one another. The corridors go around each other. It creates a lot of confusion, but it can be sorted out.” The authors of antiquity do not offer any single, consistent definition of this outstanding structure. However, since in Egypt during the time of the pharaohs, only sanctuaries and structures dedicated to the cult of the dead (tombs and funerary temples) were built of stone, then all their other buildings, including palaces, were built of wood and clay bricks, which means that the labyrinth could not have been palace, administrative center or a monument (provided that Herodotus, speaking of "a monument, a monument", does not mean "a tomb, which is quite possible). On the other hand, since the pharaohs of the XII dynasty built pyramids as tombs, the only possible purpose of the "labyrinth" remains the temple. According to a very plausible explanation given by Alan B. Lloyd, it probably served as both a mortuary temple for Amenemhat III, who was buried in a pyramid nearby, and also as a temple dedicated to some gods. The answer to the question of how this "maze" got its name remains unconvincing. Attempts have been made to derive the term from the Egyptian words "al lopa-rohun, laperohunt" or "ro-per-ro-henet", meaning "the entrance to the temple by the lake". But there is no phonetic correspondence between these words and the word "labyrinth", and nothing similar has been found in the Egyptian texts either. It has also been suggested that the throne name of Amenemhat III, Lamares, the Hellenized version of which sounds like "Labaris", comes from the name of the temple of Labaris. Such a possibility cannot be ruled out, but this does not explain the essence of the phenomenon. Moreover, a strong argument against such an interpretation is the fact that Herodotus, the author of the earliest written source, does not mention Amenemhat III and his throne names. He does not mention how this structure was called by the Egyptians themselves ("Amenemhet lives"). He simply talks about the "labyrinth", not considering it necessary to explain what it is. To describe a huge, awe-inspiring, elaborate stone structure, he uses a Greek term, as if this term expresses some general meaning, concept. It is this kind of description that is given in all other written sources, and only later authors mention the danger of getting lost. Therefore, we can conclude that the term "labyrinth" in this case is used metaphorically, it serves as the name for a certain building, an outstanding structure made of stone. M. Budimir, resorting to historical and linguistic argumentation, came to a similar conclusion, interpreting the labyrinth as a term denoting "a building of great magnitude." The German Jesuit and scientist Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680), known to his contemporaries as the Doctor of the Hundred Arts (Doctor centum artium), attempted to reconstruct the Egyptian "labyrinth" based on ancient descriptions. In the center of the drawing is a labyrinth, which Kircher may have modeled on samples from Roman mosaics. Around are images symbolizing twelve nomes - administrative units. ancient egypt described by Herodotus. This drawing, engraved on copper (50 X 41 cm), is placed in the book "The Tower of Babel, or Archontology" ("Turris Babel, Sive Archontologia", Amsterdam, 1679). In 2008, a group of researchers from Belgium and Egypt began to study the objects hidden underground in the hope of finding and unraveling the mystery of the mysterious underground complex of an ancient civilization. The Belgian-Egyptian expedition, armed with scientific instruments and techniques that allow them to look into the secret of rooms hidden under the sand, was able to confirm the presence of an underground temple near the pyramid of Amenemhat III. Without a doubt, the expedition led by Petri brought out of the darkness of oblivion one of the most incredible discoveries in the history of Egypt, shedding light on greatest discovery. But if you think that the discovery took place, and you do not know about it, then you will make a mistake with the conclusion. This significant discovery was hidden from society, and no one could understand why this happened. The results of the expedition, the publication in the scientific journal NRIAG, the conclusions of the study, the public lecture at the University of Ghent - all this was subjected to a "freeze" as the secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt banned all reports of the find, allegedly due to sanctions imposed by the Egyptian service security, protecting the monument of antiquity. Louis de Cordier and other researchers of the expedition patiently waited for an answer about excavations in the labyrinth area for several years, with the hope of recognition of the find and the desire to make it public, but unfortunately this did not happen. But even if researchers have confirmed the existence of an underground complex, excavations must still be carried out to investigate the incredible conclusion of scientists. After all, it is believed that the treasures of the underground labyrinth can provide answers to the countless historical secrets of the ancient Egyptian civilization, as well as provide new knowledge about the history of mankind and other civilizations. The only question here is why this undeniably incredible historical discovery fell under the yoke of "silence"?

10. Clovis

Time of existence: 11500 BC e.
Territory: North America
Very little is known about the Clovis culture, a prehistoric Stone Age culture of the tribes that inhabited North America at the time. The name of the culture comes from the Clovis archaeological site, located near the city of Clovis, New Mexico. Among the archaeological finds found here in the 20s of the last century, one can name stone and bone knives, etc. Probably, these people came from Siberia through the Bering Strait to Alaska at the end of the Ice Age. No one knows whether this was the first culture in North America or not. The Clovis culture vanished as suddenly as it appeared. Perhaps the members of this culture assimilated with other tribes.

Time of existence: 5500 - 2750 BC e.
Territory: Ukraine Moldova and Romania
The largest settlements in Europe during the Neolithic period were built by representatives of the Trypillian culture, whose area was the territory of modern Ukraine, Romania and Moldova. The civilization numbered about 15,000 people and is known for its pottery, the fact that they burned their old settlements, having lived in them for 60-80 years, before building new ones. Today, about 3,000 settlements of the Trypillians are known, who had matriarchy, and they worshiped the mother goddess of the clan. Their extinction may have been due to dramatic climate change leading to drought and famine. According to other scientists, Trypillians assimilated among other tribes.

Time of existence: 3300-1300 BC e.
Territory: Pakistan
The Indian civilization was one of the most numerous and significant in the territory of modern Pakistan and India, but, unfortunately, little is known about it. It is only known that representatives of the Indian civilization built hundreds of cities and villages. Each of the cities had a sewer system and a cleaning system. Civilization was non-class, not militant, because it did not even have its own army, but interested in astronomy and agriculture. It was the first civilization to produce cotton fabrics and clothing. Civilization disappeared 4500 years ago, and no one knew about its existence until the ruins of ancient cities were discovered in the 20s of the last century. Scientists have put forward several theories regarding the reasons for the disappearance, including climate change, a sharp temperature drop from frost to extreme heat. According to another theory, the Aryans destroyed civilization by attacking in 1500 BC. e.

Time of existence: 3000-630 BC
Territory: Crete
The existence of the Minoan civilization was not known until the beginning of the 20th century, but then it was found out that the civilization existed for 7000 years and reached its peak of development by 1600 BC. e. For many centuries, palaces were built, completed and rebuilt, forming entire complexes. An example of such complexes can be called palaces in Knossos, this is a labyrinth with which the legend of the Minotaur and King Minos is associated. Today it is an important archaeological center. The first Minoans used Cretan Linear A, which was later changed to Linear B, both of which were based on hieroglyphs. It is believed that the Minoan civilization died as a result of a volcanic eruption on the island of Thera (Santorini). It is believed that people would have survived if the vegetation had not died as a result of the eruption and famine had not set in. The Minoan fleet was dilapidated and the trade-based economy was in decline. According to another version, civilization disappeared as a result of the invasion of the Mycenaeans. The Minoan civilization was one of the most advanced.

Time of existence: 2600 BC - 1520 AD
Territory: Central America
The Maya are a classic example of the disappearance of civilization. Their majestic temples, monuments, cities and roads were swallowed up by the jungle, and the people disappeared. The language and traditions of the Mayan tribe still exist, but the civilization itself experienced the peak of its development in the first millennium of our era, when majestic temples were built. The Maya had a written language, people studied mathematics, created their own calendar, engaged in engineering activities, built pyramids. Among the reasons for the disappearance of the tribe is climate change, which lasted for 900 years and led to drought and famine.

Time of existence: 1600-1100 BC e.
Territory: Greece
Unlike the Minoan civilization, the Mycenaeans prospered not only through trade, but also through conquest - they owned the territory of almost all of Greece. The Mycenaean civilization lasted for 500 years before disappearing in 1100 BC. Several Greek myths are based on the stories of this particular civilization, such as the legend of King Agamemnon, who led the troops during the Trojan War. The Mycenaean civilization was well developed both culturally and economically and left behind many artifacts. The cause of her death is not known. An earthquake, invasions, or peasant uprisings are expected.

Time of existence: 1400 BC
Territory: Mexico
There was once a powerful and prosperous pre-Columbian civilization, the Olmec civilization. The first finds belonging to her, archaeologists date back to 1400 BC. e. In the San Lorenzo area, scientists have found two of the three main Olmec centers, Tenochtitlan and Potrero Nuevo. The Olmecs were skilled builders. Archaeologists during excavations found large monuments in the form of huge stone heads. The Olmec civilization became the ancestor of the Mesoamerican culture, which still exists today. They say that it was she who invented writing, the compass and the calendar. They understood the benefits of bloodletting, sacrificed people and came up with the concept of the number zero. Until the 19th century, historians knew nothing about the existence of civilization.

Time of existence: 600 BC. e.
Territory: Jordan
Nabataea existed in the southern part of Jordan, in the region of Canaan and Arabia from the 6th century BC. Here they built a stunning cave city of Petra in the red mountains of Jordan. The Nabateans are known for their complexes of dams, canals and water reservoirs that helped them survive in the desert. There are no written sources confirming their existence. It is known that they organized an active trade in silk, tusks, spices, precious metals, precious stones, incense, sugar, perfumes and medicines. Unlike other civilizations existing at that time, they did not keep slaves and equally contributed to the development of society. In the 4th century BC e. the Nabataeans left Petra and no one knows why. Archaeological finds indicate that they did not leave the city in a hurry, that they did not survive the attack. Scholars think the nomadic tribe moved north to better lands.

Time of existence: 100 AD
Territory: Ethiopia
The Aksumite kingdom was formed in the first century AD. in what is now Ethiopia. According to legend, the Queen of Sheba was born in this area. Aksum was an important trading center that traded ivory, natural resources, agricultural products and gold with the Roman Empire and India. The Aksumite kingdom was a rich society and the ancestor of African culture, the creator of its own currency, a symbol of power. The most characteristic were monuments in the form of stelae, giant cave obelisks, which played the role of burial chambers for kings and queens. At the very beginning, the inhabitants of the kingdom worshiped many gods, among which was the supreme god Astar. In 324, King Ezana II converted to Christianity and began to promote Christian culture in the kingdom. According to legend, a Jewish queen named Yodit took over the kingdom of Aksum and burned churches and books. According to other sources, it was the pagan queen of Bani al-Hamriyya. Others believe that climate change and famine led to the decline of the kingdom.

Time of existence: 1000-1400 AD
Territory: Cambodia
The Khmer Empire, one of the most powerful empires and the largest vanished civilizations, was located on the territory of modern Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Malaysia, Thailand and Laos. The capital of the empire, the city of Angkor, has become one of the most famous archaeological centers in Cambodia. The empire, which at that time had up to a million inhabitants, flourished in the first millennium. The inhabitants of the empire professed Hinduism and Buddhism, built numerous temples, towers and other architectural complexes, such as the temple of Angkor, dedicated to the god Vishnu. The decline of the empire was the result of several causes. One of them was roads, along which it was convenient not only to transport goods, but also to advance enemy troops.