Treasures of the copper scroll and the sunken Atlantis: five unsolved archaeological mysteries.
Stone Spheres of Costa Rica
1 The delta of the Diquis River in southern Costa Rica is adorned with gigantic stone spheres, some of which date back to 600 B.C. Locals refer to these objects as Las Bolas, which translates to "the balls." Archaeologists believe that the spheres were created by a pre-Columbian civilization.
Most of the spheres are made from gabbro, an igneous rock formed from molten magma. Experts suggest that ancient people who carved these massive stones likely used smaller stones as tools.
Some speculate that the so-called Diquis spheres were used by ancient people for astronomical purposes, while others believe they served as a form of directional signage.
The truth is that no one can say for certain what the purpose of the stone spheres was.
The Chibchan people, who once inhabited Costa Rica and other parts of Central America, vanished after the Spanish conquest, taking with them the knowledge of the spheres’ purpose, emphasized John Hoops, an anthropologist from the University of Kansas.
The Tomb of Cleopatra
2 Cleopatra was the last of the Ptolemaic rulers who governed Egypt from 305 to 30 B.C. There are numerous details about Cleopatra’s beauty, intellect, and her romantic relationships: the queen had children with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. However, one fact about Cleopatra remains unknown to this day – the location of her burial.
Cleopatra and Antony took their own lives after their former ally Octavian defeated them at the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C. It is known that Cleopatra and Antony were buried together. Plutarch described the burial site as a "lofty and beautiful" monument located near the temple of the Egyptian goddess Isis.
The exact location of the tomb remains a mystery. Archaeologists do not rule out the possibility that the actual tomb of the lovers may be empty, as tomb raiding is sadly a common occurrence.
The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang
3 In 1974, farmers in the Chinese province of Shaanxi accidentally discovered one of the largest archaeological finds of the 20th century – the life-sized terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 B.C. – 210 B.C.).
The intricate clay figures are not a mystery, as it is known that the terracotta army was created to protect the first emperor of China in the afterlife. The mystery lies elsewhere: no one knows where the emperor himself was buried or what treasures may be hidden in his burial chamber.
Approximately a kilometer from where the terracotta army was found lies a pyramid-shaped mausoleum. However, no one has yet entered the mausoleum, where the remains of Qin Shi Huang may be kept.
According to historical documents, the first emperor of China was buried in the most luxurious tomb in the country. The underground palace, surrounded by its "kingdom," consisted of a network of caves and even included a modern drainage system. Whether archaeologists will ever obtain the technology necessary for safe excavations of the tomb (which reportedly contains a very high level of mercury) remains a mystery, as do the numerous treasures lying within.
Atlantis
4 The lost city of Atlantis has been claimed to have been discovered in the Bahamas, Greek islands, Cuba, and even Japan, according to various reports.
First described by the ancient Greek historian Plato in 360 B.C., the mythical island was supposedly a great maritime power before sinking into the sea over 10,000 years ago due to a catastrophic event.
Archaeologists debate the actual historical existence of the island, as well as its most plausible location, if it ever existed among the many sunken ruins discovered worldwide. Yet, even without conclusive evidence, Atlantis continues to captivate the imagination of people like few other archaeological mysteries.
The Treasure of the Copper Scroll
5 The ancient copper scroll was discovered in Qumran in 1952. Experts speculate that it may contain a map to a vast treasure of gold and silver. However, no one has yet been able to decipher the scroll.
The copper scroll was found alongside the Dead Sea Scrolls in an area that is now the West Bank of the Jordan River in the Palestinian territories. It dates back nearly 2,000 years to a time when the Roman Empire controlled the settlement of Qumran. Researchers believe the scroll may describe treasures hidden by locals to prevent them from falling into the hands of Roman troops during frequent uprisings against the empire.