As you know, a fact is a stubborn thing. And even more stubborn is the artifact (in the sense in which this word is used in computer games, that is, an artificially created object that exists despite scientific misconceptions regarding the world order). In general, any object made by man can be considered an artifact. Even an ordinary push pin. Archaeologists around the world annually dig up hundreds of artifacts from the ground. And yet, for us, non-specialists, it is somehow more common to mean by this word mystical objects, sacred relics or objects mysterious origin. By the way, many artifacts that are familiar to you from adventure films have caused nervous disorders among hundreds of scientists on the planet. After all, these things exist and are not really explained in any way! We tried to unravel their secrets. In this we were helped by the candidate of historical sciences Alexey Vyazemsky, who looked at our collection with a skeptical gaze, after which he bore to his heart’s content (his special opinion is encrypted in this article under the code words “Voice of a Skeptic”).

In scientific circles, this subject is better known as "Mitchell-Hedges". It was his story that formed the basis of Spielberg’s latest blockbuster about the anti-Soviet adventures of Indiana Jones. And it was like this: in 1924, in Central America, an expedition led by Frederick Albert Mitchell-Hedges excavated the ancient Mayan city of Lubaantuna in search of traces of the Atlantean civilization. Frederic's adopted daughter Anna Marie Le Guillon discovered an object under the rubble of the altar. When it was brought to light, it turned out that it was a skull skillfully made of rock crystal. Its dimensions are quite comparable to the natural dimensions of the skull of an adult woman - approximately 13 x 18 x 13 cm, but it is unlikely that this crystal contraption was lost by some absent-minded Cinderella. The find weighs a little more than 5 kg. The skull was missing lower jaw, but it was soon discovered nearby and inserted into its proper place - the design provided for something like hinges.

What is the mystery

In 1970, the skull underwent a series of tests at the Hewlett-Packard research laboratory, which was famous for its advanced technologies in the field of processing natural quartz. The results discouraged scientists. It turned out that the skull is made of a solid (!) crystal, consisting of three intergrowths, which in itself is a sensation, since it is impossible even with modern development technologies. During the creation process, the crystal had to fall apart due to the internal stress of the material. But the most amazing thing is that no traces of any tools were found on the surface of the skull! It seems like he just grew on his own. It soon became clear that there were other artificial skulls made from natural quartz. All of them are inferior to the Skull of Fate in terms of quality of execution, but are also considered the heritage of the Aztecs and Mayans. One is kept in the British Museum, another in Paris, a third, made of amethyst, in Tokyo, the “Max” skull is in Texas, and the most massive one is in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. In addition, tireless researchers have unearthed a legend according to which, since ancient times, there have been 13 crystal skulls associated with the cult of the Goddess of Death. They came to the Indians from the Atlanteans (who would doubt it!). The skulls are guarded by specially trained warriors and priests, passing them on from generation to generation and ensuring that the artifacts are stored in different places. First they were among the Olmecs, then among the Mayans, from whom they passed to the Aztecs. And at the very end of the fifth cycle according to the long-term Mayan calendar (that is, in 2014), it is these objects that will help save humanity from imminent disaster, if people figure out what to do with them. The previous 4 civilizations did not think of it and were destroyed by disasters and cataclysms. It seems that the crystal skulls are some kind of ancient supercomputer that will come into operation if all its components are collected in one place. But more than 13 skulls have already been found. What to do?!

The voice of a skeptic

Almost every crystal skull was first thought to be Aztec or Mayan. And yet, some of them (for example, British and Parisian) were recognized as fakes: experts found traces of processing with modern jewelry tools. The Parisian exhibit is made of Alpine crystal and, most likely, was born in the 19th century in the German town of Idar-Oberstein, whose jewelers are famous for their ability to process precious stones. The problem is that there is no technology yet that can be used to confidently determine the age of natural quartz. So scientists have to navigate by traces of tools and the geographical origin of minerals. So all crystal skulls may ultimately turn out to be the creations of masters of the 19th and 20th centuries. There is a version that the Skull of Fate is just a birthday present for Anna. It could well have been thrown to her by her father in the manner of Christmas surprises, but not under the tree, but under the ancient altar. Anna, who died in 2007 at the age of 100, said in an interview that the skull was found on her 17th birthday, that is, in 1924. The author of this entire exciting story may be Mitchell-Hedges himself, the Atlantean treasure hunter.

They were found in Peru, near the city of Ica. There are a lot of stones - tens of thousands. The first mentions of them are found in the chronicles of the 16th century. Each of the stones has a drawing depicting in detail some scene from the life of ancient people.

What is the mystery

There are drawings that show horses that became extinct on the American continent hundreds of thousands of years ago. There are riders on the horses. Other stones depict scenes of hunting... dinosaurs! Or, for example, surgical operations for heart transplantation. As well as stars, the sun and other planets. At the same time, numerous examinations confirm that the stones are ancient; they are also found in pre-Hispanic burials. And official science does its best to pretend that the Ica stones do not exist, or calls them modern fakes. Who would think of putting images on tens of thousands of stones, and even carefully burying them in the ground?! This is absurd!

The voice of a skeptic

All journalistic publications about the Ica stones say that examinations confirmed the authenticity of these artifacts. But for some reason these examinations are never presented. It turns out that all sorts of ufologists and atlantologists propose to seriously study these cobblestones only on the grounds that no one would even think of counterfeiting them. But the sale of Ica stones - profitable business, which the Ikians... Ikiots... in short, the local residents willingly do. Well, some “scientists” too. Why not assume that they have jointly put the production of profitable goods on stream? Or is this also too absurd an idea?

First known as "Crown Diamond Blue" and "French Blue". In 1820 it was purchased by banker Henry Hope. The stone is now kept in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

What is the mystery

The most famous diamond in the world has earned the bad reputation of a bloodthirsty stone: almost all of its owners, starting from the 17th century, did not die a natural death. Including the unfortunate French queen Marie Antoinette...

The voice of a skeptic

Can you imagine, Russian great princes and tsars were crowned kings with the Monomakh cap, from Ivan Kalita to Peter the Great. And they all died too! Many - not by their own death, but from various diseases! It's creepy, isn't it? Here it is, the curse of Monomakh! Moreover, the fact of life, death and contact with this killer hat in each case can be confirmed by documents, unlike the biographies of other Hope owners. Among which, by the way, there are those who lived quite prosperous lives, Louis XIV for example. You can also derive an equation in which the life length of the owner of a diamond is inversely proportional to the value gemstone. But this is from a different area...

In 1929, a fragment of a world map was found on the skin of a gazelle in Istanbul's Topkapi Palace. The document is dated 1513 and signed with the name of the Turkish admiral Piri ibn Haji Mamed, and later became known as the Piri Reis map (“reis” means “lord” in Turkish). And in 1956, a certain Turkish naval officer donated it to the American Marine Hydrographic Administration, after which the item was thoroughly examined.

What is the mystery

The most amazing thing is not even that the map shows the east coast in detail South America(this is only 20 years after Columbus’s first voyage!). Before the inquisitive gaze of scientists, a medieval document appeared - the authenticity is beyond doubt - on which Antarctica is clearly depicted. But it was opened only in 1818! And this is not the only secret of the map: the coast of Antarctica is depicted as if the continent is free of ice (which is between 6 and 12 thousand years old). At the same time, the outlines of the coastline are consistent with the seismographic data of the Swedish-British expedition of 1949. Piri Reis, when compiling the map, honestly admitted in his notes that he used several cartographic sources, including very ancient ones, from the time of Alexander the Great. But how could the ancients know about Antarctica? Of course, from the Atlantean super-civilization! This is exactly the conclusion that enthusiasts like Charles Hapgood came to, while representatives of official science remained bashfully silent. They remain silent to this day. Many other similar maps were also found, including, for example, those compiled by Orontheus Phinneus (1531) and Mercator (1569). The data presented in them can only be explained by the fact that there was a certain primary source. From it, cartographers copied information about places that they simply could not know about. And the compilers of this ancient source knew that the Earth is a sphere, accurately represented the length of the equator and mastered the basics of spherical trigonometry.

The voice of a skeptic

If you believe the Piri Reis map (or rather, the mysterious primary source), Antarctica was located differently in ancient times, and this difference is about 3000 kilometers. Neither paleontologists nor geologists have information about such a global continental shift that occurred about 12 thousand years ago. In addition, the ice-free coastline of Antarctica simply cannot match modern data. During icing, it should have changed significantly. So the map of an unknown continent is most likely the speculation of an ancient author, which, by luck, approximately coincided with reality, or another modern fake.

From time to time, perfectly round balls are found in different places on the planet. Their sizes are different - from 0.1 to 3 meters. Sometimes the balls have strange inscriptions and drawings on them. The most mysterious are the balls found in Costa Rica.

What is the mystery

It is unknown who made them, why and how. The ancient people clearly could not sharpen them to such a round shape! Maybe these are messages from other civilizations? Or maybe the balls were carved by Atlanteans, who encoded important information into them?

The voice of a skeptic

Geologists believe that such round objects may well be obtained naturally. For example, if a stone falls into a hole located in the bed of a mountain river, the water will grind it down to a round state. And inscriptions with drawings can be found not only on stones, but also on the walls of elevators and fences. And, as a rule, they are autographs of contemporaries.

The rests were discovered in the 19th century in Quintana Roo (Yucatan). It is known that the Mayans, long before the appearance of Christians in Mesoamerica, revered their symbol; in any case, it was preserved in Palenque ancient temple Cross. By the way, this is why the aborigines reacted favorably to Christianity during Spanish colonization.

What is the mystery

According to legend, a huge cross carved from wood suddenly spoke in 1847 in the village of Chan. He called on the Indians - descendants of the Mayans - to a holy war against the whites. He continued to lend his voice, leading the Indians during combat operations. Soon two more similar talking objects appeared. The village of Chan became the Indian capital of Chan Santa Cruz, where a sanctuary of the crosses was erected. In 1901, the Mexicans managed to capture the sacred capital, but the Mayans managed to take their legs and crosses to the jungle. The struggle for independence continued. Historians call these events the war of the Mexican government with the state of the Crusob Indians - “The Country of Talking Crosses.” In 1915, the Indians recaptured Chan Santa Cruz, and one of the crosses spoke again. He called for killing every white who wandered onto Indian lands. The war ended only in 1935 with the recognition of the independence of the Indians on the terms of broad autonomy. The descendants of the Mayans believe that they won thanks to the talking crosses, which still stand in the sanctuary of the current capital of Champon, but in silence. The official religion of the free Indians is still the cult of the three “talking crosses”.

The voice of a skeptic

There may be at least two explanations for this phenomenon. First: it is known that the Indians of Mexico often used the narcotic substance peyote in their rituals. Under its influence, you can have conversations not only with wooden cross, but also with his own tomahawk. But seriously, the art of ventriloquism has been known for a long time. Among many nations it was owned by priests and clergy. Even an inexperienced ventriloquist is quite capable of uttering a couple of simple phrases like: “Kill all white people!” or “Bring me some more tequila!” We must also not forget that none of the modern scientists have yet heard a single word, even an obscene one, from the “talking crosses”.

The Shroud is located in Turin, in the Cathedral of John the Baptist. It is stored under bulletproof glass in a special casket. According to legend, it was in this shroud that Joseph of Arimathea wrapped the body of Jesus Christ. Modern history The origin of this piece of material begins in 1353, when in an unknown way it ended up in the hands of Geoffroy de Charny, who lived on his own estate near Paris. He claimed that he got it from the Templars. In 1532, the linen was damaged by a fire in Chamberty, and in 1578 the shroud was transported to Turin. In the 80s of the last century, it was donated to the Vatican by the Italian King Umberto II.

What is the mystery

On a four-meter canvas (length - 4.3 meters, width - 1.1 meters) a clear image of a person is visible. More precisely, two symmetrical images located “head to head”. One of the images is a man lying with his hands folded just below his stomach, the other is the same man, viewed from the back. The images are similar to photographic film negatives and appear clearly on the fabric. There are visible traces of bruises from blows from whips, from a crown of thorns on the head and a wound in the left side, as well as bloody marks on the wrists and soles of the feet (presumably from nails). All details of the image correspond to the Gospel testimonies about the martyrdom of Christ. Both physicists and lyricists (in the sense of historians) struggled with the mystery of the shroud. Some of them later became believers. The shroud was illuminated with infrared rays, studied under powerful microscopes, plant pollen found in the tissue was analyzed - in a word, they did everything, but so far none of the scientists have been able to explain how and with what help these images were made. They are NOT painted. They did NOT appear as a result of radiation exposure (there was such a fantastic hypothesis). Radiocarbon dating carried out in 1988 showed that the shroud was created in the 12th–14th centuries. However, Russian doctor of technical sciences Anatoly Fesenko explained that the carbon composition of linen could be “rejuvenated.” The fact is that after the fire, the fabric was cleaned with hot oil or even boiled in oil, so carbon from the 16th century got into it, which was the reason for the incorrect dating. There are other facts confirming that this is not a medieval, but a more ancient and generally miraculous thing. Miracle?!

The voice of a skeptic

It's time to be like Rene Descartes, who once logically reasoned that being a believer is safer than being an atheist, since you can get a posthumous ticket to heaven. After all, God (if he exists) will be pleased that you believed in him. But while you're still alive, look into scientific articles and read that the Jews wrapped their dead not in shrouds, but in burial shrouds. That is, they bandaged them with tapes using aromatic resins and substances. This is exactly what they did with Christ after his death, as recorded in the Gospel of John. Therefore, there is no need to talk about the absolute correspondence of the images of the shroud with the gospel testimonies. Moreover, the deceased sons and daughters of Israel were never laid out in the position of a football player standing in the “wall.” The tradition of drawing people with their hands shyly folded over their genitals appeared after the 11th century, and in Europe. It remains to add that many serious scientists do not doubt the data of radiocarbon analysis conducted by three independent laboratories. Taking into account all Fesenko’s calculations, we can add another 40 years, even 100, to the age of the shroud, but not more than a thousand. And one more interesting detail: shortly before the appearance of this artifact, that is, in the 13th–14th centuries, there were 43 (!) shrouds in Europe. The owner of each one probably swore that he had the same, true one, handed over personally into the hands of almost Joseph of Arimathea himself.

Are you looking for grandma?

There are also artifacts that have not yet been found by anyone. It's up to you!

Holy Grail
In theory, this is a simple cup into which the blood of the crucified Christ was collected. In fact, it can look like anything, because it is a classic something-that-cannot-be. Most likely, the Grail simply does not exist, it is a literary myth.

Ark of the Covenant
Something like a massive box with the Tablets of the Covenant stored inside and the 10 Commandments on them. Be especially careful with this item: it is believed that anyone who touches it immediately dies.

Golden woman
According to the medieval geographer Mercator, it is located somewhere in Siberia. This is a figurine (or maybe a statue) of the Finno-Ugric goddess Yumala. She is credited with supernatural properties. Adventure seekers are also attracted by the metal from which it is made. Yes, yes, this is pure gold. One might say, not a woman, but a treasure!

Photo: APP/East News; Corbis/RGB; Alamy/Photas.

Most of the history of mankind to this day remains hidden in the mists of time - this is evidenced by numerous mysterious objects and structures, the origin of which has puzzled more than one generation of historians, archaeologists and ufologists.

Here are the most famous of the monuments of irretrievably bygone eras, in the construction of which, according to the assurances of researchers of paranormal phenomena, “foremen” and “engineers” who flew to Earth from outside took a direct part. Of course, most of these statements do not stand up to any scientific criticism, but orthodox science still cannot answer some of the counter-questions of ufologists.

1.Badland Guard (also known as Indian Head), Alberta, Canada

To admire the huge image of an Indian head with what looks like audio player headphones, you can enter the coordinates 500’38.20” north latitude and 1106’48.32” west longitude into Google Earth.

This huge geomorphological formation arose almost without human intervention: the “earphone” is the road to the oil well, which appeared here quite recently. The guard was discovered in 2006 by one of the Google Earth users, Lynn Hickox.

2. Nazca Lines (Nazca geoglyphs), Nazca Plateau, southern Peru, created between 400 and 650 AD

The drawings consist of many images of animals, among which you can recognize sharks, lizards, killer whales, hummingbirds, spiders, monkeys and some others. According to ufologist, writer and film director Erich von Däniken, the Nazca Lines could be an ancient airfield and at the same time an invitation to “visit”.

According to him, a long time ago aliens visited the Earth, and when landing on the Nazca plateau, the engines of their spaceship somewhat “cleared” the area of ​​stones, which was noticed by the ancient inhabitants of these lands and, of course, mistook the aliens for deities who had descended to them from heaven ( In this, by the way, they were not so far from the truth). Then the “guests” went back to their homeland, but people tried to “invite” them again by drawing various symbols and animals on the ground.

3. Pyramids of Giza near Cairo, Egypt

Perhaps the Egyptian pyramids are one of the most mysterious structures in the history of mankind. Over thousands of years, the history of their creation has become overgrown with numerous legends and assumptions, the most common of which is the opinion that the Egyptians were helped by certain supercivilizations.

Indeed, some interesting facts may well serve as proof of this theory. For example, on the summer solstice, from the point of view of the Sphinx, the setting sun is exactly between the two largest of the pyramids of Giza. To realize this plan, the ancient builders had to have an accurate calendar and know that the length of the year is 365.25 days.

In addition, it is not known why the other pyramids, erected about 500 years later than the Great Three, were severely destroyed by time, while the structures at Giza were practically undamaged.

Despite numerous theories, it is still unclear how the Egyptians were able to stack the stones, each of which weighed an average of two tons, into such a huge “slide” without using a wheel - it was invented later.

Some scientists say that there is a direct connection between the location of the pyramids and the map starry sky: for example, the Giza complex corresponds to the three largest stars in the constellation Orion, which for the ancient Egyptians was a symbol of one of the main gods - Osiris. Some even argue that the Nile River corresponds to the visible part of the Milky Way, which prompted the creators of the pyramids to arrange the tombs in a certain pattern, but for this they needed perfect astronomical equipment, so where could it come from? There is no answer to the question - the pyramids reliably keep their secrets.

4. underground city Derinkuyu, Türkiye

The giant underground is designed to provide 20 thousand people with everything they need: archaeologists have discovered the remains of food stores, wine shops, some kind of printing houses, stables, schools, water supply and much more.

According to the most common version, Derinkuyu began to be built in the first millennium BC, but some believe that the city is much older and was designed by extraterrestrial forces to protect the population of this region from global disasters.

In the underground passages there are even stone doors 1–1.5 meters high and weighing about half a ton each, which indicates the serious approach of the builders to ensuring the safety of residents.

The city was discovered in the 1960s of the last century, and excavations are still ongoing there - at at the moment archaeologists reached a depth of 85 meters.

5. Great city Teotihuacan (Aztec for "Place where men become gods") near Mexico City, Mexico

Teotihuacan is one of the most ancient cities on Earth and, until the 15th century, the largest populated area in the Western Hemisphere, supposedly arose about a thousand years before the Aztecs appeared in this area. Among the peoples who had a hand in the creation of the huge city are the Toltec, Mayan, Zapotec and Mixtec tribes, and many researchers say that the builders of Teotihuacan, like the “authors” of the Giza pyramids, had extensive mathematical and astronomical knowledge.

Erich von Däniken, already familiar to you, again believes that during the construction the matter could not have happened without the help of aliens; more precisely, in his opinion, it was they who erected numerous structures even before man appeared here.

It is curious that mica was widely used in construction, which, as mineralogical analysis showed, was mined 4.8 thousand km from the future city, in Brazil. Mica is resistant to impact sunlight, moisture, electricity and high temperatures, but why such a margin of safety was invested in the buildings still remains unclear.

6. Sacsayhuaman, Cusco, Peru

The former capital of the Inca Empire is almost entirely made up of incredibly large and heavy boulders, some of them weighing up to 360 tons. Scientists are struggling with the mystery of how the Incas managed to deliver these “bricks” to the construction site, because the nearest deposit of such rocks is located about 35 km from Sacsayhuaman.

7. Trilithon in Baalbek, Lebanon

The ancient Lebanese city contains the ruins of many architectural structures dedicated to the Roman gods (the region was once part of the Roman Empire), the most famous of which is Great Temple Jupiter. In its design, among other things, three huge solid stones weighing about 800 tons each were used (it was these ruins that received the name Trilithon, translated from Greek - “Miracle of the Three Stones”), and several smaller blocks - 350 tons each , and nearby, in a quarry, lies a block weighing 1000 tons, which, apparently, was prepared, but for some reason could not be used when creating the temple.

Giorgio Tsoukalos and David Childres, proponents of theories about the participation of aliens in such “projects,” once stated that technologies such as anti-gravity or even acoustic levitation were used when transporting stone blocks in Baalbek.

8. Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England

One of the world's most famous mysterious structures is believed to have been erected between 3000 and 2000 BC, and scientists are still debating whether it is a temple, a cemetery or an ancient observatory (there are also more exotic versions of the purpose of Stonehenge).

The weight of the supporting stones reaches 50 tons, and the nearest quarry with a deposit of this rock is located approximately 160 km from Stonehenge, which gives many paranormal researchers reason to claim that only aliens could make these stones dance (translated from the Gaulish dialect " Stonehenge means "hanging" or "dancing stones").

9. Waffle Rock, part of an alien spacecraft, near Lake Jennings Randolph, West Virginia, USA

Of course, in reality it is just a piece of sandstone interspersed with hematite, forming such an interesting “pattern”, but try to explain this to adherents of alien theories!

On our planet, along with modern, technologically and industrially developed megacities, there are many places created by ancient masters or nature itself.

Each such attraction has its own legend and, naturally, is silent about a lot of things. Mysterious places raise a huge number of questions among scientists, confusing them with anomalous phenomena and the unknown.

1. Devils Tower, USA

The so-called Devil's Tower is actually a natural rock of amazingly regular shape and consists of columns with sharp corners. This truly mysterious place, which, according to research, is more than 200 million years old, is located in the USA, in the territory of the modern state of Wyoming.

In size, the Devil's Tower is several times larger than the Cheops Pyramid and from the outside resembles a man-made structure. Thanks to its unrealistic size and unnaturally correct configuration, the rock has become the object of attention of many scientists, and local residents claim that Satan himself built it.

2. Cahokia Mounds, USA

Cahokia or Cahokia is an abandoned Indian city, the ruins of which are located near Illinois, USA. This place is reminiscent of how ancient civilizations lived, and its complex structure proves that this area was inhabited by a highly developed people 1500 years ago. The ancient city is striking in its scale; a network of terraces and 30-meter earthen mounds, as well as a huge solar calendar, have been preserved on its territory.

It is still unknown why a society of almost 40 thousand people left their settlement, and which Indian tribes are direct descendants of the Cahokians. Despite this, the Cahokia mounds are a favorite place for many tourists who come here in the hope of unraveling the mystery of the ancient city.

3. Chawinda, Mexico

This mystical place, according to the beliefs of the aborigines, is the center of intersection of the real and other worlds. That is why incredible things happen here that are difficult for modern people to understand.

Chawinda is of interest to many treasure hunters, because according to legend, this area hides unprecedented wealth. Unfortunately, no one has yet managed to find the treasure. Would-be treasure hunters often attribute their failures to otherworldly forces.

4. Newgrange, Ireland

Newgrange is the oldest building on the territory of modern Ireland, it is already about 5 thousand years old. It is believed that this long corridor with a transverse room is a grave, but scientists have not yet been able to determine for whom.

It is still unknown how ancient people were able to build such a perfect structure, which for five thousand years was not only lucky enough to survive, maintaining its primitive appearance, but also to remain completely waterproof.

5. Pyramids of Yonaguni, Japan

Mysterious underwater pyramids near the western Japanese island of Yonaguni are causing a lot of controversy among modern archaeologists and surveyors. The main question is whether the structures are a natural phenomenon, or whether they were created by the hand of an ancient man.

In the course of numerous studies, it was possible to establish that the age of the Yonaguni pyramids is more than 10 thousand years. Therefore, if the Yonagun monuments created mysterious civilizations unknown to us, then the history of mankind should be rewritten.

Mysterious civilization. Underwater cities Yonaguni

6. Geoglyphs of Nazca, Peru

The Nazca geoglyphs in Peru are one of the most mysterious places on the planet. They were discovered in the middle of the last century and are still actively discussed by scientists who cannot say unambiguously what the ancient people wanted to express with these giant drawings of animals and for what purpose were they used?

Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to ask the creators, but scientists offer 2 main versions: some, leaning towards the cosmic theory of the origin of geoglyphs, believe that they are landmarks for alien ships, others claim that they are giant lunar calendars. In any case, the Nazca rock paintings are proof of the existence on the territory of modern Peru of an ancient and mysterious civilization that lived here long before the famous Incas and was distinguished by a high level of development.

7. Black Bamboo Hollow, China

Black Bamboo Hollow or Heizhu is perhaps the most terrible place on Earth. Local residents have nicknamed it the Valley of Death, and they do not even want to get close to it at any cost. Just the memory of the ravine fills them with great horror.

They say that children and pets disappear here without a trace, and there is a lot of documentary evidence of this. Scientists have been interested in the hollow of black bamboo for decades; they have been able to prove that the valley in the Chinese province of Sichuan is an anomalous area with a harsh climate and sharply changing weather conditions, which together provoke soil subsidence, which, according to scientists, is the cause of missing people .

8. Giant's Causeway, Ireland

The Giant's Causeway, or Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland is an amazing coastal area formed many centuries ago as a result of a volcanic eruption. It consists of approximately 40 thousand basalt columns that look like giant steps.

The natural attraction is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This place deserves admiration, which is why more than one thousand tourists from all over the world visit it every year.

9. Goseck Circle, Germany

The Goseck Circle is an ancient Neolithic structure in the German district of Burgenlandkreis. The circle was accidentally discovered in the early 90s of the last century while surveying the area from an airplane.

The original appearance of the building was restored only after complete reconstruction. Scientists have little doubt that the Goseck Circle was used for astronomical observations and calendaring. This proves that our ancestors also studied cosmic bodies, their movements and kept track of time.

10. Moai monuments on Easter Island

Easter Island is famous throughout the world for the giant Moai statues located throughout its territory. Each such megalithic figure is a large monument created by the masters of an ancient civilization in the crater of the local volcano Rano Raraku.

In total, about 1,000 remains of such man-made monuments were discovered on the island. Most have already gone under water.

Today, the vast majority of the statues are once again placed on platforms facing the ocean, from where they continue to greet visitors to the island and remind of the former power of the ancient people who inhabited these spaces.

Easter Island - Moai Message

11. Georgia Tablets, USA

The Georgia Tablets are 20-ton polished granite slabs with inscriptions in eight of the world's most famous languages. The inscriptions represent commandments for future generations on how to rebuild civilization after a global cataclysm. The monument was erected in 1979, the customer is listed in the documents under the name Robert C. Christian.

The height of the monumental structure is just over six meters, and the slabs are oriented towards the four sides of the world and have holes. In one of them you can see the North Star at any time of the year, in the second - the Sun during the solstice and equinox. Several years ago, the monument was vandalized and was damaged by paint, which has not yet been removed.

12. Rishat (Eye of the Sahara). Mauritania

On the territory of modern Mauritania, the largest desert in the world hides an amazing natural phenomenon of the Proterozoic period, whose name is Richat or the Eye of the Sahara.

This object is incredibly huge (up to 50 kilometers in diameter), so it can be seen even from space. The structure consists of several ellipsoidal rings formed by sedimentary rocks and sandstones about 500 million years ago.

13. “Gateway to Hell” – Darvaza crater in Turkmenistan

The Darvaza gas crater is located in the Turkmen Karakum desert, appearance resembling a gate to hell. This fire pit, about 60 meters in diameter and up to 20 meters deep, is the result of excavations carried out here during the Soviet Union.

During such geological research, a group of scientists discovered an underground cavern with natural gas, which almost led to the death of a huge number of people. Therefore, the management decided to set fire to the gas so that it would not threaten local residents. But the fire, which was supposed to burn for no more than 5 days, is still burning, bringing fear to everyone who approaches it.

Brave people are ready to take selfies at the Gates of Hell

14. Arkaim, Russia

Arkaim is an ancient settlement, reminiscent of ancient civilizations, which was discovered several decades ago in the vicinity of Chelyabinsk. It is believed that this landmark of Russia is the birthplace of the ancient Aryans, who gave rise to European, Persian and Indian civilizations.

Arkaim is not only a unique architectural monument with thousand years of history, but also a place of concentration of healing energy flows that can save a person from any disease.

15. Stonehenge, England

English Stonehenge is a real place of pilgrimage for tourists from all over the world. It attracts with its mystery, legends and mystical beginnings. Stonehenge is a megalithic structure up to one hundred meters in diameter, which is located on Salisbury Plain.

The most characteristic glows on the surface of the Moon according to Technical Data Sheet R-277 “Chronological catalog of events on the lunar surface.”

Let's return to Technical Data Sheet R-277 “Chronological catalog of events on the lunar surface.” It lists the most characteristic glows observed on the surface of the Moon.

These are flickering, reddish colors, star-like points, sparkles, pulsations and blue light at the bottom of the Aristarchus crater and the tops of its peaks. It's a flicker on inside Eratosthenes crater, an accumulation of spots of light and the appearance of thick fog falling along the slope of this crater. It flickers for 28 minutes. two reddish spots in the Bijela crater. It's a thin cloud hovering over the yellowish-gold glowing western rim of the Moon's Posidonius crater and more.

A program for the study of lunar phenomena under the auspices of NASA, created in 1972. Strange phenomena on the moon continue

In June 1972, NASA announced the creation of a special program to study lunar phenomena. Dozens of experienced observers armed with telescopes were involved in the program. Each of them was allocated four lunar regions, where in the past they had repeatedly observed unusual phenomena. The results of these lunar studies remain unknown.
But this does not in the least prevent us from saying that strange phenomena on the Moon continue to this day. Thus, already on April 25, 1972, the Passau Observatory (Germany) recorded on photographic film in the area of ​​the Aristarchus and Herodotus craters on the Moon a grandiose “light fountain”, which at a speed of 1.35 km/s reached a height of 162 km, shifted to the side by 60 kilometers and dissolved.

Objects artificial origin on the moon

In addition to strange light phenomena, objects of clearly artificial origin have been repeatedly observed on the Moon. According to amateur astronomer George H. Leonard's book There's Someone Else on Our Moon (1976), during the Apollo 14 lunar orbit the astronauts took a very interesting photograph (NASA 71-H-781). This is an image of a giant mechanical device, later called the 1971 Super Device. Two light and delicate structures stand on a ledge inside one of the craters on the far side of the Moon. Long cords extend from their base. The device size ranges from 2 to 2.5 km.
Quite often there are mechanisms similar to a scoop for grabbing soil, which are called “T-scoop”.East of Smith's Sea, located on the far side of the Moon,near Sanger Crater can be seen results of these devices:The T-scoop has already removed a huge section of the central slide and is on the edge, continuing its work. Heaps of lunar rocks are piled nearby.
In addition to the listed mechanisms, high-rise objects are observed: towers, mile-high spiers on the most high points lunar landscape, tilted pillars and so-called “bridges”.Their existence on the Moon, explained J. Leonard, is one of the least controversial things. Only their origin is unclear.
There are other types of objects on the Moon whose functions cannot be explained. Some of them resemble grandiose gear parts. Others are connected in pairs with something similar to threads or fibers.In enlarged drawings from photographs of the lunar surface, you can also see dome-shaped structures, and objects measuring 45 - 60 m, resembling “flying saucers” in shape,and pipelines, and giant staircases going deep into the lunar craters, and incomprehensible mechanisms at the bottom of the craters, similar to dampers.
And if we add to all this the flights of UFOs in the form of dark or, conversely, luminous cylinders and disks that have been repeatedly observed over the surface of the Moon, as well as huge caves with a volume of up to 100 km discovered under the lunar surface, as the American astronomer Carl Sagan and the director of the Main Observatory of the USSR in Pulkovo Alexander Deitch reported in the early sixties of the last century, thenThe question of what is on the Moon is practically removed. Today we can say with a high degree of confidence that there is some other technologically more advanced civilization on the Moon. Which lives under the surface of the Moon, has an artificial atmosphere there and releases exhaust gas through vents. This gas apparently forms manyobserved on oursatellite of the “game” of light, nebula and blur.

Read my work "Underground-underwater-lunar civilization. Falsification or reality? "

There is a hypothesis put forward in the late sixties of the last century by M. Vasin and A. Shcherbakov that the Moon is an artificial object. Inside it there is a huge habitable cavity about 50 km high with an atmosphere suitable for habitation, technical devices, etc. The lunar crust acts as a many-kilometer protective shell.

Press conference former employees NASA Ken Johnston and Richard Hoagland in Washington on October 30, 2007. Photos of the Moon taken by astronauts in 1969.

This conclusion is confirmed by the results of a press conference held on October 30, 2007 in Washington, atwhich former senior NASA employee Ken Johnston, who led the lunar laboratory photo archive, and former NASA consultant Richard C. Hoagland have officially announced that traces of a very ancient - and clearly extraterrestrial - civilization have been discovered on the Moon. To prove this, they presented photographs of the lunar surface taken by astronauts, which were taken back in 1969. NASA allegedly ordered Johnson to be destroyed. But he didn't. Almost forty years passed, and the astronomer decided to show the photographs to the whole world.
The quality of the pictures left much to be desired. Butthey still showed the ruins of cities, huge spherical objects made of glass, stone towers and castles that hung in the air!
According to Johnson, the Americans, having visited the Moon, discovered a previously unknown technology for controlling gravity. Johnston and Hoagland believe that this is precisely the reason for the interest that space powers are once again showing in the Moon. The lunar race has resumed, and now there are not two participants, as in the days cold war, but at least five. In addition to the USA and Russia, these are China, India and Japan.

The relationship between the observed activity on the Moon and its flight by spacecraft and the landing of descent modules on the lunar surface is noted. Thus, in the period from July 17, when the Luna spacecraft entered lunar orbit, to July 21, 1969, when it crashed into the Sea of ​​Crises, in this area of ​​the lunar surface the number of flares and movements of some objects, etc., sharply increased. d. And after the landing of the “Moon” in approximately the same place (the northeastern tip of the Sea of ​​Plenty) in February 1972, a sharp surge in all kinds of anomalous phenomena was noted here. For example, on March 18, on the southern edge of the “sea”, the appearance of two light points was noticed, crossing the “sea” and then disappearing at its western edge.

Read the material about strange finds on the Moon and meeting its inhabitants on, specifically and

We fly into space, race to build skyscrapers, clone living organisms and do many things that only recently seemed impossible. And at the same time, they are still unable to solve the mysteries of the builders and thinkers who lived thousands of years ago. An ancient cobblestone weighing a hundred tons surprises us more than a computer the size of half a palm.

1. Stonehenge, UK, Salisbury

Altar, observatory, tomb, calendar? Scientists have not come to a consensus. Five thousand years ago, a ring ditch and ramparts around it with a diameter of 115 m appeared. A few centuries later, ancient builders brought here 80 four-ton stones, and a couple of centuries later - 30 megaliths weighing 25 tons. The stones were installed in a circle and in the shape of a horseshoe. The appearance in which Stonehenge has survived to this day is largely the result of human activity recent centuries. People continued to work on the stones: peasants chipped away pieces of amulets from them, tourists marked the territory with inscriptions, and restorers figured out for the ancients how things stood correctly here.

2. Pyramid of Kukulkan, Mexico, Chichen Itza

Every year, on the days of the spring and autumn equinox, thousands of tourists gather at the foot of the sanctuary of the supreme Mayan deity - the Feathered Serpent. They witness the miracle of Kukulkan's "appearance": the Serpent moves down along the balustrade of the main staircase. The illusion is created by the play of triangular shadows cast by the nine platforms of the pyramid at the moment when the setting sun illuminates its northwestern corner for 10 minutes. If the sanctuary had been shifted even a degree, nothing like this would have happened.

3. Carnac stones, France, Brittany, Carnac

In total, about 4,000 megaliths up to four meters high are arranged in slender alleys near the city of Karnak. The rows run parallel to each other or fan out, forming circles here and there. The complex dates back to the 5th–4th millennium BC. There were legends in Brittany that it was the wizard Merlin who turned the ranks of Roman legionnaires to stone.

4. Stone balls, Costa Rica

Pre-Columbian artifacts scattered near the Pacific coast of Costa Rica were discovered in the 1930s by banana plantation workers. Hoping to find gold inside, vandals destroyed many of the balls. Now most of the remaining ones are kept in museums. The diameter of some stones reaches 2.5 meters, weight - 15 tons. Their purpose is unknown.

5. Tablets of Georgia, USA, Georgia, Elbert

In 1979, someone under the pseudonym R.C. Christian ordered construction company production and installation of the monument - a structure of six granite monoliths with a total weight of more than 100 tons. The ten commandments to descendants are engraved on the four side plates in eight languages, including Russian. The last point says: “Don’t be a cancer for the Earth, leave room for nature too!”

6. Nuraghi of Sardinia, Italy, Sardinia

Semiconical structures resembling huge beehives (up to 20 m high) appeared in Sardinia at the end of the 2nd millennium BC, before the arrival of the Romans. The towers were built without a foundation, from stone blocks superimposed on each other, not fastened with any mortar and supported only by their own gravity. The purpose of the nuraghe is unclear. It is characteristic that archaeologists have more than once discovered miniature bronze models of these towers during excavations.

7. Sacsahuaman, Peru, Cusco

The archaeological park at an altitude of 3,700 meters and an area of ​​3,000 hectares is located north of the capital of the Inca Empire. The defensive and at the same time temple complex was built at the turn of the 15th–16th centuries. The zigzag battlements, reaching 400 meters in length and six in height, are made of 200-ton stone blocks. How the Incas installed these blocks, how they adjusted them one after another is unknown. From above, Sacahuaman looks like the toothy head of a Cusco puma (the city was founded in the shape of the sacred animal of the Incas).

8. Arkaim, Russia, Chelyabinsk region

The Bronze Age settlement (III–II millennium BC) is located at the same latitude as Stonehenge. Coincidence? Scientists don't know. Two rows of circular walls (the diameter of the farthest one is 170 m), a drainage system and sewerage system, a well in each house are evidence of a highly developed culture. The monument was discovered by students and schoolchildren from an archaeological expedition in 1987. (The photo shows a reconstruction model.)

9. Newgrange, Ireland, Dublin

The Celts called it the fairy mound and considered it the home of one of their main gods. The circular structure made of stone, earth and rubble with a diameter of 85 meters was erected more than 5,000 years ago. A corridor leads inside the mound, ending in a ritual chamber. On the days of the winter solstice, this chamber is brightly illuminated for 15–20 minutes by a ray of sun falling through the window above the entrance to the tunnel.

10. Coral Castle, USA, Florida, Homestead

The bizarre structure was built single-handedly over 28 years (1923–1951) by Latvian emigrant Edward Lindskalnin in honor of a lost love. How a man of modest stature and build moved huge blocks in space remains a mystery.

11. Statues of “reptilians”, French Polynesia, Nuku Hiva island

The statues in a place called Temehea Tohua in the Marquesas Islands depict strange creatures, the appearance of which in the popular consciousness is associated with aliens. They are different: there are large large-mouthed “reptilians”, and there are others: with small bodies and disproportionately large elongated helmet heads with with huge eyes. They have one thing in common - an angry expression on their faces. Whether these were aliens from other worlds or just masked priests is unknown. The statues date back to around the beginning of the 2nd millennium.

12. Pyramids of Yonaguni, Japan, Ryukyu Archipelago

Monuments of huge stone platforms and pillars located underwater at a depth of 5 to 40 meters were discovered in 1986. The main one of these structures has the shape of a pyramid. Not far from it there is a large platform with steps, similar to a stadium with spectator stands. One of the objects resembles a huge head, like the Moai statues on Easter Island. There is debate in the scientific community: many believe that the formations lying on the ocean floor are exclusively of natural origin. But loners like Masaaki Kimura, a professor at the University of the Ryukyu, who has repeatedly dived to the ruins, insist that there was a human presence here.

13. Goseck Circle, Germany, Goseck

The ring system of concentric ditches and wooden enclosures was created between 5000 and 4800 BC. The complex has now been reconstructed. Presumably it was used as a solar calendar.

14. Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe, Masvingo

One of the largest and oldest stone structures South Africa It was built in the 11th century, and was abandoned in the 15th century for an unknown reason. All structures (up to 11 meters in height and 250 in length) were erected using the dry masonry method. Presumably, up to 18,000 people lived in the settlement.

15. Delhi Column, India, New Delhi

The iron column, more than 7 meters high and weighing more than 6 tons, is part of the Qutub Minar architectural complex. It was cast in honor of King Chandragupta II in 415. By for unclear reasons The column, almost 100% made of iron, is practically resistant to corrosion. Scientists are trying to explain this fact with various reasons: the special skill and technology of ancient Indian blacksmiths, dry air and specific climatic conditions in the Delhi region, the formation of a protective shell - in particular, as a result of the fact that the Hindus anointed the sacred monument with oils and incense. Ufologists, as usual, see in the column yet another evidence of the intervention of extraterrestrial intelligence. But the secret of “stainless steel” has not yet been solved.

17. Nabta Observatory, Nubia, Sahara

In the sands next to a dry lake lies the oldest archaeoastronomical monument on the planet, 1000 years older than Stonehenge. The location of the megaliths makes it possible to determine the day of the summer solstice. Archaeologists believe that people lived here seasonally, when there was water in the lake, and therefore needed a calendar.

18. Antikythera mechanism, Greece, Antikythera

A mechanical device with dials, hands and gears was found at the beginning of the 20th century on a sunken ship sailing from Rhodes (100 BC). After lengthy research and reconstruction, scientists found that the device served astronomical purposes - it made it possible to monitor the movement of celestial bodies and make very complex calculations.

19. Plates of Baalbek, Lebanon

The ruins of the Roman temple complex date back to the 1st-2nd centuries AD. But the Romans did not build sanctuaries out of nowhere. At the base of the Temple of Jupiter lie more ancient slabs weighing 300 tons. The western retaining wall is made up of a series of "trilithons" - three limestone blocks, each over 19 m long, 4 m high and weighing about 800 tons. Roman technology was not able to lift such weight. By the way, not far from the complex, another block has been lying for more than one thousand years - under 1000 tons.

20. Gobekli Tepe, Türkiye

The complex on the Armenian Highlands is considered the oldest of the largest megalithic structures (approximately X-IX millennium BC). At that time, people were still hunting and gathering, but someone was able to erect circles of huge steles with images of animals.