Monumental constructions of past eras, such as prehistoric sites and cities, have always been intriguing to archaeologists who struggle to reveal their secrets.

Here are five prehistoric sites that keep puzzling scientists all over the world, and no one has still managed to solve their mysteries and decode the way of life of past civilizations.

1. Carnac Stones

Carnac megalith alignment
A section of the Carnac Alignments in France. These granite stones were placed in long lines sometime between 5,000 and 3,000 BCE. (Image by Snjeschok/CC BY-SA 3.0)

A massive collection of more than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones is located around the French village of Carnac, France, while the purpose for its creation still remains unknown.

What’s for sure is that they were erected by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany during the Neolithic period (from 4500 BC to 2000 BC), however, researchers cannot be certain of the accurate date. It is also suggested that people used them as season calendars or observatories of the sun and moon.

2. Gobeklitepe, The World’s First Temple

Gobeklitepe
Beytullah eles / CC BY-SA

Gobeklitepe is one of the most interesting prehistoric sites and is located about 15 km away from the city of Sanliurfa, in Southeastern Turkey. It was built twelve thousand years ago (circa 10,000 BC) and it consists of a series of circular and oval-shaped structures, which were placed on the top of a hill.

Excavations that started in 1995 have shown that the use of these installations was not domestic, but mainly religious.

Moreover, geomagnetic results revealed that there are at least 20 installations, which, according to archeologists, form a temple. In the center of each installation, there are two enormous pillars. Every pillar is T-shaped with a height of 3 to 6 meters.

Specialists have interpreted them as stylized human beings. Carvings of animals, abstract symbols, and occasionally a combination of scenes, can also be found on these mystical rock statues.

3. The 5,000-year-old Pyramid City of Caral

The Sacred City of Caral was the capital of the Norte Chico civilization of Supe, Peru, which is considered to be the first known civilization of the Americas. The Sacred City is a 5,000-year-old metropolis with complex agricultural practices, rich culture, and monumental architecture.

In the 1970s, archaeologists discovered that the hills they had originally considered to be natural formations were actually stepped pyramids. By the 1990s, the full extent of the great city of Caral had been revealed.

Surprisingly enough, in 2000 scientists were able to find out that Caral dated back to the Late Archaic period, which began around 3,000 BC. This evidence led to the conclusion that Caral was an early complex society in the Americas.

4. The Wheel of Giants

Rujm el-Hiri prehistoric sites
​Hebrew Wikipedia user אסף.צ / CC BY-SA 

This uncommon megalith was discovered in the 1960s near the Sea of Galilee and is estimated to be approximately 5,000 years old. In Arabic it is called Rujm el-Hiri, meaning the “stone heap of the wild cat”. In Hebrew, its name is “Gilgal Refaim” or the “wheel of giants”.

It is a mysterious ancient monument composed of five to nine huge stone circles (some of them incomplete) dating to the Early Bronze Age, the same time Stonehenge was built, and the purpose of its creation remains unknown.

5. Prehistoric town in Bulgaria

This prehistoric town was discovered near the modern town of Provadia, Bulgaria. According to archaeologists, about 350 people inhabited this town, which dates back to between 4700 and 4200 BC.

During excavations, performed in 2005, the remains of two-story houses, pits used for rituals, as well as parts of a gate and bastion structures were revealed. In addition, archaeologists have recently discovered a small necropolis or burial ground at this site.

References:

  1. https://www.smithsonianmag.com
  2. https://www.history.com

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