Mysteriously disappeared civilizations. Evidence that ancient civilizations had advanced technology Lost city in the jungles of Cambodia

America

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 today were based on the work of our ancestors. In the past, people were much smarter than we might think.

Batteries of Baghdad

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 earthenware 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 of scientific and technological progress, but 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 what exactly 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, the 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 the movements of 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.

Amazing cities, kingdoms, palace ruins, strangely preserved statues ... and mysteriously disappeared inhabitants.

Anchor Wat
The golden age of Khmer civilization occurred between the 9th and 13th centuries during the reign of Kambuja, whose name gave Cambodia its name. He ruled vast territories from the capital of Angkor, in the west of Cambodia. Under the reign of Jayavarman VII, Kambuja reached its political and cultural heyday, which is now evident from the ruins of this palace, the central towers of which symbolize the peaks of Mount Meru - the center of the universe according to Hinduism, and on the towers the smiling faces of the gods carved from stone.

Ruins of Anuradhapura
This is the former capital of Sri Lanka during the heyday of the ancient Lankan civilization. This place is considered one of the most sacred, most important and longest inhabited among the ancient Lankan cities. The city was built around 380 BC and prospered until the population was resettled in Polonnaruwa in the 10th century AD. Still sacred to Buddhists and Hindus, this city is surrounded by monasteries.

Hugo Kingdom, Tibet
The mysterious Tibetan kingdom, founded by the son of King Glang Darma, formed around the 10th century and then collapsed under mysterious circumstances 700 years later. Its population of tens of thousands of people disappeared without a trace. The ruins still lie on the slopes of Ngari, famous for its Buddhist monasteries, snow-capped mountains and lakes. Very important are the preserved frescoes in the walls of this city, showing the daily life of its former inhabitants, as well as the amazing Buddha statue made of gold and silver.

Humpy
Hampi is located among the ruins of Vijayanagar, the former capital of the empire now known as the village of Karnataka, India. Perhaps thanks to this ancient city and the temple located in it, the village, which is located nearby, is considered the most important religious center. Since the village itself is located in the center of Vijayanagara, it is often confused with the ancient city itself. This place is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kingdom of Kerma
This kingdom was a rival of Ancient Egypt from about 2500 BC until 1520 BC. It was founded in Upper Nubia - now roughly between the Sudan and the east bank of the Nile - and was the main trading center in the Middle Kingdom during Egyptian times. There is a cemetery in this place: on which you can see many large barrows, which are the tombs of emperors. Some archaeologists believe that the kingdom of Kerma could be related to the legendary Kingdom of Kush mentioned in the Book of Genesis.

There were three Kushite kingdoms: the first was called Kerma (Kerma), as the capital of the same name, and existed from 2400 to 1500. BC.; the second was Napata (1000-300 BC) and the third was Meroe (300 BC-300 AD). Initially influenced by their northern neighbors, the Nubians were eventually able to conquer Egypt, the king of Napata reigned as pharaoh of the 25th dynasty until the Assyrian conquest in 656 BC.

Nubian pyramids
The Buried Kingdom of Kotte
This kingdom is located on the border of the current city of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, it flourished on the territory of the current state in the 15th century. Its ruler was the last hereditary who managed to unite all the peoples of Sri Lanka. By 1450, Parkamab VI completed the unification. During his reign, literature and the arts flourished

Kingdom of Koguro
Scattered across the Chinese provinces of Jilin and Liaoning are the remains of three cities - the mountain city of Wunu, Guonei and the mountain city of Wangdu - these are the sites of 14 royal tombs. All these cities once belonged to the Goguro culture, named after the dynasty of the same name, which ruled in various parts of northern China and the northern part of the Korean peninsula from 277 BC to 668 AD.

sabaen kingdom
The Sabaenese lived in what is now Yemen between 2000 BC and the 8th century AD. This temple was recently discovered in Sirvaa, located east of Sanaa. Known as Almaga, the temple has been preserved in excellent condition with wide entrances and large interior rooms. All made of wood and stone, the tower-like ledges weigh about 6 tons. 7 huge columns were raised using a mechanism resembling a crane. The front of the temple is adorned with two huge sculptures of the Sabi kings.

Sukhothai Historical Park
Located in the north of Thailand. This city was the capital of the state of the same name, the heyday of which fell on the period of the 13th-14th centuries. The city walls form a rectangular space of 70 square kilometers, each wall has a gate. Inside you can find the remains of the royal palace and 26 temples, the largest of which is Wat Mahatha. The park is under the protection of the Department of Arts of Thailand, and is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The park is visited by many people to see and admire the ancient Buddha figure, the ruined palace complex and the ruins of temples.

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.

Iron column in Delhi

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.

Lens of Nimrud

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

Gobekli Tepe

Initially, the 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.

Antikythera mechanism

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

Lycurgus Cup

Damascus steel

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

Heron's ancient Greek 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.

Believe it or not, friends, but modern humanity may disappear in a couple of years, and this will not be the first time that a civilization has disappeared from the face of the Earth. The disappearance of some of the ancient civilizations known to us was caused by wars, climate change, disease, invasions, eruptions. But in most cases, these reasons are most likely the assumption of learned historians.

Clovis

Time of existence: 11500 BC
Location: North America

We don't know much about the Clovis culture. What is known is that this prehistoric Native American culture is believed to have existed in North America. Its name comes from an archaeological site located near Clovis, New Mexico. Artifacts found at this site in the 1920s consist of stone tools and bones.

It is believed that these people arrived from Siberia to Alaska through the Bering Strait towards the end of the last ice age. Whether this was the first crop in North America, no one knows. The life of this civilization passed rather quickly. What contributed to its rapid disappearance? Maybe they hunted too much and destroyed their food supply? Or has climate change, diseases, predators, a meteorite fall led to this? Or maybe the members of this culture simply scattered to join other Indian tribes? Scientists still have a lot of work to do to unravel this mystery.

Culture Cucuteni-Trypillia

Time of existence: between 5500 and 2750 BC
Location: Ukraine and Romania.

The largest communities of Neolithic Europe were built on Cucuteni-Trypillia, the territories where modern Ukraine, Romania and Moldova are located. There were almost 15,000 people in the Cucuteni-Trypillia civilization - a huge community of that time that mysteriously disappeared from the face of the Earth.

The Cucuteni-Trypillia culture is known for its ceramics. They also had a strange habit of burning down their villages every 60-80 years before building new ones on the ashes of the old ones. To date, scientists have identified about 3,000 archaeological sites from this matriarchal society, at the center of which was the mother goddess. Their disappearance may have been caused by abrupt climate change, which led to the worst droughts in European history. Other theories suggest that the people were scattered among different tribes living in the neighborhood.

Indus Valley Civilization

Time of existence: 3300-1300 BC
Location: Pakistan.

The Indus Valley Civilization is one of those huge civilizations spread over what is now Pakistan and western India. This is one of the most mysterious ancient civilizations. Little is known about her, mainly because no one has ever been able to decipher their language. We know that people built over a hundred cities and villages, including the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Each had its own sewer systems and basic conditions for living in their homes. It appears to have been a classless, armyless civilization that excelled in astronomy and agriculture. It was also the first civilization to make cotton clothing.

The Indus civilization disappeared 4500 years ago and no one knew about it until the ruins were discovered in the 1920s. Several theories attempt to explain this disappearance. These include changes in their environment, the drying up of the Ghaggar-Hakra River, colder and drier temperatures. Another theory suggests an Aryan invasion of the region around 1500 BC.

Minoan civilization

Time of existence: 3000-630 BC
Location: Crete.

The Minoan civilization was not known until the early 20th century. Since 1900, a thorough study began, which revealed many secrets of this mysterious civilization, which existed for about 7000 years and reached its peak around 1600 BC. Over time, archaeologists have found very interesting places. One of them was the palace at Knossos, a labyrinth associated with the legend of King Minos (hence the name of the civilization). Now it is an important archaeological center.

It is believed that the Minoans were destroyed by a volcanic eruption on the island of Thera (Santorini today). There is evidence that they would have survived had the eruption not killed off all plant life. This led to the economic decline of a once rich civilization, starvation and death. Another hypothesis is that they were captured by the Mycenaeans. The Minoan Civilization is one of the greatest civilizations that ever existed.

Mayan civilization

Time of existence: 2600 BC before 1520 AD
Location: Central America.

The Mayan civilization is a classic example of a mysteriously vanished civilization. Its greatest monuments, its cities and roads have been swallowed up by the jungles of Central America, and its population scattered into small villages and settlements. The languages and traditions of the Mayan people are still preserved, but the climax of civilization occurred in the first millennium of our era, when their greatest architectural monuments were built, and its dominance covered a vast territory that would include Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.

One of the greatest peoples of ancient civilization used writing, mathematics, calendars and sophisticated machinery to build their pyramids and terraced farms. The reason for the disappearance of this highly advanced civilization is one of the great archaeological debates. It is assumed that internal strife, combined with climate change in the Yucatán during 900, led to a weakening of crops and a famine leading to destruction.

Mycenaean civilization

Time of existence: 1600-1100 BC
Location: Greece.

Unlike the Minoan civilization, the Mycenaean flourished not only through trade, but also through conquest. Their empire covered almost all of Greece. The Mycenaean civilization survived five centuries of dominant power before disappearing around 1100 BC. Several Greek myths are centered around this civilization. One of them is the myth of the legendary king Agamemnon, who led the Greek army during the Trojan War. The Mycenaean civilization was culturally and economically rich and left behind many artifacts. But the mystery of her disappearance has not yet been solved.

Olmec civilization

Time of existence: 1400 BC
Location: Mexico.

The great pre-Columbian civilization of the Olmecs once flourished in Mexico. The first traces of civilization date back to 1400 BC. The city of San Lorenzo has one of the three main Olmec centers with Tenochtitlan and Potrero Nuevo.

The Olmecs were master builders. At the places of their residence, monuments of giant stone heads were found. This civilization laid the foundation for all subsequent Mesoamerican cultures. It is believed that the Olmecs were the first to develop a writing system, they probably invented the compass and the Mesoamerican calendar. They knew the use of bloodletting, made human sacrifices, and invented the concept of the number zero. This civilization was not discovered by historians until the middle of the 19th century. Its decline was due to climate change caused by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and possibly a decline in agricultural activity.

Nabataean civilization

Time of existence: 600 BC
Location: Jordan.

The Nabataean civilization flourished in southern Jordan, the region of Canaan, and northern Arabia from the 6th century BC. Semitic peoples built the spectacular city of Petra, carved into the sandstone rocks of the Jordanian mountains. We also know about their talents in hydraulics and the complex system of dams, canals and reservoirs that allowed them to survive in the desert region.

Written records have not come down to us, and we know almost nothing about their culture. Nevertheless, it was a prosperous civilization that, due to its geographical position, developed a trade network for the trade and exchange of ivory, silk, spices, precious metals and stones, incense, sugar, perfumes and medicines. Unlike other civilizations of that time, the Nabataeans did not know about slavery, and each contributed to the development of their state.

In the 4th century BC. the Nabataeans abandoned Petra, and no one knows why. Archaeological evidence suggests that their departure was not hasty, and therefore it was not associated with non-raids of warlike tribes. It is believed that the migration to the north took place in order to find better work.

Aksum Empire

Time of existence: 100 AD
Location: Ethiopia.

The Aksum Empire began in the first century AD in what is now Ethiopia. The legend says that it was the birthplace of the Queen of Sheba. Aksum was an important trading center, from where huge agricultural resources and gold were exported to the Roman Empire and India. It was a wealthy state and the first African culture to issue its own currency, which at the time was a sign of great power.

The most distinctive monuments are the stelae of Aksum, giant carved obelisks that served as burial terminals for kings and nobles. The first Aksumites worshiped many gods, chief among which was Astar. Then, in 324, King Ezana II was converted to Christianity and became Aksum. According to local legend, a Jewish queen named Yodit conquered the Aksumite empire and burned their churches and books. Others believe that it was the pagan queen Bani al-Hamwiya who caused the decline of the empire. Other theories attribute the demise of the empire to climate change and the overuse of the soil, which led to famine. Aksum took second place in the list of the most ancient civilizations that mysteriously disappeared from the face of the Earth.

Khmer Empire

Time of existence: 1000-1400 AD
Location: Cambodia.

The Khmer Empire, one of the most powerful empires and the greatest lost civilizations in Southeast Asia, occupied the territories of modern Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Malaysia. The capital of Angkor has become one of the most famous archaeological sites in Cambodia. This empire, which included up to a million people, flourished during the first millennium. The Khmers practiced Hinduism and Buddhism and built temples, towers and other elaborate structures such as Angkor Wat, a temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. The fall of the Khmer Empire was attributed to a combination of factors, although most believe that devastating warfare contributed to the empire's demise. By the 14th century, the Khmer empire ceased to exist.

Whatever happens in the future, my dear reader, each of us can make every effort to prolong the life of our fragile civilization. I don’t know what its descendants (if any) will call it, but I doubt that after its destruction, something will remain for them. We are standing on the edge of an abyss - this is a fact, and whether a bridge will be built across this abyss depends on you and me.

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 a lost civilization, the so-called Atlantis of the Sands - a 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 is 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 the excavations, a large octagonal fortress with high walls and high towers was found there. 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 a major center of the ancient Middle Eastern Hurrian civilization, known in mythology as the home of the primeval 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.

Situated in northern Syria, close to its current borders with Turkey and Iraq, ancient Urkesh was a large city in Mesopotamia that flourished between 4000 and 1300 BC. 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 a 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 is a mysterious city located, according to legend, in the virgin rainforests of 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, explorer Tibor Sekelj went in search of the 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 the possible discovery of the lost city of the 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, the 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 what is now northern 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 the help of local residents who stumbled upon the ruins by accident, Dishad Marf Zamua of the University of Leiden in the Netherlands examined the archaeological finds at the 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 that is older than the famous temple complex of 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.

The astonishing find comes after years of searching for Mahendraparvat, a lost medieval city built on Mount Phnom Kulen, 350 years before construction began on the famous temple complex of Angkor Wat in northwestern Cambodia. The city was part of the Khmer Hindu-Buddhist empire that ruled Southeast 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 the Americas. 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.

Karal 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 light on the ancient Mayan civilization.

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 central Yucatán rainforest 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. After passing 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 squares. 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.