Top 10 Most Overlooked Mysteries in History
Published on February 25, 2008 - 146 Comments
Over the last few months we have gone through 30 of the worlds greatest mysteries but what we haven’t covered are ancient mysteries. This list aims to put that right! Here are ten great unsolved mysteries of science. Do you have a theory that might solve one of these mysteries? If so, tell us in the comments!
10. Rongorongo
While many people know of the Moai of Easter Island, not that many people know of the other mystery associated with Easter Island. ‘Rongorongo’ is the hieroglyphic written language of the region’s earlier inhabitants. Rongorongo is strange in that no other neighbouring oceanic people used a written language. It appeared around the 1700s, though was unfortunately lost after the early European colonizers banned it because of its ties to the native islanders’ pagan roots.
9. Lost City of Helike
In the late 2nd century AD, the Greek writer Pausanias wrote an account of how (4-500 years earlier?) in one night a powerful earthquake destroyed the great city of Helike, with a Tsunami washing away what remained of the once-flourishing metropolis. The city, capital of the Achaean League, was a worship centre devoted to the ancient god Poseidon, god of the sea. There was no trace of the legendary society mentioned outside of the ancient Greek writings until 1861, when an archeologist found some loot thought to have come from Helike - a bronze coin with the unmistakable head of Poseidon. In 2001, a pair of archeologists managed to locate the ruins of Helike beneath the mud and gravel of the coast, and are currently trying to peice together the rise and sudden fall of what has been called the “real” Atlantis.
8. The Bog Bodies
This mystery may even be a problem for those legendary investigators from CSI and the like! The bog bodies are hundreds of ancient corpses found buried around the northern bogs and wetlands of Northern Europe. These bodies are remarkably well preserved, some dating back 2,000 years. Many of these bodies have tell-tale signs of torture and other medieval “fun”, which have made some researchers postulating that these unfortunate victims were the result of ritual sacrifices.
7. Fall of the Minoans
The Minoans are best known for the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur, but it is in fact the demise of this once-great civilisation that is more interesting. While many historians concentrate on the fall of the Roman Empire, the fall of the Minoans, who resided on the island of Crete, is an equal, if not greater mystery. Three and a half thousand years ago the island was shaken by a huge volcanic eruption on the neighbouring Thera Island. Archeologists unearthed tablets which have shown that the Minoans carried on for another 50 years after the eruption, before finally folding. Theories of what finally ended them have ranged from volcanic ash covering the island and devastating harvests to the weakened society eventually getting taken over by invading Greeks.
6. The Carnac Stones
Everyone has heard of Stonehenge, but few know the Carnac Stones. These are 3,000 megalithic stones arranged in perfect lines over a distance of 12 kilometers on the coast of Brittany in the North-West of France. Mythology surrounding the stones says that each stone is a soldier in a Roman legion that Merlin the Wizard turned in to stone. Scientific attempts at an explanation suggests that the stones are most likely an elaborate earthquake detector. The identity of the Neolithic people who built them is unknown.
5. Who Was Robin Hood?
The historical search for the legendary thief Robin Hood has turned up masses of possible names. One candidate includes the Yorkshire fugitive Robert Hod, also known as Hobbehod or Robert Hood of Wakefield. The large number of suspects is complicated further as the name Robin Hood became a common term for an outlaw. As literature began to add new characters to the tale such as Prince John and Richard the Lionheart the trail became more obscure. To this day no one knows who this criminal really was.
4. The Lost Roman Legion
After the Parthians defeated underachieving Roman General Crassus’ army, legend has it that a small band of the POWs wandered through the desert and were eventually rounded up by the Han military 17 years later. First century Chinese historian Ban Gu wrote an account of a confrontation with a strange army of about a hundred men fighting in a “fish-scale formation” unique to Roman forces. An Oxford historian who compared ancient records claims that the lost roman legion founded a small town near the Gobi desert named Liqian, which in Chinese translates to Rome. DNA tests are being conducted to answer that claim and hopefully explain some of the residents’ green eyes, blonde hair, and fondness of bullfighting.
3. The Voynich Manuscript
The Voynich Manuscript is a medieval document written in an unknown script and in an unknown language. For over one hundred years people have tried to break the code to no avail. The overall impression given by the surviving leaves of the manuscript suggests that it was meant to serve as a pharmacopoeia or to address topics in medieval or early modern medicine. However, the puzzling details of illustrations have fueled many theories about the book’s origins, the contents of its text, and the purpose for which it was intended. The document contains illustrations that suggest the book is in six parts: Herbal, Astronomical, Biological, Cosmological, Pharmaceutical, and recipes.
2. The Tarim Mummies
An amazing discovery of 2,000 year old mummies in the Tarim basin of Western China occurred in the early 90s. But more amazing than the discovery itself was the astonishing fact that the mummies were blond haired and long nosed. In 1993, Victor Mayer a college professor collected DNA from the mummies and his tests verified that the bodies were all of European genetic stock. Ancient Chinese texts from as early as the first millennium BC do mention groups of far-east dwelling caucasian people referred to as the Bai, Yeuzhi, and Tocharians. None, though, fully reveal how or why these people ended up there.
1. Disappearance of the Indus Valley Civilization
The ancient Indus Valley people, India’s oldest known civilization had a culture that stretched from Western India to Afghanistan and a populace of over 5 million. le—India’s oldest known civilization—were an impressive and apparently sanitary bronze-age bunch. The scale of their baffling and abrupt collapse rivals that of the great Mayan decline. They were a hygienically advanced culture with a highly sophisticated sewage drainage system, and immaculately constructed baths. There is to date no archaeological evidence of armies, slaves, conflicts, or other aspects of ancient societies. No one knows where this civilization went.
This list was derived from the excellent article of the same name at livescience
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1. petey mcgee - February 25th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
very interesting.
2. AmazingThor - February 25th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Great list! I hadn’t heard of any of these. Easter Island would be such a cool place to visit.
3. Randall - February 25th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Another interesting fact about #10, Rongorongo: many of the characters match very closely characters used in the alphabet of the civilization of the Indus valley (#1). There is no explanation for this, yet the number of matches seems too high for coincidence. These two places are nearly on the opposite sides of the earth from each other. How is it that the characters match? (The Indus valley civilization had not yet been discovered when the first Rongrongo tablets were found in the 1700s–so there is no question of later “copying.”)
4. rearden - February 25th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Definitely interesting.
5. SlickWilly - February 25th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
#2 and #4: Could this lend credence to the theory that Jesus visited the far east at some point before his rise to religious fame? I believe it has even been suggested by some that the true burial place of Jesus is in Japan.
6. longball - February 25th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
#8 - the chemicals in the peat bogs are responsible for the almost perfect preservation of the cadavers. I read somewhere that a punishment was to set assumed prisoners/possessed/witches loose in the bog and if they made it out the other end they were considered innocent and went free.
7. SocialButterfly - February 25th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Great list Jamie! I’ve always been a big fan of Robin Hood’s legend and I find it fascinating that even though he was definitely around in a time which had record keepers, there is no solid knowledge of who he really was.
I’ve even heard that he was really apart of royalty.
8. cparker - February 25th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
i love this list. You certaintly spend lots of time with these it seems like everytime I log on there is a new list. Appreciate it. These ancient historical ones are the best.
9. Bruno - February 25th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Jesus wasn’t Caucasian, He was Jewish, meaning no blond hair. Look at people in the Middle East now, that’s probably what Jesus looked like.
10. Csimmons - February 25th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
uhhhh jamie, the comment text is just a bit small.
11. Csimmons - February 25th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
text is small, but still a great list!
12. Joss - February 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Fantastic list! Randall’s addition makes things even more fascinating. Now I must proceed to Wikipedia…
13. SocialButterfly - February 25th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Bruno: I’ve always found it fascinating that Jesus came from the middle east but in the popular vision of what he looks like he seems to be of European descent.
14. ravthewave - February 25th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Randall-
That is crazy! It makes my mind overload and want to shut down. Now I have something to research during downtime at work.
Thanks.
15. SlickWilly - February 25th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Bruno: Yes, yes. I was more referring to the idea that he could/would travel thousands and thousands of miles, from the area roughly analogous to the Roman empire to the far east (i.e. China, Japan, Tibet, etc.). Oh, and technically speaking, people of middle-eastern descent are considered caucasian. So most likely Jesus was caucasian, though he was not european or “aryan” causcasian.
16. SlickWilly - February 25th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
SocialButterfly: This image of Jesus comes from Europe being the major power center of the church for the dominant part of the last 2 millenia, and the center for religious iconography, which means it only makes sense that white europeans’ Jesus would also be a white european. Of course, I’m sure you already knew this.
17. Mikerodz - February 25th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Additional feather to the hat of Listvers, Congrats jf.
18. Randall - February 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
SlickWilly:
You’re off on this “caucasian” idea, Slick.
First of all, let’s remember that the idea of distinguishable “races” of human beings is not really a scientific one. “Race” is not accepted in science because the variables are too great–there is no way to define it.
But when they say that the bodies were caucasian, they DO mean that they were apparently consistent with European/non-Mediterranean types. This Jesus was certainly not. The people of the Middle East (with some exceptions) are generally *Semitic.* Jesus would have been Semitic. The bodies found were not, at least they do not match the overall “type* for that particular ethnic group.
19. Randall - February 25th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
ravethewave:
Yeah, it’s amazing. To me, it’s astounding.
20. stormy617 - February 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
This kind of stuff fascinates me, we believe that we know so much, yet there is so much out there we have no idea about. And somethings we may never know the full story.
21. SocialButterfly - February 25th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
SlickWilly: I did know that the European countries were behind the general image of Jesus, what I was pointing out was the idea that as all knowing and intelligent as the world has become, they still have not recognized it in the major Christian religions as far as I understand. For people who believe, this should not be a problem as the message should be most important to them not his background, yet they still do not recognize it and so Jesus continues to resemble those upright rebels behind the Starbucks counter.
22. SlickWilly - February 25th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Randall: I think I may have misplaced the Caucasus region in my mind as a lot farther east than it was. That was my mistake. I was talking more along the lines of those people from that particular region, not as the term pertains to race. But my geography has always been a bit spotty. Thanks for the correction.
23. SubliminalDeath666 - February 25th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
*yawn*
24. SlickWilly - February 25th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
SocialButterfly: Haha! Most times, if I’m with someone who will get the reference, I’ll make a remark about Jesus looking an awful lot like Frank Zappa.
25. Eric - February 25th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
very interesting stuff, these kind of lists are always my favorite. i just took a class about language and writing in history and it seems really odd to me that a society way out in the pacific would have with them written language…..
i think it could be a mystery in itself just how/why people in the ancient pacific island hopped the way they did. why did they jump into their canoes and row hundreds if not thousands of miles sometimes to places where they couldnt have even known existed…
26. Randall - February 25th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Eric:
For the same reason we went to the moon and send robots to Mars and out in space. We’re an adventuresome, exploration-minded species. We should pat ourselves on the back.
But take a look at my post above (#3) if you’re interested in languages and writing in regards to the Easter islanders…
27. Randall - February 25th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
By the way… I should have also mentioned that the language of the Indus Valley civilization is ALSO untranslated.
28. the hound - February 25th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
where the hell’s roanoke?
29. asimon - February 25th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I remember reading somewhere about the peat bog bodies being twisted and appearing to have been tortured due to the way the peat settled around them. I cant remember where I read this but Im sure it was some sort of scientific journal maybe even a National Geographic. If I can find the reference Ill post it here for everyone.
30. sarah at the disco - February 25th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I’ve never heard any of these but the first one is way weird. They just dissapeared? Well I should probably go back and read the whole thing before asking questions…but wow. That weird.
31. TheDragon - February 25th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Fortunately, I can in fact solve #10. I have mastered that written language, and here for you now is the translation that has been sought for centuries:
“Can you add me to your MyRock friends list?”
32. Michelle - February 25th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Great list!
We talked about the Carnac stones in my Art History class at uni, but the prof never mentioned the possiblity of it serving as an earthquake detector!
33. Mom424 - February 25th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
The Indus Valley Civilization sounds a little too “Eden” like. If there truly was no army, no slaves, and no conflicts they would have been wiped out by the first band of marauders that coveted what they had. It appears human nature has changed little over the millennia.
34. goof_ball - February 25th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
wow
35. jrjb - February 25th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
very funny dragon. #6 looks like some sort of graveyard, similiar to veteran’s cemataries.
Always interested in civilizations like #1. Reminds everyone history didn’t start in 1900. (plumbing, irrigation, etc.)
36. mitchsn - February 25th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Very interesting list. never heard of most of these.
37. 8rustystaples - February 25th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Randall
If my memory serves me correctly, the terms caucasoid, negroid, mongoloid, and australoid are used to define the general cranial features of populations of different geographical areas. Caucasoid is roughly analogous to the European features commonly associated with the “white race” (and I use that term in the loosest sense, as scientifically there are no divisible races). Perhaps that’s what SlickWilly was referring to when he described Jesus as being “caucasian”. Or not. Maybe I’m just reaching for no reason. Okay, I’m really bored at the moment, so I’m trying to interject in a potentially interesting debate. Why else would I be defending someone online that I don’t even know and will most likely never meet? I need a life.
Oh, great list.
38. Mom424 - February 25th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
8rustystaples; I need a life too. I’m actually disappointed that no-one has come back to tell me why my conclusions are unscientific, or I misstated facts, or I’m wrong,,or something..
I think I’ll go do dishes….
39. Tyree - February 25th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Mom424–I think what the author meant was that there was no EVIDENCE of there being an army, slaves, or conflicts. That’s strange, because like you said, they would have been wiped out. I think they were just using it as an example of why they’re considered a “missing” civilization.
Also, if I remember correctly, isn’t the popular image of Jesus based off of a European king?
40. Joshua - February 25th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I think Gavin Menzies in his book about Chinese travel in the 1400’s discusses a script which is located on stones in various locations. If I recall correctly, Easter Island is one of those places. The script is related to that of one found in India.
41. Mom424 - February 25th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Tyree; I believe you may be correct on the Jesus thing. I know it says no evidence etc, but usually they find something that indicates those things. I was really just making a point about human nature. What someone else gots, we want.
42. davo - February 25th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
i love this stuff
43. cambrex101 - February 25th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Very nice list.
Thank you,
I always love having things that might one day help me in a Trivia game,
=]
44. GRUMPYNZ - February 25th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Great list!
45. downhighway61 - February 25th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
robin hood has an epitaph dated 1247
it says his name is “robert, earl of huntingdon”
it’s written in some crazy-ass english, but i’ve read that the english written on it doesn’t match the english that was used in 1247, so maybe it’s a fake.
46. ashman9729 - February 25th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I just want to give a huge thank you to the European d-bags who fuqed up the rest of the world with thier colonization and attempt to erase the civilizations of the places they invaded. Bravo!
47. Susana - February 25th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Like the list,hate the small font.
48. schiesl - February 25th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
OOO we talked about the indus ppl in history class. I was told their population “disappeared” due to drought due to lack of a monsoon season and drying up of the near by streams. They didnt suddenly dissapear…more so they just faded away
49. jfrater - February 26th, 2008 at 1:06 am
I have now increased the size of the comments font. I have left the size of the article as I think it should be large enough for everyone to read comfortably now.
50. Lizzie - February 26th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Another great list Jamie. I haven’t heard of most of these, but given the number of books in my library dedicated to this subject, I probably should have. Note to self - more time reading, less time listversing……..Nah!!
51. jasontimmer - February 26th, 2008 at 2:39 am
You know, with those bog bodies… I don’t understand how a corpse could become so well preserved when situated in such a damp environment as a bog or wetland. I would think these conditions would make optimal breeding grounds for bacteria involved in decomposition, yet the preservation of the bodies, right up to the detail on the man’s face is remarkable. Can someone explain how this can happen?
52. hoah - February 26th, 2008 at 5:07 am
The fall of the Roman empire is no mystery really (there were many reasons for it, but nothing mysterious) while the Minoans were not invaded by Greeks - it was the Mycenaeans…
53. longball - February 26th, 2008 at 5:40 am
jasontimer - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog_body
this describes it better. its all about the conditions and the elements and whatnot.
54. satori - February 26th, 2008 at 6:56 am
wow-that gave me a lot of reading material! What a great list. Kudos once again!
55. Randall - February 26th, 2008 at 7:19 am
8rustystaples:
The terms caucasoid, mongoloid, etc. are long obsolete. Science has never accepted them anyway, but today they’re not even remotely viewed as legit.
Now yes, some anthropologists still will make generalizations about ethnicity based on skull shapes. But the exactness of this is always hugely debatable and many such judgements have been called into question.
I know what you’re saying, but still can’t agree.
Did Jesus look like those people we generally tend to think come from China, Japan, or Southeast Asia? No, probably not. Did he look like a Polynesian or Australian Aborigine? No, probably not. Did he look like the people we generally refer to as “black”? No, probably not. Did he have blonde hair and blue eyes? No, probably not. But then note that even *these* generalizations are just that—generalizations. It’s hard to even say what THEY mean.
This is all we can say about what Jesus looked like. Period.
56. Barnacle - February 26th, 2008 at 7:24 am
If you read thor heyerdahl’s Aku Aku you will find all you need to know about the Easter Islander’s past, written from a layman’s perspective. It goes into the Rongo rongo text a little, and this text most likely corresponds to a race of people that were killed in a war by the ancestors of the current population. The statues that most people know easter island for, resemble these earlier people, so the book says. The war where they were all killed was chilling to read. They were literally herded into one corner of the island and burned in a pit.
Earlier Eric asked why and how these islanders made their way to these islands. The answer, once again can be explained not in people rowing with canoes and being blown off course, but by ancient civilisations with very good navigation skills, ie sextants and starcharts, sending out rafts specially designed for drifting with the current. Heyerdahl was able to prove that a balsa raft from Peru could sail westwards and drift across a whole ocean and land, depending on which branch of current, on a whole range of different island groups. He also sailed a papyrus ship from egypt out to Easter island.
57. Mom424 - February 26th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Barnacle; didn’t I read that there was something a little hinky about Thor Heyerdahl’s expeditions? I kind of recall his theories being discounted due to dna evidence or something of that ilk.
58. Barnacle - February 26th, 2008 at 7:33 am
make that last line “He also sailed a papyrus ship from Morocco to barbados, crossing the atlantic”
59. Barnacle - February 26th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Mom424: Maybe i need to read some more recent books. At the very least he did prove that if you picked the right current and used the ship designs available, instead of catching a current that would sweep you back to the continent, you could go a long way.
60. Mom424 - February 26th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Barnacle; Its still a tres-cool adventure even if the science was a little off.
61. Randall - February 26th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Mom/Barnacle:
Heyerdahl’s theory is shaky at best. A) each boat Heyerdahl built was ravaged by Toredo worms. (more so than wooden vessels even). This would have made ocean journeys in such vessels dangerous as hell and highly questionable. B) while he managed the trip, Heyerdahl had little evidence that anyone had ever made such a trip (from SA to Easter Island) and there is much more suggestive evidence that the Easter Islanders were related to other Polynesians—who had clearly come from the West. As I recall, the DNA research showed that the Easter Islanders had no “outside blood” in them–i.e., there had been stories that some group from the outside (from SA or even Europe) had come in later—but this theory was discounted.
Nevertheless, as I mentioned way up above–the alphabet (Rongorongo) still puzzles…. as I said, a great many of the characters bear a strong resemblance to the also-untranslated language of the Indus Valley civilization—but no one has even an inkling of why this would be.
62. Barnacle - February 26th, 2008 at 7:56 am
ok ok heres what wikipedia says on Heyerdahl, which is interesting:
“In particular, Heyerdahl obtained a radiocarbon date of A.D. 400 for a charcoal fire located in the pit that was held by the people of Easter Island to have been used as an “oven” by the “Long Ears,” which Heyerdahl’s Rapa Nui sources, reciting oral tradition, identified as a white race which had ruled the island in the past (Heyerdahl 1958). Genetic research has found, however, that modern-day Polynesians are more closely related to Southeast Asians than to American Indians.”
So yes modern day polynesians are more-or less asians, but his book alluded to the fact that there were two or more different races making up the 1955 population, and a lot of red-headed genes around.
Maybe i should read from more than one source, though. I went through a phase of reading all his books.
63. Randall - February 26th, 2008 at 7:56 am
hoah:
The Myceneans *were* Greeks.
64. Randall - February 26th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Barnacle:
As I said, my recollection is that the “Long Ears” idea has been discarded by DNA evidence. The Easter Islanders are all one people, I believe… related to Polynesians.
65. Barnacle - February 26th, 2008 at 8:00 am
yeah your post went up before mine. Agreed.
66. Barnacle - February 26th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Mom424: Yeah i got caught up in the whole indiana jones spirit of his literature and didn’t stop to look at the cold hard facts.
67. islanderbst - February 26th, 2008 at 8:12 am
#10 has to be something jonah hill drew in ’superbad’. actually my first thought is that it was the first penthouse letter
i cant poss. be the only one who thinks that language looks really phallographic?
68. Taos - February 26th, 2008 at 8:35 am
love the list
i agree that roanoke should be on there, but then again its not that old and i am not sure how much of it matters out side of the US, but it brings up good mysteries too, the blue-eyed blonde haired native americans found when more of the new world teritories were colonized
69. jfrater - February 26th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Taos: Roanoke is mentioned on one of the other mysteries lists
70. Mom424 - February 26th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Randall; Cool fact about the written languages being ‘related’. Isn’t it geographically possible that one or the other borrowed the written text without necessarily the spoken language? Kind of how the Japanese stole and modified Chinese pictograms. Taking a look at a world map, I can see how that could happen.
What’ the time span?
71. Randall - February 26th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Mom:
Well, bear in mind—we don’t know that the two alphabets ARE related—they just bear a marked resemblance to one another.
But geographically–I don’t know what map *you’re* looking at… but the Indus Valley/Harappan culture was…. well, in and around the Indus Valley, in Western India/Pakistan. Easter Island is practically on the other side of the earth, 1000 miles west of Peru.
In addition–Easter Island wasn’t populated until…. well, memory escapes me, but I don’t think the island was settled until at least 1000 AD… I just can’t recall (I should look it up).
The Harappan/Indus Valley civilization, though, is one of the oldest on record—having existed around 3000 BC or so, and was wiped out around 2000 BC. Big difference.
It’s hard to see how the alphabet could have been transmitted through Polynesia TO Easter Island, eventually, and then lost everywhere EXCEPT Easter.
But as I said… the resemblances are very, very strange.
72. Mom424 - February 26th, 2008 at 9:22 am
The time frame actually fits, India through asia etc etc would take a heck of a long time. If that was the case though, I would think there would be evidence along the way; its not as if it would have been physically carried like the stone tablets of Moses. It seems highly unlikely that two written languages that similar would spring up independently of each other. Or maybe it was like the stone tablets, some old ass religious artifact that the original inhabitants of easter island brought with them, maybe they were considered religious markings and not language.
73. jfrater - February 26th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Randall: I don’t know what this adds or takes from your theory, but the Maoris in New Zealand speak a very similar language to the language spoken by the Easter Islanders - they even have the same names for some of their old mythological characters. I believe the Maoris discovered and settled in New Zealand around 1,000 years ago also. Also interesting is that they share a strong genetic similarity to indigenous tibetan people - so much so that they are very similar physically:
Tibetan Girl: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi....._China.jpg
Maori Girl: http://www.jetmag.co.nz/Portal.....aangi2.JPG
74. jfrater - February 26th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Oh - and Tibetan script is Indic.
75. chershey - February 26th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Indus Valley and Ronogadfjsfsflke (I keep thinking Ragnaros for all those WoW-ers here…) aren’t anywhere near those 12 vortices, are they? Dude, I can’t stop thinking about those vortices….it’s so interesting. (Much more interesting that work!)
76. jfrater - February 26th, 2008 at 9:30 am
chershey: haha good point - someone with the ability to read a map properly should check to see if they are - wouldn’t that be a weird twist
77. Randall - February 26th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Jamie:
Well, women the world over are beautiful. That’s my best theory. And my goal is to “know” as many varieties as possible, in my lifetime…. if you know what I mean. Happy to say this noble project is coming along nicely.
But of course none of this is really surprising. We’re ALL related. You and I are *at least* 50th cousins (so the theory goes) and probably a lot closer than that, looking at your picture.
It’s perhaps not surprising that the Maoris and Easter Islanders speak a similar language either, given that they’re probably closely related, having both been a part (presumably) of the same great migration. I did not know, however, that the Maoris only arrived in New Zealand a thousand years ago. I guess it took ‘em a while to find the place–Australia, as you probably know, was settled roughly 40,000 years ago. Which, by the way, is when I also believe the Americas were first settled. None of this Clovis Culture crap for me–I know in my gut that the so-called “Indians” arrived on these shores (America) at about the same time their Polynesian cousins were starting to explore the Pacific.
78. chershey - February 26th, 2008 at 10:15 am
From eyeing it, it looks as though the two locations are very close to two vortices, but I can’t be sure.
79. stugy - February 26th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Ummm… I’m pretty sure The Voynich Manuscript actually appeared on another list on this site. I dunno, seems kinda lazy to me…
http://listverse.com/bizarre/t.....mysteries/
80. Mom424 - February 26th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Randall; I agree, none of that clovis crap for me either, but I do believe there were a couple great migrations, the first one didn’t make it to the americas, but both originating in the same place.
On a side note, I’m glad your personal project is going so well, such noble aims, such base instinct. Nice Combo!
81. Randall - February 26th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Mom:
Yes, I believe strongly in mixing the high and the low.
82. Ian - February 26th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
10. The inhabitants of Easter Island where probably just “immigrants” from other parts of the world.
9. What’s the mystery in this?
8. It’s the middle ages, they probably just believed in another god and got fucked over.
7. Actually think there’s an easy explanation for this, sulfur is quite poisonous, I think most of em died, some of em left and after a while it just faded away, cause elsewhere the life is better. As to why they stayed 50 years, well most likely it’s their birth land, and some pieces might’ve looked savable…
6. I think the legend was cooked up by some brain, after which they put the stones up and spread the story, as some kind of deterent. After all, who’d be stupid enough to try and pull a fast one on someone who just turned an entire legion to stone?
5. We’ll most likely never know.
4. Looks like it’s been pretty much figured out to me.
3. I wouldn’t even know how to begin to take a stab at that one…
2. DNA mutations, travelers, who knows? 2000 years ago I wouldn’t exactly say traveling that far was impossible, though not very common.
1. A massive illness like the plague (well not actually the plague seeing as they’re pretty sanitary n all), or a massive suicide? Ancient people had the annoying habit of believing in gods, it only takes one madman with the convincing power… These things are taking place even now, although not on a scale that big.
There, that’s my stabs at wot happened, lemme know what you think!
83. Ian - February 26th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Oh and I probably should add that none of these where based on actual facts or research, just some common sense, so I can’t exactly back it up with proof of any kind
84. shaunism - February 26th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Sorry for this not directly related comment/question - how do I sign up to have comments on a topic sent to me via eMail without leaving a comment first? Is that possible?
Cheers,
Shaun
85. Ian - February 26th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Doesn’t seem possible, better make up a nice comment about the subject
I read they’ve only been up for 6 months now, so if you ask real nice at the email address at the bottom of this page they might just add that feature for ye!
86. ssed2k - February 26th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Link items no. 2 and 4 and you’ve got the answer. Villagers of Liqian are Tocharians, not some roman descendands. Romans were not some homogenic nation.
87. Karpos - February 26th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
The Lost Roman Legion:
In fact, they are macedonian soldiers from Alexadnar the Great army. people with light-coloured eyes and hair now live in Afganistan and pakistan. They speak language and wear clothes similar to present days Macedonians.
88. R1CExTHUG - February 26th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Angkor was a pretty mysterious disapperance..
89. NZSpringy - February 27th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Thank you Jamie for the larger font - so much easier
90. bara perdana - February 27th, 2008 at 7:06 am
great list! more..more..
91. Zoidberg - February 27th, 2008 at 9:24 am
#31 - I translated it as “Send More Chuck Berry”.
92. Conomos - February 27th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Karpos:
It’s no surprise that signs of Alexander’s army can be found in the region of Afghanistan on into today. He conquered the whole territory up to the Indus Valley leaving parts of his army behind to keep the peace which no doubt assimilated into the local population. That’s why there are so many city centers named Alexandria throughout the region too. Finding a population like the one mentioned above all the way into China and the Godi desert is something quite different I would think.
93. alien - February 28th, 2008 at 1:02 am
stupid americans! you all believe in fairytails. forget about moovies and internet- go read some books! there are so many unsolved mysteries that are not on the list! I think that the author shouldn’t have put numbers in front of every article, classyfying them.
94. alien - February 28th, 2008 at 1:04 am
KARPOS, makedonec li si? od kade si? pozdrav od MAKEDONEC
95. Crystal Fist - February 28th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Silly Willy, you are a fool. These events occurred long before your “christ” was thought up.
Good job.
96. Michael - February 28th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
The The Voynich Manuscript is mentioned in Dolores Cannon’s “The Convoluted Universe” Book One.
97. swampsnake - February 28th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
#2 didnt they also find with the mummies at one of the sites textiles very much like soctish tartans
98. John Titor - February 29th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Silly people. The Voynich Manuscript is a detailed Anarchist’s Cookbook. The Indus valley was wiped out because of Cloverfield. Jesus never existed, although his purported brother, Brian, helped perpetuate his myth. Rongorongo was the leet speak of its time. If you decode the script above, it would say “Ibura Dabayib was here”. Ibura Dabayib being a twelve year old adolescent at that time. The others on the list are just what you think they are.
99. Karpos - February 29th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Alien: Zdravozivo, siri ja vistinata za MKD
100. Jason - February 29th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I recently met an attractive girl who had worked as a prostitute
in South Africa, she told me that she had relations with Nelson Mandela many times.
She told me this elderly man performed like a teenager all night long.
101. AJ - March 3rd, 2008 at 7:45 am
well…….i have realy visited lothal in india……..the indus valley civilization………….i seemed to relize that it could have possibly vaccated either because of the residents migrating to some other town orrrrrrrr the probability of them being forced to evacuate……
102. das groß - March 20th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Roanoke
103. taharka32 - April 22nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
If there was a historical jesus, the good book says he had hair like lambs wool, thats WOOLY, and feet of brass BURNT in an oven. I’ve never met or seen a caucasian with those features! The civilization of Nubia should be on the list. Read about the A group at Qustul with its astounding artifacts and rich pre-pharoanic burials and their similarities which closely resembled but predated their northern, egyptian neighbors.
104. dd - May 20th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
i heard that the minoins wer in fact wiped out by a tsumai and drowned then the greeks came and wiped out the rest
105. Catia - June 7th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I love this kind of list!
106. anon - August 21st, 2008 at 2:18 pm
methinks someone jacked your list here
107. Brickhouse - August 22nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
I love Robin Hood. I can’t wait to go back to England and check out Sherwood Forest. I’m sure much of his life was quite over-exaggerated, but I would hope at least his virtue and the general idea of his personality was true.
Ooh, I’d be so crushed otherwise! 
108. Oliver Blayney - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:56 am
Very Interesting
109. smellypants - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:57 am
its alll good
110. daniel suttle - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:59 am
i hate history and love beef
111. dave boyes - September 22nd, 2008 at 4:02 am
i love u all and bike parets
112. dave boyes - September 22nd, 2008 at 4:03 am
i like used gum
113. Matt Howard - September 22nd, 2008 at 4:43 am
The Voynich Manuscript is awesome. Wish someone would translate it! Don’t they have online translators?:P
114. yvl - September 25th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Why is Robin Hood there? He’s not really mystery. Most likely he didnt relly exist at all and is sort of like the Arthurian legends in that he was sort of put together over the years out of local legends forming into one person. Although i remember reading that he was pretty much made up during the victorian era. I hardly think that he compares with the fall of civilisations.
115. DC - September 30th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I was on the island of Crete, and the minoans weren’t much of a mystery as far as I remember. They were stuck with bronze weapons, and their enemies (I can only remember Dorians or something like that) had iron, which was much better and thus they were killed off.
116. Randall - September 30th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
DC:
No… it’s not that simple. And in fact, what you say is actually wrong.
The fall of the Minoans preceded the so-called “Dorian Invasion” by as much as 5 centuries. (The Dorians were in fact Greeks, as were the Myceneans before them, but the Dorians were simply a separate “tribe” that lived on the fringes of Mycenean civlization. Or so says the theory).
RATHER, the Minoans apparently fell to the Myceneans… but we don’t know WHY. Both were bronze-age civilizations and thus armored and armed with bronze—so you’re idea is kiboshed. But clearly the Minoans were powerful enough to build grand cities on Crete and some of the surrounding islands (and perhaps also some cities on the Greek mainland) that were *without* fortification walls. This meant they were supremely secure–which goes along with later Greek tradition, that Minos–the eponymous king who ruled Crete for a time, in legend–commanded an empire and a fleet that ruled the Aegean. Thus, the theory is, the Minoans did actually possess such a fleet and an “empire” (this is also backed up by Egyptian evidence indicating that the Minoans were a power in the Aegean that the Egyptians had relations with) since physical evidence seems to back up the legend.
But then what happened? Why did the Minoan civilization fall?
Well, the theory is that the great volcanic explosion on the nearby island of Thera did them in. And thus, in a weakened state, they fell prey to the warlike Myceneans (the Minoans were not believed to be Greeks—but since what little we have of their writing has never been deciphered, we can’t say for sure WHO they were related to or where they originally came from).
There is a LOT of mystery still, though.
A) We haven’t yet established the exact timeline for what happened. Some evidence suggest that the Myceneans came in peacefully, rather than as conquerors; other evidence contradicts this. Also, some evidence suggests a gap in the time between the eruption on Thera and the fall of the Cretan mainland cities to the Myceneans.
B) Who WERE they Minoans? Their culture was markedly different from the Mycenean Greeks, who were the descendants of Indo-European nomads who had come into Greece around 1900 BC at the latest (some Greek scholars, though, place their arrival much earlier). SOME evidence suggests they were related to the Eteo-Cypriot group of peoples–whom we also don’t know a whole lot about—but there’s not much solid evidence for this.
C) They were remarkably advanced (and surely, if there ever was such a story (we don’t know that he didn’t simply make the whole thing up out of his head) they were the inspiration for Plato’s Atlanteans. And yet, again, this advanced culture simply fell like a house of cards. Did the volcano cause this? Or was there more to it?
In short, they’re a fascinating puzzle, the Minoans.
But bottom line is, they vanished around 1500 BC. LONG before the end of the bronze age and long before the Trojan War—and long before iron came into use.
117. Haddib - October 5th, 2008 at 4:12 am
Randall: the myceneans actually wrote about the island kingdoms and people in the mediteranean. from the little ive looked into it, they seem to be pretty similiar to the phoenecians. i think chances are fairly good they were either indo-europeans, north africans, or peoples from the “crescent”. the phoenicians, grecians, africans and other traders just mixed together. kind of like some of southeast asia is today, with a large mixing of Indian and Orient peoples, and the addition of europeans most recently. only, as they were around so long ago with much lower technology in seafaring, the “social evolution” was more dramatic.
as for the list, quite good. although saying that the Harappans had 5 million people at any given point is a bit of a stretch, i think. with only 5-30 million the world over (estimated), i think it is a bit much to say that 1/6 of the population was there. particularly with how large mesopotamia, egypt and the huang he were.
and he didnt go into it above, but there are actually a few dozen people robin hood could have been. there was even a guy from locksley, and a bandit who took over shirwood. i think it is safe to assume no 1 person was robin hood, but most of the base legend (before the addition of richard and such) is from a few historic people
118. Bunny got Blog - October 8th, 2008 at 8:22 am
truly amazing read:)
119. liz - October 23rd, 2008 at 11:45 am
Roanoke was abandoned because they sucked at living in america and the inhabitants moved in with indians on the nearby island. DUH, its so freaken obvious given the evidence, it’s not even a mystery anymore.
120. NobleBear - October 24th, 2008 at 2:27 am
I’m surprised noone has made a connection between points 4 and 2 on this list. It’s basically the same period and roughly the same area, modern day Xinjiang in western China. The descendants of surviving soldiers could very well have spread out over the area.
121. Julie - October 24th, 2008 at 9:17 am
I know the picture of the bog-body. It’s the Tollund Man. He was found in 1950 found near the town of Tollund. He is now on display at the National Museum of Denmark. He is the most well-preserved body from prehistoric times in the world. He was about 30-40 years old at the time of his death, which was about 400-300 years BC. He has a rope around his neck and was clearly hanged.
122. abacab - October 25th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
well, dang, that #2 looks like Jesus Christ himself!
123. t8 - October 27th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Indus Valley Civilization doesn’t exists in India. It is in Pakistan.
124. RandallRules - October 28th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Randall is way cool. Anyone with that much knowledge, extra time, and uncritical promiscuity is obviously a winner.
125. aditya - October 28th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
–> t8
Please get your facts straight. Only a part of the Indus Valley Civilization lies in Pakistan. A major part of it is in India. Especially its major sites like Lothal, Ropar, Dholavira, Kalibangan, etc are in India. Incidentally, Kalibangan, which is in present day Rajasthan state of India is acknowledged as the first site in the world to give evidence of ploughed agriculture. Lothal, in present day Gujarat, has the world’s first dock.
126. Skippy - October 28th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
A great list of mysteries, thank you.
I recently saw a documentary about the Indus Valley. Evidence points to a change in the course of the river they relied on for water. Everyone packed up and moved. Kind of makes sense.
I saw no reference to Jesus, Bruno and co. Please try to stay relevant.
127. Abulo - October 29th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Rongorongo as you call it is not a mystery!
128. Demosthenes - October 31st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
No-one appears to be certain about the reason for the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization…
Had they perhaps advanced to the stage of having financial markets (ha ha)
129. t8 - November 1st, 2008 at 12:51 am
My Mistake Aditya,
Thanks for pointing out.
130. Sarah Palin - November 1st, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Sarah Palin is the last member of a lost civilization of totally weird people who claim to “see” Russia from hundreds of miles away. They are characterized by total meanness and a complete disregards for facts.
131. damndeth - November 2nd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
firstly the christian religion is made up of parts of all previous religions (at least 25 other prophets of other earlier religions share jesus`s traits eg died then resurected after three days )so anything concerning jesus is a lie ..
also the hopping of island cultures , as far as i know we are the only civilization that beleives were the ony one here , couldnt these cultures simply have believed that because they were there then it makes sense that there is others elsewhere (very simmilar to the are we alone in space question… to asume we are is the height of arragance…
open your minds a little and watch the zeitgeist movies
132. Pat - November 3rd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Your all forgetting the obvious fact directly in your faces when you debate what jesus looked like.
He probably never existed but was a accumulation and culmunation of multiple religions and important events that transpired into the merger of stories that is the Bible.
He like god is a myth.
i.e. no evidence of a existence.
Take a look at the Original ZeitGeist’s first chapter for a better idea of what I mean.
133. ravencalls - November 3rd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
WOW!!.. and have you heard or seen all the other civilizations that once roamed the planet Mars?…
the evidence is all there.
Our roots are scattered all over the universe!!
there has been visitings ..and departures from this tiny little planet thousands of times.
but.. thanks anyways.. for putting out some interesting facts!
134. Helo - November 3rd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
What about the Piri Reis Map?
135. Johnny2Bad - November 4th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
51. jasontimmer wrote:
” … I don’t understand how a corpse could become so well preserved when situated in such a damp environment as a bog or wetland. I would think these conditions would make optimal breeding grounds for bacteria involved in decomposition, yet the preservation of the bodies, right up to the detail on the man’s face is remarkable. Can someone explain how this can happen? …”
No problem, Jason. You are on the right track with your question when you say … damp environment … would make optimal breeding grounds for bacteria involved in decomposition.
Since it’s quite clearly damp in peat bogs, and water supports bacteria and other decompositional life forms (insects, etc) there must be something about the peat that inhibits bacteria. And that’s exactly what is happening.
Peat (and other bog mosses) are completely bacteria free environments. I was told it’s because they are such efficient users of nutrients that no bacteria can survive in them. They are well known to be used for wound dressings, feminine hygene and infant diapers wherever they are found anywhere in the world. They were used as field bandages as recently as the first World War.
No bugs, no decomposition.
136. wodeson - November 5th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Yeah, a lot of these are not mysteries at all. This gets a big thumbs down on my Stumbleupon for sensationalism and inaccuracy. Boo.
137. ancient - November 6th, 2008 at 6:26 am
Good selection. In my opinion, one of Mysteries in Europe is “What happened to the Thracians? They are the oldest civilization in Europe, the most numerous and advanced in ancient times until about 400-500 years have disappeared without a trace?
you can see more for them here
www.traki.hit.bg/index_en.htm
138. DC - November 6th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Randall: Very informative, thanks. I was only 10 when I was on Crete so I had a feeling I was not quite remembering things right. Is this “Thera” the same as Santorini? It was another island I was on and its more or less crescent shaped since a volcano blew a huge chunk of the circular island under water. There were remains of ancient Minoan structures (several acres underneath a roof so it doesn’t weaken to the elements). Everything, and I mean everything, was coated with ash, so that particular base did not seem like a mystery, but its so far away from Crete. Why can’t these people have the decency to leave a note or something when they die out?
139. DC - November 6th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Oh and on the topic of their advancements, Knossos has tons of homes with super complex drainage systems, on par or above those of Romans. Although I’m not sure I’d like walking down the street while someones flush runs down the trough in the gutter like area of the street next to me.
140. Anand - November 9th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Nice page… good job !
141. cyndi - November 9th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Great list, I only wish I weren’t eating a cheeseburger when I saw the dead people photos. yugh! =)
142. michelle silva - November 9th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
hi!
143. Rick - December 23rd, 2008 at 8:09 pm
There is no mystery about Robin Hood. He was Errol Flynn and Maid Marian was the lovely Olivia de Havilland. Dont you people go to the movies—??
144. MaryAlice - December 29th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Love the list!
I studied Minoan art and architecture breifly a few years ago. I fell in love with the Minoans, and thinking about their demise breaks my heart! The late Minoan period rose in the era that marked the first great Western civilizations. The Minoans built theaters and elaborate palaces (including the Minotaur’s Labyrinth) and at Knossos they even built terracotta pipes under their buildings for rainwater drainage. Their frescoes were beautiful depictions of Minoan life — fresh, charming, and lively. They were prosperous and seemed very happy-go-lucky. Some of their art even resembles our modern, abstract pieces. The ferscoe pictured on this list is of the Minoan ceremony of bull-leaping — a nonviolent game. They respected and loved nature and animals, and fathered what is believed to be the first pure landscape painting.
The theory that cataclysmic eruption of Thera killed the Minoans was widely beleived and accepted until scientists were able to pinpoint its actual date (1628 BCE). The volcano theory is basically discredited.
There is now evidence that the Mycenaeans had already moved onto Crete and established themselves at Knossos where they ruled from for at least half a century (maybe much longer) before destroying the palaces. Through Mycenaean art and architecture, we can see a strong contrast in the two civilizations. The Mycenaeans were stronger, more defensive, and not nearly as concerned with the earthly pleasures the Minoans indulged in. The Minoans and Mycenaeans were both prosperous, but by observing their nature, maybe it’s no wonder the Mycenaeans were able to defeat the Minoans.
145. John - January 3rd, 2009 at 12:26 am
Oh Please! I’ve got em all pegged.
#10 Note from a wife to her husband. You lazy bum! I know your out seeing That woman again. Just you know you’ll be hearing from me when you get back. Oh, and pick up milk and eggs while your out.
9# They obviously were trying to curry favor with the traders of the time by passing themselves off as the Real city of Atlantis. So..Poseidon scragged them.
8# Bog people. Again..oh soo obvious. Too many twinkies. Do you know how many preservatives they put in those things? Why they got stomped. Sharing, we must learn the idea of sharing with our neighbors. Most particularly when they are a bloodthirsty lot like theirs obviously were.
7 # Pissed off the mountain God is my guess. You mess with the bull, you get the horns.
6 # Carnac Stones? Think about it.. Carnac. As in Carnac the Great! Wonderful magician! I caught his act in Vegas years ago. These must have been his ancestors. And they are not earthquake detectors. It’s the very first domino trick. Got to remember. The folks back then had no TV or radio. And lots and lots of time on their hands.
5 # Wait a minute… I know that guy! And he owes me money!
4 # The lost legion. Now…you ladies KNOW we guys just absolutely Never Ever ask for directions.
3 # Ok.. now this one I’m not sure about. But I’ve got a notion. I’m thinking crop circle diagrams.
2 # Another bunch of them Roman’s is my guess. Told you we hate to ask for directions!
1 # Indus Valley Civilization. Now this one has me worried, as I have only one possible explanation for it. A perfect society suddenly gone. Good manners, good toilets and then just poof? I’m sadly thinking they their stupid government gave away huge sums of money to corrupt banks with no verification nor accountability put upon those bankers. They got scared into thinking the economy would collapse unless they did so. The bankers of course retired to the Bahamas.
Ah, lady liberty. I’ve loved you well. Served you even when I was not called upon to do so and seen your glory fade through years of corruption, lies, and prevarications.
Got to say though, your going out like a lady. Rome itself could not have done better under the circumstances. And who knows. We may just pull you out of this yet.
If we follow the advise of good old William S and hang all the lawyers. We might just make it out.
P.S. For those who read this and are not having apoplectic seizures. I hope it lightened your day. You other lot. Lighten up! We’re not all historians.
Sincerely, John.