throughout history countless different cultures have risen and fallen and as the written word was only developed relatively recently they've been completely forgotten about archaeologists and historians do though have a way of piecing together information about long-lost civilizations by studying the ruins of their ancient buildings from vast cities to huge carvings places of worship and Fallen monuments it's time to travel the globe to explore the top 15 most mysterious structures built by unknown cultures let's start with number 15 nonmodal in the Federated States of Micronesia nonmodal is an ancient archaeological site that's in the Federated States
of Micronesia on the eastern shore of the island of ponpe it's often called the Venice of the Pacific and it's one of the least understood ancient structures in the world with a unique system of man-made islands and canals that make it one of the few ancient cities to have been built on water what we do know after extensive research is at the site it was the capital of the previously unknown subtler Dynasty which ruled the island of ponpe from around 1100 to 1628 the city was the religious and political center of the Dynasty and work
began building it is believed to have begun in the early part of that period now the site's made up of around a 100 artificial Islands spread over half square mile or about 1.5 Square km and they're made from massive Basalt stones and coral fill and they're interconnected by a network of tidal canals the largest stones used for this weigh up to 50 tons yet no one knows exactly how they were transported to the site they're laid in a log cabin-like structure with long rectangular slabs laid horizontally to form walls how the ancient people of ponpe
managed to move these massive Stones across the rough terrain and Open Water remains one of the biggest mysteries of nonmodal with local Legends saying it was done with magic the city's layout though does suggest a highly planned settlement with areas designated for religious rituals political meetings and even burial sites for some reason though despite being an advanced Place non was abandoned by the 17th century possibly due to the rise of the esel Rebellion which overthrew the Soder Dynasty now today it is a UNESCO world heritage site and while much of its history remains a mystery
research continues to try and uncovers its lost Secrets number 14 the ppag glyphs in Peru the ppag glyphs are a collection of ancient geoglyphs located in the palpa valley of Southern Peru near the more famous naasca lines now while the ascal lines are known around the world and have been extensively studied the pulpa glyphs are equally as interesting offering a glimpse into the pre-colombian cultures that lived in that region but they're far less known the glyphs like the NASA ones are etched into the desert Plains and hills and their origin purpose and creators are subject
of ongoing research now these glyphs are usually said to have been created by the paracas and NASA cultures which flourished in the area between 200 BCE and 600 CE now unlike the nascal lines which are mainly found in the flat desert Plains the palpa glyphs are located on the slopes of hills and are visible from a distance suggesting they may have been created with the intent of being viewed from the ground as well as from above among the most important of them is a set of humanlike figures that appear to be involved in some kind
of ceremonial or religious activity with some of them holding staffs or other objects which have led researchers to suggest that the glyphs may have been connected to spiritual or even astronomical observations one of the more famous figures known as the star man is a humanoid figure with outstretched arms possibly representing a deity or Cosmic figure some researchers believe that the ppag glyphs May predate the nascal lines by several centuries meaning that the paracas people who were later absorbed by the NASA culture might have been the original creators of these desert drawings something that's opened up
new avenues of research into the cultural continuity between the paracas and NASA civilizations number 13 gagan Malta gagan is a fascinating prehistoric site that's on the island of goo in the males archipelago the gagan temples are considered some of the oldest freestanding structures of all dating back between 3600 and 3200 BCE during the Neolithic period the name comes from the maltes word for giant showing the local belief that these immense megalithic structures were built by a race of giants due to their colossal size and the enormity of the stones used the complex is made up
of two temples which are part of the wider group of megalithic temples found across Malta and Goo now these temples are UNESCO world heritage sites and are regarded as masterpieces of the prehistoric architecture each Temple is constructed from massive Limestone blocks some weighing several tons carefully positioned without the use of metal tools or the wheel which had not yet been introduced to the region the Precision and skill required to move them place these Stones does demonstrate the advanced engineering capability of the people who built them the temples are arranged in a Cloverleaf shape with a
series of semicircular abses connected by a central Corridor now archaeologists have uncovered evidence of animal sacrifices and offerings including bones and pottery suggesting the site played a significant role in the spiritual and religious lives of the prehistoric mult people the culture that built gagan remains somewhat mysterious though but it is believed that they were a deeply spiritual society that worshiped fertility nature and the cycles of life and death today it's one of malta's most popular archaeological attractions with the sheer scale and craftsmanship of the Ancient Temple showing just how advanced malta's Neolithic inhabitants were number
12 chako Canyon United States chako Canyon located in Northwestern New Mexico is one of the most important sites in the United States it was the center of a thriving ancient civilization that we now know as the ancestral puebloans who lived in the region between 900 and 1150 CE across the canyon is a wide array of massive Stone buildings known as great houses these structures which include sites such as the Pueblo Bonito chetro ketle and unava are known for their size complexity and precise alignment with astronomical phenomena PUO Bonito the largest of the great houses is
a multi-story building with over 600 rooms and 40 Kias or circular ceremonial spaces making it one of the most significant structures in pre- Columbia North America many of the buildings here and features in the canyon were designed to align with solar lunar and Compass directions for example the Sund dagger is a rock formation that marks the solstices and equinoxes through the interaction of the light and Shadow these alignments suggest that the people here had a deep understanding of astronomy and they may have used the canyon as an observatory and a ceremonial Center archaeologists have found
artifacts such as sea shells from the Pacific coast copper Bells from Mexico and turquoise which were highly valued and traded throughout the Southwest these findings suggest that chuo was a focal point for the exchange of goods ideas and cultural practices which connected The ancestral puebloans to other distant civilizations but the eventual decline of this Canyon around 1150 CE does remain a mystery however environmental factors such as drought scarcity of resources or the overuse of agricultural land may have played a role in this this location is now a UNESCO world heritage site and it's part of
the chako culture National Historical Park but its mystery and significance still offers valuable insights into the sophisticated societies that once flourished in the American southwest researchers here continue to study the region uncovering new clues about their achievements and architecture astronomy and their cultural development number 11 the kenish stones Scotland the kalish stones are a prehistoric site on the aisle of Lewis in the outer herdes of Scotland it's an ancient stone circle sometimes referred to as the Stonehenge of Scotland that dates back to around 3,000 bcee during the Neolithic period this site is one of the
most significant and best preserved megalithic monuments in Britain with an impressive arrangement of standing stones that have been shrouded to mystery for centuries the kiner stones are made up of a central Stone Circle made up of 13 large stones with a mass of monolith standing at the center this central circle is surrounded by rows of stones that radiate outward in a cross-like formation and to the north a Long Avenue of stones extends while smaller rolls continue to the east west and south giving the site a distinctive cross-shaped layout now in total there are over 50
Stones here at the site the tallest of which reaches more than 15t or 4.7 m in height and all of them are made from local nice and ancient rock that adds to the mysterious feeling of the site because of its weathered and rugged appearance now the exact purpose of the kenish stones are still debated among archa ologists but it's widely believed that the site had a ceremonial or religious function the stones are thought to have been aligned with the movements of the Sun the moon and the stars suggesting that the site may have been used
as a prehistoric Observatory of sorts one of the leading theories is that the stones were used to Mark the lunar cycle particularly an event known as the lunar standstill which happens every 18.6 years when the moon appears at its southernmost point on the horizon during this event the moon aligns with the central own Circle leading many to believe that the site was designed with an astronomical Precision but what we know for sure though through excavations here is that the area was once an important center of Neolithic activity with evidence of nearby settlements and burial canns
by the late Bronze Age the site had fallen out of use and was gradually buried under Pete only to be rediscovered in the 19th century when the stones were uncovered once more number 10 teot wakan in Mexico taakan located about 31 Mi or 50 km to the northeast of modern-day Mexico City is one of the most important archaeological sites in Mexico and one of the largest cities of the ancient world it was established around 100 BCE and flourishing between 200 and 600 CE teot wakan was home to one of the most sophisticated and Powerful civilizations
in meso America the site is famous for its massive pyramids particularly the Pyramid of the sun and the Pyramid of the Moon the Pyramid of the Sun the largest structure in the city and the third largest pyramid in the world is over 213 ft or 65 M tall it's believed to have been a focal point of religious activity possibly dedicated to solar deities or other Celestial elements and the Pyramid of the moon located at the Northern end of the city is slightly smaller but seemingly just as holy to the people that built it taakan has
a range of other structures here including the Temple of The Feathered Serpent which is a smaller but intricately decorated pyramid with elaborate carvings of serpents and other deities this Temple's construction suggests that it played a critical role in both religious ceremonies and political power as it was surrounded by Elite residential compounds and Chambers for the city's rulers the city's urban planning also points to an advanced Society it was laid out like a grid pattern covering around 72 square miles or just under 20 square km and home to an estimated population of 100,000 to 200,000 people
at its peak evidence had shown it to be a major trade Hub too and its economic reach spread across much of meso America from the Maya lands in the South to civilizations in the north artifacts found at the site such as obsidian tools Ceramics and luxury goods reveal extensive trade networks having become such an influential Place taakan mysteriously declined around 600 to 700 CE the reasons for the city's collapse are unknown but by the time the Aztec arrived in the region centuries later it had long been abandoned the Aztecs themselves would go on to see
it as one of the most sacred places in the world believing it to be the birthplace of the Gods number nine the kyasa temple in India the kyasa Temple located in the aora caves of Maharashtra India was carved entirely from a single Rock built in the 8th Century during the reign of the king Krishna I first it was dedicated to Lord Shiva and it's part of a larger UNESCO world heritage site that includes 34 Rock Cut temples and monasteries now what's truly unusual about the kyasa temple though is that unlike most buildings which are constructed
from the ground up the kyasa temple was carved from the top down ancient engineers from a community that's long been forgotten began at the top of the mountain and painstakingly removed over 200,000 tons of rock to reveal this intricately detailed Temple the result this Temple complex is massive measuring approximately 108 ft or 33 M High 148 ft or 45 M long and 98 ft or 30 m wide the main Shrine is surrounded by a number of smaller shrines and Courtyards all carved from the same Rock and the main Spire or Shikara rises above the temple
that mimics the traditional architecture of freestanding temples found elsewhere in India now one of the most important sculptures here is a massive relief of raavana shaking Mount kyash the mythical home of Lord Shiva which is a theme that gives the temple its name despite being dedicated to Shiva the kyasa temple reflects the broader religious and cultural influences of its time in addition to the shivaite iconography the temple features sculptures of Vishnu Lakshmi and other Hindu gods as well as representations of various Celestial beings and animals the sheer scale here and complexity of the kyasa temple
have led to many theories about how it was constructed now while it is generally believed that the temple took about two decades to complete some Legends suggest divine intervention or extraordinary Manpower with thousands of workers laboring day and night no matter how it was achieved though the result is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular examples of architectural Brilliance that you'll find anywhere on Earth number eight Pumapunku in Bolivia Puma punku located near tiwanaku in Western Bolivia is believed to have been built around 15 to 1600 years ago and it was an important site for the
little known tiwanaku culture which flourished in the Andes from approximately 300 to a, CE Pumapunku meaning the door of the Puma in the imara language is famed for its massive stone structures and elaborate ston workor now what makes it even more difficult to fully reveal its Secrets is that over the centuries many of the stones here at the site have been displaced and there's been significant damage from earthquakes and looting making it impossible for archaeologists to reconstruct its original layout some of the largest blocks here weigh over a 100 tons and their smooth surfaces sharp
angles and precision cut interlocking designs are unlike anything else found in pre-colombian America the Precision with which these Stones were cut and fitted together is incredible and in some cases the stones fit so perfectly that not even a sheet of paper can fit between them these h-shaped blocks for examples which are particularly famous at Pumapunku were carved with this level of accuracy and appear to have been designed to interlock with one another suggesting an understanding of modular construction the geometric consistency of these blocks it does indicate that the builders had a deep knowledge of both
both engineering and geometry from recent discoveries at the sites like Pumapunku the tiwanaku culture is now considered to have been one of the most influential pre- Inca civilizations in the Andes and its influence spread across much of the region including parts of present day Bolivia Peru and Chile the area was likely a significant part of a wider complex around it which would contribute to its religious or ceremonial life but with a lack of written records from the tiwanaku people we'll really never know for certain moving mov on to number seven Great Zimbabwe Great Zimbabwe which
is in the Southeastern part of modern-day Zimbabwe is one of Africa's most important sites it was built between the 11th and 15th century and it was the capital of the kingdom of Zimbabwe as a Center of Trade culture and political power in the region the site is famous for its massive stone structures which are some of the largest and oldest in subsaharan Africa at its height Great Zimbabwe may have been home to up to 20,000 people which would have made it one of the the largest urban centers of its time in southern Africa what really
stands out about the site is its impressive Stone architecture particularly the great enclosure which is a massive circular wall that stands up to 36 ft or 11 M tall and extends for over 820 ft or 250 M the great enclosure is thought to have been a Royal or Elite residence possibly for the king or ruling class of the kingdom and inside the enclosure are a series of smaller walls passageways and a conical Tower the ex purpose of the tower is still debated but it may have served as a symbolic or religious structure possibly related to
the spiritual beliefs of the shown up people more thought to have built Great Zimbabwe although we don't know for certain that they did it was a major Center for trade and commerce which helped with its prosperity and growth archaeological excavations here have uncovered evidence of longdistance trade including artifacts such as Chinese porcelain Persian glass beads and even Arab coins these findings suggest that Great Zimbabwe was connected to a vast Trade Network that spanned the Indian Ocean linking Africa to Asia and the Middle East the decline of Great Zimbabwe in the 15th century though is still
a mystery with some theor suggesting that environmental factors such as over grazing or deforestation may have led to the city's abandonment at first European colonizers tried to attribute the construction of Great Zimbabwe to foreign civilizations but it's now certain that it was the work of indigenous African people perhaps for the ancestors of the Shona again with no written records from the time we may never know for certain who actually built it though but it remains a reminder of Africa's rich and complex history and it's a great source of Pride for zimbabweans today number six the
nabta plam in Egypt naap plam is an archaeological site located in the Nubian desert of Southern Egypt about 62 Mi or 100 km to the west of Abu simbo this remote area which is now a Barren desert was once a fertile region with seasonal Lakes where ancient people thrived around 10,000 to 8,000 years ago during the Neolithic period napapa holds a significant archaeological importance too not only as one of the earliest known settlements in the region but also for its sophisticated astronomical structures at the core is a stone circle that's believed to have served as
an ancient calendar or astronomical Observatory the arrangement of the stones here at the site suggests that people who live there were able to track the celestial events particularly the summer solstice which marked the onset of the rainy season Stone Circle made up of several large Stones standing upright positioned in a way that corresponds to the movements of the stars and the Sun the site also contains larger megalith some weighing several tons that would have taken an enormous amount of effort to put in place at the time naapa was also a major Center for pastoral and
agricultural activities archaeological evidence has shown that the region was home to cattle herding communities which played a crucial role in the economy here remains of cattle burials found at the site suggest that cows were revered Poss possibly even worshiped and may have had a symbolic or ritual importance scholars believe that the people here were among the first to domesticate animals particularly cattle in the Nile Valley region and that their cultural and technological developments may have influenced the rise of early Egyptian Society although naapa is now an inhospitable Place its ancient past does reveal a vibrant
and dynamic culture that thrived in a lush environment long ago the discoveries here at the site have reshaped our understanding of prehistoric Egypt and the Saharan region showing the early development of social organization religious practices and astronomical knowledge in North Africa while we know very little about the people who created the site we can certainly see the influence on culture in the region for thousands of years after they were gone number five the long u caves in China the long u caves located in Jang Province in China were discovered by chance in 1992 by local
villagers to this day they remain a complete mystery as there are no historical records that explain who built them their Origins date back over 2,000 years most likely to the time of the chin or early Han dynasties although no definitive evidence has been able to confirm that there are currently 24 known Caves at the site covering a total area of over 300,000 ft or about 30,000 square m each cave is geometrically aligned and cut with amazing Precision featuring flat walls sharp corners and ceilings with uniform chisel marks that run in a parallel lines one of
the most surprising things about the cave here is their structural Integrity despite being carved from relatively soft Sandstone they've remained intact for over two Millennia with no signs of collapse erosion or even significant damage it suggests that the people responsible for them must have developed these skills in other yet to be discovered sites the purpose of the caves 2 remains a complete mystery unlike other structures in China which are often associated with religious military or burial functions the long UK cave don't contain any artifacts statues or paintings that would suggest their intended use adding to
the mystery is the fact that the sheer size a number of caves here would have required a massive amount of Manpower and resources to complete making it even stranger that there are no historical records that detail its construction with all these questions it's perhaps no surprise that they become a popular cultural tourist attraction in China now that they've been fully explored there's really no more to learn from the site to help try to explain their existence and it'll only be if another similar set of caves is found elsewhere that we may finally get to the
bottom of why they were built and who they were built for number four the step geoglyphs in Kazakhstan the step geoglyphs of Kazakhstan are spread across the turai step and Northern Kazakhstan and there are a series of massive geometric shapes including squares crosses circles and even swastikas that were only first spotted by a kazak economist and an amateur archaeologist Demitri day in 2007 when while he was studying satellite imagery of the region in total there are over 50 of these earth works and structures that cover an area of around 278 square miles or over 720
Square km these shapes are formed from mounts of dirt stones or Timber and they range from simple patterns like lines or circles to more complex designs like the swasam which was a symbol widely used in ancient Eurasian cultures for its representation of the Sun and Eternity long before its appropriation in modern times some of these geoglyphs are vast with the largest stretching over 984 ft or 300 M on each side their sheer number makes them visible from satellite images and aerial photography but they'd remain unknown and forgotten until their recent discovery several theories have been
put forward about their purpose with some archaeologists believing that they may have been used as ceremonial or religious sites perhaps related to Sun worship or seasonal festivals others have suggested that the geoglyphs may have served as territorial markers to separate areas controlled by different tribes or groups but as of yet no definitive evidence has been uncovered to support any specific interpretation also mysterious is how they were made as the scale of these geoglyphs would have required considerable effort organization and resources without the aid of modern technology the people of the step would have relied on
simple tools and communal labor to build these massive structures number three searia Sri Lanka siga is also known as lion rock is an ancient Rock Fortress located in in the central matal district of Sri Lanka rising over 650 ft or 200 m above the surrounding plane it's a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the country's most iconic landmarks The Rock's history dates back to the fifth century during the aring of King kiapa the first according to Legend kiapa having overthrown his father and King in a violent coup sought Refuge at sigara to escape his
half-brother molana the rightful Heir who was determined to reclaim the throne in response to his political situation kiapa transformed searia into a fortified Citadel both as a symbol of his power and a refuge from his enemies it's not entirely clear how accurate this account is though and it's possible too that an entirely different civilization was actually responsible for building it with the King simply taking control when he found it in Exile at the heart of the site is the Towering lion Rock upon which Royal palaces were constructed the summit of sigara where the palace once
stood includes remnants of Royal buildings sists and terrorist guards the site includes Water Gardens Terrace Gardens and Boulder Gardens all designed to create a harmonious balance between nature and Artistry sigara is also renowned for its frescos which are located along a sheltered Rock phas partway up the Fortress these paintings known as the sigura maidens show graceful women wearing elaborate jewelry and clothing and these frescos are thought to represent either Celestial nymphs or members of the Royal Court despite their exposure to the elements though these paintings have survived for over 1,500 100 years and their colors
and details remain remarkably well preserved but after King Kapa left sigura fell into disuse as a royal residence it remained a religious Center for several centuries before being completely abandoned and left to the Jungle it was rediscovered by British explorers in the 19th century and it's now become a major archaeological site and a tourist destination number two Las labradas in Mexico Las labradas is an archaeological site that can be found on the Pacific coast of C in Mexico it's known for its extensive collection of ancient petroglyphs which are rock carvings etched into volcanic stones and
they've been dated between 2500 and 1200 years ago the site has hundreds of them along the beach these carvings depict a variety of symbols including abstract geometric designs animals human figures Spirals and even representations of celestial bodies such as the sun now while the exact identity of the ancient artists is still debated many archaeologists believe that they were members of indigenous groups that inhabited the region long before the arrival of Europeans these petroglyphs may have been part of a sacred ceremonial landscape used for rituals as the closeness of the carvings to the ocean suggests a
connection to Nature and perhaps water deities or fertility practices some researchers have suggested that these petroglyphs were tied to astronomical observations particularly because many ancient cultures in mesoamerica were known for their knowledge of the stars and Celestial Cycles the spirals concentric circles and other geometric patterns found here might represent those phenomena or serve as ritual symbols for understanding the cycles of nature today Las labradas is a protected archaological Zone and it's a UNESCO world heritage site because its Rich history and mysterious Origins continue to encourage research and exploration and by continuously studying and potentially finding
new carvings we may one day reveal far more about the people behind them number one Darren kuyu the underground city in Turkey Darren kuyu located in the capid dohia region of turkey is one of the most extraordinary discoveries in the world the ancient Subterranean complex believed to have been built around the 8th Century BCE extends several stories below ground and could accommodate thousands of people for a long time this city had been completely forgotten about and it was only when a resident just happened to look behind a wall in a Cellar of a more modern
home that an entrance to Daren cuu was discovered it descends over 200 ft or 60 m down into the Earth and covers an area large enough to house an estimated 20,000 people along with their livestock food stores and essential supplies each level of this city contains a variety of functional spaces including living quarters kitchens communal rooms storage areas Stables chapels and even schools the depth and complexity of this city demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of engineering ventilation and defense all of which were necessary for the survival of the inhabitants here the builders created a series of
ventilation shafts that allowed for fresh air to circulate throughout the underground space ensuring that the inhabitants could live there for extended periods these shafts some of which are over 164 ft or 50 m deep also served as communication channels between the different levels of the city but the primary purpose of Daren cuu was likely defense as the capid doia region with its landscape of soft volcanic rock was prone to invasions and raids throughout history the entrances to the city could be sealed off with large Rolling Stone doors some weighing up to half a ton making
it nearly impossible for Invaders to breach the doors could also only be opened from the inside providing an added layer of security but narrow tunnels were also designed to force Invaders to proceed single file making it easier for the city's Defenders to repel any attack there are no signs that the city was ever breached or who actually built it but it's generally believed that it was first constructed by the frians and ancient Indo-European people and later expanded by the Byzantine Christians who during the 7th and eth centuries had to defend against Arab raids and other
invasions with such secrecy who knows how many other underground cities there may still be in the region to discover thanks for watching Everybody I'll see you next time thank you to our channel members
