10 archaeological discoveries of 2022

Sometimes, thanks to the modern level of cartography and the latest technical devices, scientists can easily explore every corner of our amazing planet. However, exploring the earth’s bowels is mainly concerned with mining. However, searching for “fossils” of cultural value does not always allocate enough funding and other necessary resources. However, despite this, 2022 was rich in archaeological discoveries, and today’s review will focus on the most incredible of them.

The Turkish residence of Genghis Khan’s grandson

Last year, archaeologists discovered traces of a settlement and a palace complex built in the middle of the 13th century near the Turkish village of Khankey. Scientists suggest that this is the summer residence of Genghis Khan’s grandson, Hulagu. Hulagu Khan was a military commander who ruled the Hulaguid state, which covered the territories of modern Western Asia in its heyday. Archaeologists believe that Karakorum, the capital of the Mongol Empire, was the prototype of the buildings found.

They made this assumption based on the features of the tiles found during the excavations, which look like fragments of ceramics from the Hulaguid period from the Van Archaeological Museum-Reserve. In Asia Minor, tiles of this type were not manufactured. Scientists suggest that the found complex could be the summer residence of Hulagu in Turkey, which he built in the 1260s. Now, scientists are scrupulously identifying their finds, including the remains of a kiln, fragments of ceramics and pottery, porcelain, and more.

Gladiator Fighting Arena

28 kilometers from Zurich, during the construction of a boat hangar on the Rhine River, the ruins of an oval amphitheater from Ancient Rome were accidentally found. It is about 50 meters long and 40 meters wide. Swiss archaeologists believe this is one of the last amphitheaters built, where spectators watched gladiators and animals fight.

A coin dated 337-341 AD was found there, making it the youngest amphitheater of the Roman Empire that archaeologists have been able to find so far. Archaeologist Jacob Baerloher, who is leading the excavations, claims that the composition of the found structure, namely stone blocks and a specific mortar, also indicates the fourth century.

The Lost City of the Parthian Empire

In the territory of modern Iraq, in the Zagros mountain range, the ruins of an ancient stone fortress were found last year and are extremely well preserved. Archaeologists believe that she was supposed to defend the capital of the Parthian state, Natunia. Nowadays, little is known about the Parthian kingdom. However, in the annals, it was listed as a major power and occupied a large territory in what are now Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Pakistan.

This kingdom appeared around 250 BC and lasted for almost 500 years until it was destroyed by dynastic strife, militant raids by neighbors, and so on. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. Since the fortress is located on the southwestern slopes of Mount Piramagrun, it was only recently possible to explore it with the help of drones. The scientists found not only a 4-kilometer fortification but also two small settlements. Most likely, these buildings were barracks.

Tomb of the Unknown Queen

The ancient burial complex is located in the Egyptian village of Saqqara. Archaeologists constantly work there and often find new artifacts and tombs. Last spring, a huge number of artifacts, tombs, and mummies were found, which were perfectly preserved even after so many centuries. This proves that mummification reached its peak in the New Kingdom. By the way, a woman’s mask is made entirely of pure gold in one coffin.

In the fall, they found the tomb of a previously unknown queen, for whom an entire pyramid was built. There is no mention of her in Egyptian texts, so her identity has not yet been established; only her name is known — Neith. This discovery overshadowed even the discovery of 22 interconnected tunnels in Saqqara from 1570 to 1069 BC.

12 Buddhist caves

Archaeologists have found 12 previously unseen caves in the Bandhavgarh National Indian Park, in the eastern state of Madhya Pradesh, containing 26 Buddhist temples. The sacred sites date back to the II—V centuries BC and were discovered in places where the Hindu dynasty once ruled. About 50 sculptures, Mughal coins, remains of water structures, inscriptions, and other artifacts were found in them.

Mayan Salt Kitchens

A group of archaeologists working in the Paynes Creek National Park in Belize have discovered ancient structures of the Mayan civilization on the seabed, namely their submerged salt kitchens. The wooden pillars of the structures are quite well preserved underwater due to the mangrove peat, which contains negligible oxygen. In such an environment, microorganisms that usually destroy structures cannot reproduce.

In special kitchens set up in coastal areas, representatives of the ancient Mayan civilization extracted salt by evaporating it from salt water. The salt was used not only for cooking and preserving food but also as currency to pay for the purchase of necessary goods.

In this area, scientists have discovered several salt baths and platforms where fish caught in the sea were salted and dried. After counting a dozen salt complexes, scientists found that such a “plant” was built around 500-600 AD and grew gradually. It was abandoned around 900 AD when the Mayan civilization abandoned its cities and disappeared without a trace.

The sunken Barquentine

Last spring, a 44-meter British barquentine that sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915 was found in surprisingly good condition at a depth of more than 3 kilometers. The ship’s wreckage stands flat on the bottom and has preserved the integrity of many structures, and the vessel’s name, Endurance, can even be seen on the stern. On it, the Anglo-Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton set off to conquer Antarctica. He and his team participated in the British Imperial Transatlantic Expedition of 1914-1917.

Their goal was to cross Antarctica at its narrowest point. Unfortunately, in the early autumn of 1915, ice blocks damaged the Endurance, and the crew had to abandon the ship, leaving it to be torn apart by nature. However, due to the temperature of the water, the lack of oxygen, and direct sunlight, the ship, and many objects have been preserved in almost pristine condition, including the wooden deck, ropes, tools, railings, steering wheel, and more. Now, this ship is a historical monument.

Foundations of 5,000-year-old houses

In the central province of Henan, Chinese archaeologists have discovered the foundations of houses dating back more than 5,000 years. Some believe this is a whole complex of buildings. The largest of them has packed earthen walls and a floor. According to scientists, the total area of this complex exceeded 130 square meters.

Presumably, these buildings belong to the late period of the oldest culture in China — Yangshao. This culture existed in the valley of the middle course of the Yellow River in the 5th – 3rd millennia BC. In addition, scientists have found many artifacts in these territories, including a jade axe.

Mysterious 1300-meter tunnel

In the fall of 2022, Dominican and Egyptian archaeologists found a tunnel carved into the rock under the temple of Osiris in the ancient city of Taposiris Magna, located near Alexandria. It was probably laid in 280 – 270 BC. This tunnel, which runs at a depth of 20 meters, has a length of more than 1300 meters.

The tunnel is partially flooded and buried by debris, so it is not yet known what archaeologists will find there in the future. The assumption is that the tunnel leads to the burial chambers of Cleopatra VII and Anthony, which scientists have been unsuccessfully trying to find for a long time.

The surfaced Stonehenge

Last summer in Spain was incredibly dry. As a result, an ancient stone complex peeked out of the Valdecanas reservoir on the Tagus River. However, this did not shock anyone since the Dolmen de Guadalperal was found about a century ago but did not arouse much scientific interest then. In 1963, all 150 large granite stones, built 6-7 thousand years ago, were under water due to the commissioning of the reservoir.

There were periods when the tops of these stones peeked out of the water a little, but they came to the surface only last year. The water has severely damaged the condition of the ancient sanctuary, so it is now difficult for scientists to recognize the drawings and inscriptions carved on the stones. To continue the topic, we suggest you find out what secrets of the ancient Sumerians were discovered by the 5,000-year-old palace, which scientists have searched for for many decades.