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While roads may seem straightforward, ancient pathways are far more complex. Not only do some still exist after thousands of years, but they also reveal captivating mysteries, stories, and unexpected truths.
From a tomb-lined highway that ensured the survival of the living, to a famous yet mythical route in the history books, to an intriguing feature that Roman roads still exhibit today—these 10 facts will change how you view the next highway you cross!
10. The Hidden Submerged Beach Road
In 2021, archaeologists discovered an ancient Roman road lying beneath the Venetian Lagoon. While finding such roads isn’t particularly surprising given the widespread presence of Roman infrastructure, this particular discovery confirmed a long-held theory dating back to the 1980s.
Measuring 3,937 feet (1,200 meters), the road existed before Venice was founded and corresponded with other Roman structures, such as defensive towers, private homes, levees, walkways, and a port. This evidence, particularly the road, affirmed that a sizable permanent settlement had once been located in the area.
Beyond providing solid proof of this theory, the road also showcased Roman architects' willingness to take on difficult landscapes. Scans revealed that the road was built across a beach, a complex challenge that required remarkable engineering and skill.
9. The Road Built by Pontius Pilate
While excavating an ancient street in Jerusalem, archaeologists uncovered several coins buried beneath the road. The minting dates indicated that this 722-foot (220-meter) stretch of road was constructed during Pontius Pilate’s reign as the Roman governor of Judea, suggesting it was likely built under his orders.
The road was likely a vital route for pilgrims on their way to worship at the Temple Mount. Why? Because this was no ordinary road. It was a remarkable 2,000-year-old passage, measuring 26 feet (8 meters) in width and paved with 11,023 tons (10,000 tonnes) of limestone. This grand avenue also connected two of Jerusalem’s holiest sites—Temple Mount and the Siloam Pool.
The exact reason why a Roman governor would invest so much in creating such an elaborate road remains unclear. However, given the Romans had conquered Jerusalem by force, the grand road could have been a peace offering to the city's Jewish inhabitants. In addition to improving public relations, the project likely served to flatter Pontius Pilate's ego, showcasing his wealth and power through the construction of such an impressive roadway.
8. Easter Island’s Roads
Easter Island is well-known for its mysterious Moai statues, but it also holds another fascinating feature—a network of ancient roads, dating back 800 years. For a long time, the purpose of these roads remained a mystery. In 1914, archaeologist Katherine Routledge proposed that these roads had a ceremonial purpose. Since Routledge wasn't a widely recognized figure, her theory initially went largely unnoticed.
In 1958, Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl presented his own theory, claiming that the roads were primarily built to transport the Moai statues from their quarry to their final locations. As evidence, Heyerdahl pointed to the statues lying on their backs next to the roads, seemingly abandoned during transport. This theory gained traction after being supported by some experts, eventually becoming a popular interpretation.
In 2010, archaeologists made an important discovery: the statues, previously thought to be abandoned, had actually fallen from a concealed platform. This created a misleading impression of neglect, when in fact, they were simply at their final destination—albeit somewhat damaged.
It seems that Katherine Routledge’s theory was likely correct after all. The roads were concave, a feature that would have made transporting the massive statues along them extremely challenging. Additionally, the paths led to a sacred volcano, enhancing their spiritual significance.
7. A Road Leads to Stonehenge
Stonehenge attracts so many visitors that it seems like a beaten path should lead straight to the monument. However, the road in question is not a modern construction. It was built by the creators of Stonehenge. Since the path is now buried beneath the grass, it remains largely hidden from the public, though archaeologists have long been aware of it, referring to it as the 'avenue.'
There was, however, a mystery surrounding the road's destination. It was unclear whether the builders created a path that merely passed by Stonehenge or whether it led directly to the monument itself. The problem was compounded by the fact that a modern road was built across the ancient pathway, partially destroying it and making the answer harder to determine.
In 2021, researchers removed a newly constructed road and unearthed features that provided further details about the ancient earthwork. The avenue, which was about 98 feet (30 meters) wide, did indeed lead to Stonehenge. This section stretched straight for roughly 0.3 miles (0.5 kilometers), and then the winding road continued for another 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) to the Avon River near the village of Amesbury.
6. Roman Roads Do Something Strange
Around 2,000 years ago, when the Romans built their famous roads, these networks were primarily designed to enable their troops to travel more quickly from one place to another. As time passed, many of these roads began to converge around prosperous towns and cities. This was not surprising, as the more prosperous a settlement became, the more visitors it attracted, and additional roads were necessary to manage the increasing traffic.
When the Roman Empire declined, so did many of its roads. Given that centuries had passed and the landscape had undergone significant changes, experts believed there was no connection between ancient Roman highways and modern financial centers. However, today these roads exhibit a mysterious pattern. They still appear to cluster around relatively wealthy areas, even including pathways that no longer exist.
In 2022, a study revealed that the ancient roads consistently appeared around modern financial hubs, leading to only one possible conclusion: there was a connection. The wealth brought in by these pathways likely played a role in influencing later settlements, towns, and cities to establish themselves in these areas.
5. A Road Used to Conquer a City
In Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, there exists a 62-mile (99.7 kilometers) long road, which, when built around AD 700, was the longest in the region. Recently uncovered, this road is known as the 'white road' due to the reflective limestone that paved it, which would have made the path visible even at night. Historians believe it was constructed by a warrior queen named Lady K'awiil Ajaw, the ruler of the Maya city of Cobá.
Lady K'awiil Ajaw was famous for her conquests, and the road appears to have been built to facilitate the capture of a distant city called Yaxuná. Indeed, the white road begins at Cobá and leads directly to Yaxuná. By taking control of this city, the queen would have solidified her dominion over the peninsula. The road itself was not hastily constructed but was engineered with such skill that it is now considered a marvel on par with the Mayan pyramids.
4. This Road Saved Maya Villagers
Around 1,400 years ago, in a Maya village named Ceren, the people were preparing their main temple for a ritual when disaster struck. A nearby volcano erupted, burying Ceren in ash and preserving it as a frozen snapshot of time. When it was rediscovered in 2011 in present-day El Salvador, researchers unearthed half-eaten meals and the villagers' belongings, but there were no bodies to be found.
The settlement featured a type of elevated road known as a sacbe. This road stretched from the temple and extended outward from the village, providing the 200-plus inhabitants of Ceren with a swift route to evacuate southward, away from the volcanic ash clouds coming from the north that engulfed the village.
In addition to potentially saving everyone, the road had a distinct feature. While other sacbe roads discovered so far were paved with stones, the Ceren road was made from ash. This discovery marked the first evidence that the Maya didn’t solely rely on stone casings to construct these roads.
3. The Myth of the Silk Road
Despite the abundant factual information in history books about the Silk Road, one may wonder how China’s iconic trade route could be a myth. It's likely that people did indeed trade along this route, which creates a paradox. Rather than dismissing the Silk Road as purely imaginary, it may be more fitting to describe it as vastly different from the common belief.
Historians suggest that this route linked China to the broader world. The 4,000-mile (6,437-kilometer) network spread out, allowing the Chinese to trade their finest silk and other treasures. However, contrary to popular belief, China didn’t export silk at this time, nor did they engage in foreign trade, nor did they even refer to it as the Silk Road. Additionally, the road was poorly maintained, difficult to travel, and largely left unused.
2. A Biblical Road Still in Use Today
In Jordan, a winding road stretches across mountains and valleys. Known as the King’s Highway, this ancient route is famously referenced in the Bible when Moses sought permission from the King of Edom to pass through his land. The highway has remained in use continuously since the eighth century BC.
The road now features a smooth tarmac surface that accommodates cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. However, in ancient times, it was a vital connector between several kingdoms, including Ancient Egypt, Arabia, the Red Sea, and the Fertile Crescent. For millennia, pilgrims, merchant caravans, soldiers, and kings relied on this road for north-south travel through Jordan’s highlands.
Today, visitors can traverse the 154-mile (250-kilometer) highway and explore numerous significant historical sites connected by this remarkable road. These include Roman ruins, Crusader castles, the ancient city of Petra, Byzantine churches, an Umayyad palace, ancient towns, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Umm ar-Rasas.
1. A Highway of Graves
Today, highways are the go-to routes for long-distance travel by car, often surrounded by small towns, gas stations, and rest areas. It's rare to find a graveyard next to a highway. However, thousands of years ago in ancient Arabia, the Bedouin people, while traveling from one oasis to another across the harsh desert, often had to follow the graves of their ancestors to survive the journey.
In 2022, archaeologists uncovered an extraordinary network of highways. Around 4,500 years ago, the Bedouins navigated roads lined with burial chambers. These stone-carved tombs not only served as markers to guide travelers towards the nearest road but also stood like signposts along the path, pointing toward the next water source.
Interestingly, the tombs also indicated the distance to the next oasis. The closer a road was to water, the denser the graves became. These funerary highways were so effective that travelers could cover up to 330 miles (530 kilometers) without succumbing to thirst.
