Buzz
Despite the numerous mysteries that persist in the world today, some remain unsolved indefinitely. Others, however, have been resolved, sometimes swiftly, or in the case of many on this list, after centuries or even millennia. The solutions to these ancient puzzles often required a shift in perspective, an acknowledgment of a particular group's distinct privileges, and clarification of previously unclear or incomplete information.
In some cases, the expertise of someone outside a particular field proved essential to uncovering answers, as did the ability to identify cause and effect. Other breakthroughs emerged through satellite technology, a closer look at a neglected feature of an ancient artifact, or even microscopic analysis.
Every mystery holds its own fascination, and the resolutions to many of them are extraordinary accomplishments, characterized by relentless effort, perseverance, and ingenuity.
10. The Mayan Calendar
The 819-day cycle that formed the basis of the Mayan calendar puzzled many, as it wasn’t clear how such a period could align with the movements of planets and their synodic cycles— the durations needed for planets to complete one full orbit and return to their original positions, from Earth's perspective.
The challenge lay in understanding how the planets' motion could fit into the calendar’s 819-day cycle, since each planet had its own unique synodic period.
The key to unlocking the mystery came when scientists recognized that the correct time span for interpreting the calendar was actually 16,380 days—roughly 45 years—rather than just 819 days. Within this longer period, the various synodic cycles of the planets fell into place.
As explained by writer John H. Linden and anthropologist, ethnographer, and linguist Victoria R. Bricker, “Rather than limit their focus to any one planet, the Maya astronomers who created the 819-day count envisioned it as a larger calendar system that could be used [to predict] all… the visible [planets’] synodic periods.”
9. The 'Impossible' Egyptian Statue
The 'impossible' aspect of this ancient Egyptian statue is the portrayal of a small pharaoh seated in the lap of a kneeling figure. It was unprecedented for a pharaoh to be shown next to someone of non-royal status.
Margaret Maitland, principal curator of Ancient Mediterranean collections at National Museums Scotland, conducted archival research revealing that the sculpture was uncovered at Deir el-Medina, near the Valley of the Kings, during the 1850s under the guidance of Scottish archaeologist Alexander Henry Rhind. The residents of Deir el-Medina were responsible for building the pharaohs' tombs, and they had the unique privilege of representing the rulers in ways others were not allowed.
Maitland suggests that the pharaoh in the statue is Ramesses II, while the kneeling figure is likely Ramose, “a senior scribe” who later became “a leader of” the Deir el-Medina community.
8. Reptile Species
The first fossil of the Ichthyosaurus reptile, Ichthyosaurus communis, was discovered in the 19th century and identified as a species in 1821, according to the University of Manchester.
A year after the initial discovery, three more species were identified based on variations in their teeth's shape and structure. Later, two of these species were reassessed and categorized as different types of ichthyosaurs. The third species, Ichthyosaurus intermedius, was considered distinct yet “closely related” to Ichthyosaurus communis.
The identification of the reptile's species was hindered by partial remains, lost fossils, and the absence of detailed illustrations. These gaps made it difficult for paleontologists to discern the differences between the species.
In the mid-1970s, Dr. Chris McGowan proposed that the two species, I. communis and I. intermedius, which had been reassigned to other ichthyosaur types, might actually be the same species. This insight resolved the mystery surrounding the true relationships between the reptilian species.
7. Antikythera Mechanism
Bec Oaks, an author, explains that the Antikythera Mechanism, a highly advanced, 2,000-year-old hand-powered device discovered in 1901 on an ancient Greek shipwreck, combines an astronomical calculator with “a wind-up system to track the celestial time of the sun, moon, and five planets” and also includes “a calendar, the phase of the moon, and the timing of eclipses.”
The device is so sophisticated that only a portion of its functionality has been deciphered. However, thanks to 3D computer modeling, a team of researchers from University College London managed to “reconstruct” and test the mechanism.
Their findings led them to conclude that the Antikythera Mechanism “might have shown the movement of the sun, moon, and various planets on concentric rings,” a simpler approach than replicating these movements with gears, given that the ancient Greeks believed in a geocentric, rather than heliocentric, model of the solar system.
Additionally, the device’s Dragon Hand, a two-ended pointer, may have been used to predict eclipses.
6. The Tremulous Hand of Worcester
It is believed by scholars that a 13th-century scribe was a monk from Worcester Cathedral Priory. However, since his true identity has never been established, he is referred to as the Tremulous Hand of Worcester, a name derived from the unique shaky quality of his handwriting.
Through their collaborative work, University of York historian Dr. Deborah Thorpe and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust consultant neurologist Dr. Jane Alty concluded that the Tremulous Hand of Worcester likely suffered from essential tremor, a progressive condition that becomes more pronounced when individuals maintain a position, write, or use their hands for other tasks.
The cause behind the Tremulous Hand of Worcester's shaky handwriting remained a mystery until a neurologist became involved in the investigation.
5. Ancient Perfume
Perfume has been used since ancient Egyptian times, where it all began. Following the Egyptians, both the Greeks and Romans not only adopted the practice but also began producing perfumes on an industrial scale, with the Romans using these scents both “in everyday life [and]… in ceremonies like funerals, to embalm the dead.” Although many perfume containers have been found, none provided any clues about the actual scent, only the ointments or base.
However, during renovations in Seville, Spain, a jar of ancient perfume was discovered in a well-preserved Roman mausoleum. The jar, made of rock crystal and sealed with a stopper, contained an early fragrance. The seal helped preserve the perfume, which had solidified over time.
Researchers from the University of Cordoba and the Museum of the City in Carmon conducted a series of tests on the specimen, revealing that the perfume contained “hydrocarbons, sesquiterpenes (naturally occurring in plants and insects), and a vegetable fat.” The fragrance was likely that of the flowering plant patchouli, often described as a blend of earthy, woody, sweet, and musky notes.
The mystery surrounding the essence of an ancient perfume was finally unraveled.
4. Puquios
Rosa Lasaponara and a team from the Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis in Italy solved an ancient riddle related to the Nazca civilization (500 to 200 BC).
The Nazca people created an extraordinary and complex underground aqueduct system that is still operational today. This system is dotted with spiral openings known as puquios. The enigma? What was the purpose of these winding openings?
Dr. Alfredo Carpineti, senior staff writer and space correspondent for ILF Science, highlights that satellite observations played a key role in helping Lasaponara and her team discover that the puquios’ “corkscrew-shaped tunnels direct wind into an underground canal system that channels water exactly where it’s needed.” This system provides water year-round for farming, irrigation, and household purposes.
3. The City of Ubar
In Case Closed?, authors Susan Hughes and Michael Wandelmaier discuss how modern science helped unlock nine long-standing mysteries. One of these is the tale of the city of Ubar.
In 1980, amateur archaeologist Nicholas Clapp requested that NASA use its Challenger space shuttle’s radar to search for “evidence of the lost city” of Ubar. The search led to its discovery in Oman, where the city, encircled by walls and towers, had been swallowed by a sinkhole.
Clapp determined that the location matched “many features described in ancient legends and the Koran,” such as the towers, or “lofty buildings,” the sinkhole (possibly the well of Wabar), and the limestone foundation that eroded, causing one half of Ubar to collapse into the cavern, leading to the city’s ultimate fate of ‘sinking into the sands.’
Clapp and his team concluded that Ubar was probably a fortress, a stopover for frankincense merchants traveling in camel caravans. As NASA’s Ronald Blom observes, Ubar only became a city in legend, rather than reality.
2. Building Materials
Rome’s ancient aqueducts, like the Colosseum, stand as enduring examples of architectural marvels that have withstood thousands of years of wear. As journalist Aspen Pflughoeft highlights, “In contrast, modern concrete structures deteriorate within just a few decades.”
By using microscopic analysis of concrete from the Privernum archaeological site near Rome, researchers discovered that the Romans reinforced their concrete with lime clasts through a method known as “hot mixing.” This process allowed calcium within the concrete to fill cracks, effectively creating a kind of “self-healing” mechanism.
The researchers hope to make their Roman-inspired concrete formula available commercially, so that modern builders can use the same durable material that has lasted for centuries.
In Central America’s hot and humid climate, the ancient Mayans developed a remarkable building material that could endure the harsh conditions. They mixed the sap from local chukum and jiote trees with limestone to form lime plaster. This material, resembling nacre (mother-of-pearl), the bio-material that shields mollusks from ocean waves, was known for its enhanced plasticity and weather resistance. The Mayan temples still stand as remarkable proof of the material’s lasting durability.
1. Ancient Language
In 2022, a group of scholars deciphered seventeen letters forming seven words that had been overlooked after an archaeological dig by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) and Southern Adventist University in the United States.
The inscription, which appears on an ancient comb, might seem mundane, but it represents “the first sentence ever discovered in the Canaanite language in Israel,” according to HU’s Professor Yosef Garfinkel. This discovery sheds new light on the ancient Canaanites mentioned in both the Old Testament and other historical texts.
The inscription reads, “May this tusk root out the lice of the hair and the beard,” which, as Garfinkel points out, shows that the alphabet was used for everyday tasks around 3,700 years ago.
