Buzz
The world is home to countless islands, each with its own rich past, culture, and enigmas. These isolated environments can foster curious natural phenomena and intriguing human behaviors.
While ancient civilizations like those in Rome and Egypt are often seen as the guardians of historical secrets, we tend to look to the vast continents of Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia for further archaeological clues. Yet, islands, once bustling with activity, can hold forgotten histories, extinct societies, and mysterious burial sites.
10. The Temple of Artemis
Lost temples might seem like typical movie material, but in reality, archaeologists are on a relentless quest to uncover them. One temple has remained elusive for over a century. The search began when the first-century geographer Strabo described a grand temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Following his directions, archaeologists started digging near the ancient site of Eretria on the Greek island of Euboea.
Despite countless attempts since the 1800s, success remained out of reach. Then, in 1964, a breakthrough occurred. A team uncovered a Byzantine church containing remnants of an earlier Greek structure. This discovery led archaeologists to rethink Strabo’s claim that the temple was 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from Eretria. They recalculated the more probable location to be 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) away.
In 2012, archaeologists stumbled upon what could be a temple gallery at the base of a hill near the village of Amarynthos. It wasn't until 2017 that they breached the walls and uncovered the sanctuary of Artemis. Positive identification was made through inscriptions and coins bearing her name, along with an underground fountain and buildings dating back to the sixth through second centuries BC.
9. The Dolphin Grave
In medieval times on the small islet of Chapelle dom Hue, someone performed a Christian burial for a dolphin. During excavations in 2017 on the 15-meter-long (49 ft) islet in the English Channel, archaeologists discovered a human grave. To their surprise, inside the tomb, which had been carefully constructed, were the bones of a dolphin, possibly a porpoise.
This discovery was unprecedented and baffling. However, literature from the time hinted at the practice of eating preserved porpoise. It suggested that the tomb might have been a salt preservation pit, where the animal was never removed for unknown reasons.
Despite signs that the creature had been butchered, the pit's design closely mirrored those found in medieval cemeteries. The islet was possibly a retreat for monks in the 14th century, and apart from this strange burial, no other remains have been found.
8. Evolution in Action
On Daphne Major Island in the Galapagos, something extraordinary took place. For the first time, scientists witnessed a new species emerge in the wild—within just two generations.
Biologists observed an intriguing newcomer: a large cactus finch (Geospiza conirostris) from other Galapagos islands. The male finch courted two native females, both medium ground finches (Geospiza fortis).
As their scientific names indicate, these groups share common traits. They are part of a larger family of about 15 species, known as Darwin's finches. The mating produced fertile offspring, which was remarkable. While hybrids can occur among animals from the same groups (such as big cats or equines), they are usually sterile or have difficulty reproducing.
Although fertile, the hybrids had distinct songs and beak shapes, making it harder for them to attract mates among the ground finches. As a result, they interbred. By the fourth generation, a drought hit the island in 2002–03, and only a brother and sister survived. After the drought, they produced 26 offspring.
The new species, confirmed through genetic testing, proved to be resilient. By 2012, researchers had documented eight breeding pairs and 23 singles.
7. Caves Filled With Extinct Beliefs
When the Spanish arrived on the Caribbean island of Mona, they decimated the local Taino people's culture. However, a recent archaeological discovery of cave art has offered a rare glimpse into their spiritual beliefs.
The now-deserted island had yet another surprise—preserved artwork from before the Spanish conquest. The images lined narrow caves, which researchers spent three years investigating. The artwork revealed what the Taino people sought to protect: animals, human figures, and faces adorned with headdresses, all among thousands of pictographs.
Some of the images were scraped or rubbed into the walls, revealing a different color mineral beneath the surface. Other figures were painted. The choice of pigmentation remains a mystery, as ancient artists typically used simple materials like charcoal and ocher.
Unlike the Taino, the paints used in these caves were uniquely mixed for each location. Ingredients like charcoal, plant materials, minerals, and bat droppings were included. Researchers have a theory about why the Taino people ventured into these difficult spaces for hundreds of years (13th–15th centuries). The Taino believed that the Sun and Moon emerged from beneath the earth, making the act of cave painting a sacred activity.
6. Galleries of Miniatures
In 2017, archaeologists explored the small Indonesian island of Kisar for the first time. They found that humans had arrived long before them, as Kisar was covered with cave paintings in at least 28 locations. The artwork was thousands of years old and surprisingly small in scale.
The tiny images, measuring just 10 centimeters (3.9 in), depicted boats, horses, dogs, and human figures holding various items. The size and style of the artwork linked it to similar ancient art found on the neighboring island of Timor, suggesting a stronger cultural connection between the two regions than previously thought.
The exact age of the miniatures remains uncertain, but the oldest could be around 3,500 years old, dating back to when new settlers introduced domesticated animals such as dogs. Some of the more recent images could have been created when trade brought metal drums from Vietnam and China to the region about 2,500 years ago. Among the countless tiny paintings are depictions of people playing drums, which bear resemblance to some of the figures that decorated the imported instruments.
5. Rediscovery of Kane
The island of Kane, which is referenced in numerous ancient records, was once home to a city bearing the same name. The famous Battle of Arginusae took place nearby in 406 BC, when the Athenian army defeated the Spartans.
Historians had long dreamed of setting foot on this island, but for a long time, its location remained elusive. In 2015, the lost island was finally rediscovered in Turkish territory, though it was no longer an island.
Once part of a group of three islands known as the Garip islands, Kane gradually became connected to western Turkey over the course of two millennia. Sediment accumulation between Kane and the mainland formed a peninsula, causing the island to merge with the landmass rather than disappear altogether.
The settlement's location was confirmed when scientists closely examined underground soil samples. It was then revealed that one of the Garip islands, now connected to the mainland, was the missing third island. Artifacts, including pottery and architectural remnants, helped further confirm the city’s precise location.
4. Female Fishermen
In 2017, archaeologists uncovered a grave on Alor Island in Indonesia. Inside, fish hooks were arranged around a woman's face. The burial was extraordinary for two reasons.
This discovery revealed the oldest known burial fish hooks, crafted from snail shells over 12,000 years ago. The finding challenged the previous belief that fishing was a male-dominated activity on the islands. Researchers now suggest that some women may have also participated in fishing, contributing to the community by bringing home fish like hake.
The five fish hooks were placed around the woman's chin and jaw, four of them shaped like crescents, and one resembling a 'J.' Given that the only source of protein on the island came from the sea, fishing was vital to the survival of the community.
The placement of the hooks in the burial suggests that the woman was believed to need them for fishing in the afterlife. If this interpretation is accurate, this represents the earliest society known to consider fishing an essential activity for both the living and the dead.
3. New Murder Island Mass Grave
One of the most chilling accounts of mutiny dates back to 1629 when a passenger ship sank off Australia's west coast. The Batavia collided with a reef, and 282 passengers and crew made it to Beacon Island. However, mutineers viciously raped and murdered most of the survivors, including women and children. This brutal tragedy led to the island being dubbed 'Murder Island.'
Excavations that began in the 1970s revealed graves that told of the horrifying violence that claimed many lives. For example, one man had his skull sliced open by a sword.
In 2017, archaeologists uncovered a unique mass grave. Unlike previous hastily buried victims, the five individuals in this grave were carefully placed in a row and surrounded by artifacts. Remarkably, their bones showed no signs of violence.
Researchers believe that these five victims succumbed to dehydration soon after reaching the island, before the massacre began. This discovery sheds new light on the events that unfolded after the Batavia sank. It also provides an opportunity to compare this finding with journals written by the Batavia‘s captain, who eventually rescued the remaining survivors from the mutineers.
2. Unusual Sunstones
In late 2017, the archaeological site of Vasagard presented a puzzling discovery. Situated on the Danish island of Bornholm, it is believed that Vasagard was a Stone Age temple associated with solar worship.
Over 300 stones were recently uncovered at the site. These stones were identified as solsten, or sunstones, which were already recognized from neighboring locations. Most of the pieces featured carvings of the Sun. Alongside the typical sun motifs found among the 5,000-year-old pebbles, two new and unusual designs appeared.
The stones depicting fields or grain were labeled as 'field' stones, while others bore images that resembled a spider's web. The exact function of these stones remains uncertain, but the evidence suggests they had several uses rather than a singular purpose.
Some of the stones appeared broken and scorched, and were found in ditches, possibly linked to burial practices. Other stones showed signs of wear, as if they had been carried around for a long time, which suggests they could have been used as amulets or even a form of currency.
A field stone was likely used as a charm or as part of a ritual aimed at ensuring a bountiful harvest. Regardless of its exact use, the discovery of new imagery has expanded researchers' understanding of the local practices in worshipping deities.
1. Egyptian Tomb In Sudan
Sai Island, located in northern Sudan and surrounded by the Nile River, has been a site of great archaeological interest. Excavations in the 1970s revealed 24 tombs. As Sai Island is one of the largest in the Nile Valley and was home to an ancient gold mine, additional graves were expected. However, it wasn’t until 2015 that the most captivating tomb was uncovered.
The tomb, approximately 3,400 years old, contained the remains of 13 individuals, including men, women, and children. After two years of meticulous research, the tomb was attributed to Khnummose, who was found in a chamber alongside a woman believed to be his wife. The others were laid to rest in a separate room.
The tomb dates back to a time when Egypt dominated the region (1550–1292 BC), and it’s likely that Khnummose was involved in the gold industry. Due to the poor preservation of the bodies, it’s challenging to determine whether Khnummose was originally Egyptian from Sai or a Nubian who adopted Egyptian customs.
The burial included items like amulets, funerary figures, and Khnummose's golden death mask. Regardless of his ethnic background, Khnummose identified with Egyptian culture, offering a unique glimpse into the culture of Sai during that period.
