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The ever-expanding field of archaeology consistently uncovers significant discoveries. When thinking of such finds, you might picture researchers carefully brushing away soil to reveal delicate bone pieces or fragments of ancient pottery. Even the smallest remnants can challenge our understanding of history.
For centuries, archaeologists have been documenting discoveries that fit neatly into the palm of a hand. Yet, unearthing monumental relics continues unabated. Around the world, colossal monuments, statues, and even entire cities are being rediscovered.
10. Extraordinary Hellenistic Temple
Gadara, today known as Umm Qais, is an ancient city situated on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee. The city’s vast and rich past has left behind many archaeological treasures. Some of the most impressive discoveries include a theater crafted from black basalt, a basilica, and a courtyard full of black stone coffins. In a 2017 excavation, a university team uncovered a remarkable new addition to Gadara’s historical legacy. They found the remains of a temple from the Hellenistic period (332–63 BC). While the roof had disappeared, enough of the structure remained to reveal it was designed in a Greek style known as “Distyle in Antis.”
The first of its kind found in the region, the temple provided pillars, a sacred chamber, a podium, and a pronaos—the inner part of a portico typically seen in Roman and Greek temples. Despite the passing of the Hellenistic era, the temple continued to be used through Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods. The excavation also rediscovered several Hellenistic wells at the center of Gadara. Along with Roman-era tunnels, the network led to a hot bath in the city.
9. The Borgring Fortress
When the Borgring fortress was discovered in the 1970s, archaeologists speculated that the ruins were of a rare form of Viking architecture. Known as a Trelleborg fortress, this type of structure had a distinct internal design, but the remaining evidence from the Borgring fortress was too sparse to confirm it as a true Trelleborg.
In 2017, advanced laser technology allowed archaeologists to uncover the hidden layout of the Borgring fortress. The scan revealed that Borgring was indeed one of only five Trelleborgs in Denmark. It featured the characteristic suburban design inside, with four gates aligned to the cardinal directions, and a V-shaped surrounding ditch. The massive 1,000-year-old structure was nearly a perfect circle, measuring around 150 meters (500 ft) in diameter.
The colossal Trelleborg fortresses could reshape Viking history. All of them were built in an exceptionally brief period between AD 975 and 980, a time when the Vikings were under heavy military pressure from German and Slavic forces. The fortresses appear to have been constructed specifically to address this threat, as none were built after the German emperor's death. However, the rapid construction of these Trelleborgs suggests a level of organized leadership among the Vikings that had not been seen before.
8. The Griffin And The Dragon
In 2013, archaeologists exploring Mokhnataya mountain in Siberia uncovered remarkable granite monuments. Two massive stone creatures were sculpted to resemble a dragon and a griffin. The dragon is composed of six pieces and weighs more than 120 tons.
While the dragon provided few clues about the mysterious creators of the monuments, the griffin offered more insight. The creature measured 5.9 meters (19.4 ft) in length and 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) in height. Its distinctive beak and crest made it resemble the mythical eagle-headed beings found in Scythian culture. The Scythians inhabited Siberia as far back as 3,000 years ago, but they do not align with the age of the megaliths. These monuments could very well be older than 12,000 years.
This ancient civilization could be where the Scythians eventually inherited their symbolic system. Even the dragon, the only one of its kind to be found in Siberia and the oldest of its kind in Russia, bears marks of Scythian techniques. However, the Scythians did not build large monuments. The identity of the prehistoric builders, their reasons for constructing the megaliths, and the methods they used remain an unsolved mystery.
7. The Woman At The Gate
In modern-day Turkey, the ancient Neo-Hittite citadel of Kunulua (later called Tayinat) once stood. An imposing gate complex protected the entrance to this Iron Age capital. In 2017, archaeologists discovered a statue of a woman within the vast ruins of the gate complex. The statue, 3,000 years old, is missing its lower half. Despite this, the remaining portion of the basalt figure was intriguing enough to capture the team’s attention. When intact, the statue would have stood around 4 to 5 meters (13–16 ft) tall. It was found face down on the ground, with clear signs of intentional damage to its face and chest. Whether this was the result of vandalism or part of a ritualistic decommissioning remains uncertain.
Art found in Neo-Hittite gate complexes was of great cultural significance. The discovery of a female statue suggests that women may have played a more prominent role in this ancient society than previously assumed. But who was this exquisitely crafted woman? While the identity remains unclear, several theories exist. Among the possibilities are Kubaba, the mother of all Anatolian gods; the wife of Neo-Hittite king Suppiluliuma; or Kupapiyas, the mother of Tayinat's founder, and the only female name mentioned in ancient texts from the region.
6. Desert Wine
Another extraordinary discovery from the 2017 archaeology season was a desert winery uncovered in Israel. Located in the dry Ramat Negev region, the site, which dates back to the Byzantine era, was unexpectedly large. The 1,600-year-old stone building covered an area of 40 by 40 meters (131 x 131 ft). Inside, archaeologists found a wine press, and its sizable juice runoff pit suggested the winery's production was significant.
Upon uncovering the site, archaeologists were astounded by what they had found. Wine presses housed in buildings are so rare in the Negev that only one other example exists, in the ancient Nabataean city of Avdat. But this discovery was not only rare—Israel is known for its successful desert agriculture. This large wine press proves that people had perfected the craft long before modern Israel was established. Production likely ceased due to a widespread plague in the sixth century, which led to a decline in wine demand.
5. Tall Hospital Guard
In Cambodia, the iconic Buddhist temple of Angkor Wat attracts two million visitors annually, not including the numerous archaeologists who meticulously examine the site. By now, it might seem that every significant discovery had already been made. However, in 2017, a team exploring the northern part of the complex, expecting only minor finds like pottery shards, was in for a surprise. Just beneath the surface lay a heavy statue, now considered one of the most important recent discoveries at Angkor.
The statue, which represents a guard from the 12th or 13th century, weighs 200 kilograms (440 lbs). While both of its legs were incomplete, it still stood over 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall. This ancient figure endured centuries of history, surviving until the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, which destroyed much of the complex's statues, along with years of looting. Before these turbulent events, researchers believe the statue originally stood at the site of an ancient hospital. Four hospitals have already been identified in the area, one of which was near the newly discovered statue.
4. Little Pompeii
Archaeologists often make significant discoveries when investigating land designated for modern development. However, few finds can compare to the one made by a French team in 2017, when they surveyed a site set to be developed for housing. While digging near the city of Vienne, they unearthed an entire luxury Roman neighborhood. This extensive site, covering around 7,000 square meters (75,000 square feet), revealed exquisite elite homes, mosaic floors depicting mythical scenes, shops, and a large building that may have been a philosophy school.
Some of the oldest houses date back to the first century AD, and the neighborhood thrived for about 300 years. Then, for reasons unknown, a series of deadly fires forced the residents to flee. The well-preserved remains earned the site the nickname “Little Pompeii,” after the Roman city famously destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Vienne, once a Roman city itself, is now understood to have extended into the area where these ruins were found. The scale of this neighborhood makes it a rare and exceptionally significant Roman discovery.
3. City From Egypt’s Beginnings
To discover a lost city is every archaeologist’s ultimate dream, and such a magnificent site was recently uncovered near the Nile. Located in Sohag, a southern province of Upper Egypt, this ancient city is over 7,000 years old. The remains include buildings, homes, broken pottery, and a range of tools. Clues to the identity of the city’s inhabitants come not only from the artifacts but also from the monumental graves found nearby. Fifteen tombs were uncovered, and their massive size suggests they were meant for the most respected members of society.
Experts believe this as-yet-unnamed city likely housed officials and tomb builders who were responsible for the royal crypts in Abydos, a nearby sacred city. Abydos, a historic Egyptian capital, may have been contemporaneous with this settlement, or even slightly later. Only 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) away from the newly discovered site lies the necropolis with the royal tombs, whose construction predated the identifiable rulers of Egypt’s history.
2. Sudan’s Unique Temples
In 2016, renowned archaeologist Charles Bonnet made an extraordinary discovery in the Nile Valley. He uncovered the ruins of three temples, but despite his extensive knowledge of Sudanese history, he could not recognize the unusual round and oval structures. Nearby, other ruins were known, but all of them had angular corners. These mysterious temples were located at Dogi Gel, or Red Hill, a site that continues to puzzle researchers.
The temples' construction period (2000–1500 BC) was heavily influenced by Nubian and Egyptian architecture, yet these temples do not show any direct resemblance to either tradition. They stand alone, with no similar structures found throughout the entire Nile Valley or beyond. This uniqueness makes the artifacts discovered within the ruins invaluable, potentially offering unparalleled insights into ancient African civilizations.
Dogi Gel also revealed massive fortifications, likely built by a coalition of groups such as those from Kerma, Darfur, and Central Sudan. These walls may have been constructed as a defensive measure against potential invasions from the ancient Egyptians.
1. Great Wall Of Siberia
Another extraordinary discovery was made in Siberia, where an immense series of man-made walls were uncovered in the northern Altai mountains. The defensive structures consisted of six parallel walls that would have posed a significant challenge to any invading forces. Each wall measured 10 meters (33 ft) in width and 8 meters (26 ft) in height. To the east, an additional nine walls sloped across the valley, effectively narrowing the passage for invaders and strengthening the region's defenses.
The creators of the structure remain unknown, as does the true age of the walls. Archaeological findings suggest human activity during medieval times. However, the sparse nature of Siberian medieval villages makes it improbable that such monumental structures were built during that period. It is more plausible that these ramparts were constructed in the first millennium BC, during a time when other significant walls in Eurasia, like Hadrian’s Wall and the Great Wall of China, were also being built. This era saw an increase in migrations, conflicts, and the rise of states focused on securing their borders.
