- Throughout the world, there
are sites shrouded in mystery, places of ancient origin containing ruins of ancient
cities and monuments that nobody knows why they
exist or who built them. The following are sites that
exist on Earth right now that remain unexplained. Here are 10 unexplained
mysterious ancient ruins. (eerie music) Number 10 is the Yonaguni Monument. The Yonaguni Monument is a controversial underwater
structure which can be found just off the coast of
Japan's Yonaguni Island. Debate rages over whether the
unusual blocks of sandstone and mudstone are a natural
formation or completely manmade. Discovered in 1987, the
central feature of the site measures 150 by 40 meters and
about 27 meters in height. Its features include a
star-shaped platform, what appears to be two
large stone pillars, and a wall about 10 meters long. However, what's most striking
about the Yonaguni site is that it's comprised of what looks like
straight-cut slabs of rock, like you'd see on an ancient
pyramid or other ancient ruin. Perhaps only time will tell if this incredible underwater
discovery is actually manmade. If it is, experts believe
that it dates back to at least 8,000 years ago. Number nine is Pumapunku. Pumapunku is a large temple complex which can be found in western Bolivia. This ruin has generated much debate and has so far held onto its secrets, even in the face of modern
investigative techniques. The temple consists of a terraced mound measuring 167 meters
wide and 116 meters long, with parts of its now-ruined structure built from huge stone slabs, the largest of which weighs
a massive 131 metric tons. Built largely from sandstone,
when it was completed, experts believe that it was adorned with polished metal plaques
as well as bright ceramics, making it one of the most
striking constructions in history. Unfortunately, treasure hunters have looted much of the site. This combined with the fact that there are no written
documents describing Pumapunku and its true purpose
renders it a true enigma. Number eight is the Bimini Road. The Bimini Road is a fascinating mystery. It's submerged in the sea
surrounding the Bahamas. At nearly a kilometer in length, these strange rectangular limestone blocks seem to have been arranged
into a straight formation, resembling a large road. Discovered in 1968, the
Bimini Road has been studied by geologists, anthropologists,
and marine engineers. Despite this, no consensus for its age or origin have been agreed upon. While some believe that the structure was produced by unusual yet
explainable natural processes, those who believe it was manmade have postulated theories
about its purpose, including being a road, a fortification, a harbor, and even a religious monument. To this day, only speculation remains. Number seven is the
Lake Kinneret Structure. In 2003, the Lake Kinneret
Structure was discovered and is a mystery to modern archeology. The structure is reportedly
the size of a Boeing 747 jet and is submerged nine
meters below the surface of the Galilee Sea in Israel. Careful sonar measurements of
the structure by geophysicists revealed that it is most
probably a large manmade mound. This in and of itself isn't so surprising, but the sheer size of it is. At 10 meters tall and
weighing at least 60,000 tons, it's twice the size of Stonehenge. Some archeologists believe that the ruin was built underwater, while others argue that
it was built on dry land and later covered by the lake. Estimates of its age range from 2,000 to as old as 12,000 years. If the older estimations are correct, then the Lake Kinneret Structure would be one of the best preserved
prehistoric sites in the world. Number six are the Asuka Stones. One of the strangest ruins in all of Japan are known as the Asuka Stones. These huge structures of solid
rock most likely date back to between the third and sixth century. But as of yet, no one is sure why the people of that time built them. The largest of all the Asuka Stones is the Masuda no iwafune, which is known as the Rock Ship of Masuda. It's a massive 11 meters in length, eight meters wide, and stands
nearly five meters tall. While some of the Asuka Stones have elaborate channels carved into them and others feature
large troughs and holes, no one knows the purpose
of these features. Some believe the stones
are astronomical markers lining up with the sun on a specific date, while others believe that the Asuka Stones were once tombs for the dead. Unfortunately, it may be
that their true purpose will remain a mystery forever. Number five are the Olmec Colossal Heads. The Olmec Colossal Heads
are 17 huge stone monuments with an uncertain origin. The stones were all carved
to resemble human heads and are at least as old
as 900 BC, if not more. Some believe that they were created by the Olmec civilization, which flourished throughout Mesoamerica, an area which includes
modern-day Guatemala, Mexico, and other surrounding countries. An incredible amount of effort was invested into carving the heads and then transporting these
colossal pieces of stone hundreds of miles to their
current resting place. The largest stone head weighs 25 tons and is nearly three meters tall. Some experts argue that the heads depict people of African descent, which would completely rewrite history. Then there are others that believe the stones represent
long-forgotten powerful figures within the Olmec society. But as of today, debate continues as to what the purpose
of these monuments were. Number four is Naupa Iglesia. High in the Andes of Peru, there lies an ancient
ruin steeped in mystery. The Naupa Iglesia ruins are among the most advanced structures discovered in South America,
even superseding the technology of the Inca who came before them. A ruined stone staircase
leads up to a mysterious cave. Inside, there are large stone carvings with intricate details
and a stone doorway. There is also what appears
to be a ceremonial altar carved out of granite. No one is sure exactly
how old the ruins are, but the locals still tell
stories about the place. They believe that the ruins are
relics from a previous world and were inhabited by some strange beings. Some researchers argue that
the Naupa Iglesia ruins are the last remnants of
an ancient civilization which gave birth to the Inca. But with so little information to go on, any explanation is currently speculative. Number three is the Castle of Lake Van. Underneath Lake Van in Turkey sits a large castle-like structure which has baffled archeologists. The ruin could date back
as far as 3,000 years or perhaps even more. The castle-like walls are
comprised of huge stone slabs intricately placed together
to create a structure at least a kilometer long. But what's so confusing
about this structure is that it appears to contain features of both medieval construction and inscriptions from the
Urartian civilization, which prospered in the region
thousands of years ago. One possible solution
to this puzzle could be that people living around
Lake Van in the Middle Ages used parts of a preexisting structure to build some sort of fortification. But until archeologists can
actively study the ruin, this mystery will remain unsolved. Number two are the Stone Gates. Archeology is being revolutionized by satellite technology
and aerial photography, which is able to spot otherwise-hidden manmade
features in the landscape. Using this technology,
scientists have recently found over 400 bizarre ruins throughout
the Saudi Arabian desert. So far, they defy explanation. Each structure appears
to have been built around a once-active volcano. While these volcanoes are extinct now, it's believed that they
may have been active while these structures were built. While most of them have
yet to be investigated, preliminary studies reveal
them to be made of stone, with some as large as 500 meters. Researchers have
described these structures as being built in inhospitable regions. So, the question remains: Why would people take the time and risk to build these structures
in the first place? And number one is the Gobekli Tepe. The Gobekli Tepe is one of the
most talked about discoveries over the last few decades, mainly because of the
mystery which surrounds it. Located in Turkey, it's comprised of more
than 200 stone pillars, forming at least 20 circles. The pillars are made of solid rock which weighs at least 20 tons each. Elaborate carvings of animals
can be found on these pillars, depicting dangerous creatures
such as crocodiles and lions. But what makes this
structure so mysterious is that it could
completely rewrite history. Some believe the ruins to be
as old as 12,000 years old. This would mean that humanity was far more advanced than
previously thought at that time. A few thousand years ago, people deliberately buried this ruin; whether to preserve it or to
hide it, no one is quite sure.
