From ancient burial suits to the first magic
wand, here are 10 of the most amazing and mysterious archaeological treasures! 10: The Jade Burial Suit
The jade burial suit is the Chinese equivalent to an Egyptian burial coffin. These suits were crafted from pieces of jade
and used to bury royal members of society during the Han dynasty. And yes, the jade burial suit looks like something
out of an old video game. Each suit is constructed of small jade squares,
almost like pixels, and each is honestly a little frightening. The different pieces of jade are generally
joined together by wire, silver, or gold – though the famous jade burial suit of King Zhao Mo
had its jade fragments tied together with silk. The bindings were almost always dependent
on how high up in the hierarchy the deceased person was. For example, emperors almost always had gold
or silk thread in their burial suits, while those of a much lower status would have been
stuck with ordinary wire. A single suit took several years to make. But here's the fascinating part about jade
burial suits. For a long time, archaeologists thought they
were only legends. It wasn't until 1968 when two complete jade
suits were discovered that archaeologists realized the legends were true. Two suits were found inside the tombs of Liu
Sheng and Dou Wan in the Hebei province, with each suit consisting of exactly 2498 fragments
of solid jade, one of the most precious stones in the world. More suits were found afterwards with one
in particular having 2580 grams of gold thread. Another suit was found in 1983 that is currently
exhibited at the Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King. 9: The Greek Sphinx Head
Archaeologists recently discovered an extremely rare treasure in Greece. They managed to dig up the head of one of
the missing sphinxes that is supposed to be guarding the entrance of the ancient Amphipolis
Tomb. The head belongs to a statue of a woman, and
she was in surprisingly good shape considering her head had been separated from her body
and lost for hundreds of years. The Amphipolis Tomb is located in Kasta Hill,
in the ancient city of Amphipolis which was conquered by Alexander the Great’s father. There were rumors that there was a burial
mound there but it wasn’t until the 1960’s when work began to uncover who might be buried
inside. Could the tomb belong to Alexander the Great’s
mother?? In addition to the sphinx’s head, portions
of her two wings were also found nearby. In 2015, archaeologists uncovered chambers
decorated with marble sphinxes, mosaics and a limestone sarcophagus with hundreds of bone
fragments. DNA analysis has helped to reveal that there
are at least 5 people buried in the tomb. But the mystery remains, who were they?? Right now the project has no funding to continue
but there is work going on to open the site to the public. 8: The Aladdin Lamp
A lamp that may or may not have contained a genie 900 years ago was recently found on
a beach in the Mediterranean. This discovery was made near the Israeli city
of Ashkelon, when a lifeguard working for the Nature and Parks Authority saw an ancient
oil lamp in the sand that turned out to be from the 12th century. According to the lifeguard, he said he didn't
try to rub it to see if a genie would come out, so that’s a bit of a bummer. But in all likelihood, if there had been a
genie in the lamp, somebody had probably got their wishes quite some time ago. It's not clear where the lamp came from, but
it was probably lost 900 years ago when Ashkelon was a bustling port city that imported valuable
goods from the neighboring Mediterranean countries. And interestingly enough, the lamp was found
in the same region where the mythological creatures known as jinn, which of course were
the inspiration for Aladdin’s genie, came from. People have been telling stories about jinn
for over 4500 years. Jinn are spirits typically made of fire and
air that can either help a person or ruin their life! And now for some sounds from the past, but
first wanted to give a big shout out to Jay Jones and daughter! Thanks to you both for watching and supporting
origins explained! If you are new here be sure to subscribe and
join us!! The more the merrier! 7: Ancient Shell Horn
After 17,000 years of silence and a few decades sitting quietly in a French museum, one of
the first-ever shell horns played music once again. Just this year the ancient shell fashioned
into a horn by a prehistoric human was played by a musician, who found it emitted tones
similar to C, C sharp, and D. The seashell also emitted sound at an outstanding 100 decibels. As for the shell itself, scientists believe
it is an ancient conch that once belonged to a species of huge sea snails living in
the Atlantic Ocean. It was discovered in 1931, very near to Marsoulas
Cave, which contains artwork from the last Ice Age. This treasure is obviously very old, and when
it was first found, scientists thought it was just a ceremonial drinking cup and stored
it in the museum and forgot about it. It wasn't until now that scientists took the
instrument out and decided to give it a shot. It is now believed to be the oldest wind instrument
that has ever been found. According to a senior scientist at the French
National Center for Scientific Research, who happened to participate in the research of
the conch, the sound it makes is a direct link with our very own ancient ancestors. The conch was probably used by the Magdalenian
people, who were prehistoric hunters spread across Europe back when animals like mammoths
and giant bison still roamed the land. Many tools and weapons have been found that
trace back to the Magdalenian people, but this instrument gives us their sound. It is so loud it is similar to the roar of
an approaching subway train! Scientists believe it was probably used as
a calling device, or even as a warning system – like the world’s first alarm system! How’s your lungs? Would you want to try out this ancient shell
horn? Let me know in the comments below! 6: An Ancient Wand
Something described as an ancient wand was recently found in the Negev desert of Israel. The artifact was made from lead and wood,
and it was discovered inside a burial chamber that dates back 6000 years. The grave was deep in the back of a desert
cave, and a new study has found that the artifact could be the oldest evidence of smelted lead
ever. This is amazing because 6000 years ago, ancient
humans were able to work with copper but not with lead, according to Naama Yahalom-Mack,
the lead researcher on the project and a student of archaeology at the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem. Initial analysis of the lead inside the wand
suggests it came from Anatolia, which is now modern Turkey
The wand likely had great significance to whoever it was buried with. But unfortunately, nobody has been able to
figure out what the wand was used for. It obviously wasn't a magic wand, even though
it looks like something that would be in a Harry Potter movie. It could have been used for ceremonial purposes,
it could have been part of a larger weapon, or it could have been something as boring
as a spindle used for making clothing. Some of the researchers suggested that perhaps
it had been used in rituals and then repurposed later for some completely mundane task. And as an extra piece of interesting information,
researchers have suggested that ancient people in the Middle East learned how to smelt lead
much earlier than other groups – evident based on the lead worked into this mysterious
wand. That would mean that whoever made this was
more advanced than the surrounding cultures. 5: The Cybele Plate
The Cybele plate is one of the most fascinating archaeological treasures found at the ancient
site of Ai Khanum, in Afghanistan. Ai Khanum was a major city around 280 BC during
the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom. This kingdom was the eastern-most part of
the Greek world and the city was in a very strategic location. There was gold, mineral resources and trading
between the Chinese empire, the Indian subcontinent and the Greeks! Ai Khanum was far from Greece but had all
the characteristics of a Hellenistic city combined with Eastern influences. The plate depicts Cybele herself, the goddess
of nature, fertility and protection in times of war. She is accompanied by Nike, who is the personification
of victory. The two characters can be seen riding on a
chariot drawn by a pair of lions, and it is one of the most remarkable examples of a blend
between Greek and Middle Eastern art. This amazing relic alone encapsulates what
the arts looked like during Greece’s conquests of modern-day Afghanistan in the 3rd century
BC. The plate itself was likely an offering for
the goddess, who originated in ancient Anatolia but had been adopted by the Greeks. You can see the plate today where it is currently
being kept at the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul. 4: Russian Burial Treasures
Archaeologists discovered the tomb of a noblewoman from an ancient and mysterious tribe known
as the Sarmatians, who roamed across the Eurasian steppes in the South of Russia 2500 years
ago. But it wasn't the tomb itself that was exciting. It was the strange treasure found inside that
really grabbed the world’s attention. Most Sarmatian burial grounds have been discovered
already looted by gravediggers, as they are known for holding large amounts of gold and
bronze artifacts. This latest discovery on Russian soil was
one of the first of its kind because the tomb had somehow survived undetected. Archaeologists found jewelry, a silver mirror,
a container filled with ancient cosmetics, and the skeleton of a woman adorned with extremely
expensive jewelry. There was gold, silver, and even a giant bronze
kettle. These ancient treasures had been placed inside
the tomb by the nomadic tribe, and the discovery has given archaeologists a deeper look into
how the Sarmatians lived. They controlled much of southern Russia and
Central Asia up until 400 AD and are still known today for their ferocious female warriors,
who fought alongside the men as equals. The Sarmatian warriors are often believed
to be more deadly, more dangerous, and even more brutal than the Vikings. 3: Roman Coins in Japan
Inside of an ancient Japanese castle, archaeologists stumbled upon a rare collection of ancient
Roman coins. Archaeologist Hiroyuki Miyagi unearthed the
coins while investigating the old Katsuren Castle in Okinawa, and he originally thought
that the coins had been placed there as a joke, as it didn't make any sense for there
to be Roman coins in the castle. Miyagi even told CNN that he thought they
were replicas left behind by tourists. But no, they turned out to be 100% real. At least 10 Roman coins were discovered, alongside
ancient Japanese samurai armor. Using X-ray technology, Miyagi identified
engravings on the coins that dated them back to between 300 and 400 AD. Unfortunately, this did not help identify
where the coins came from or how they made it to Japan. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the castle
in Okinawa had been trading with China and several neighboring Asian countries, though
there has never been any direct link between Japan and ancient Rome. That means the only explanation is that the
coins had been passed on from Rome to someone else, then to someone else, and eventually
traded to someone from Japan, who left them at the castle. Miyagi is still working to figure out how
the coins made it to Japan. And believe it or not, they weren't the only
treasures found inside Katsuren Castle. There were also Chinese coins and ceramics,
as well as Japanese artifacts that had probably been used by the residents who once lived
there. 2. Michigan Relics
In the late 1800’s immigrants in Michigan planting their first crops came across massive
mounds filled with ancient artifacts. Made from clay, copper and slate, most of
the relics had strange inscriptions that nobody could decipher. With thousands of relics bearing an unrecognizable
language, authorities set out to learn more and try to uncover who had left these behind. There was a mix of several ancient languages,
and the objects depicted scenes of ancient religious art with some containing symbols
recognizable as Noah’s Ark, the Tower of Babel, and the Crucifixion. Was it a lost civilization or an elaborate
hoax? With some 3000 to 9000 artifacts uncovered
with this ancient cuneiform, many of the objects were either tablets, ornaments or tools. Depicted with vivid scenes, archaeologists
originally dismissed the objects as being crude fakes. But some people today still believe that they
may point to traces of pre-Columbian Coptic Christians in Michigan. Now known as the Michigan Relics, the tablets
found in the burial mounds were categorized by the artwork on them. Those with writing and depictions were split
into subgroups depending on whether they had biblical, battle scenes or calendar records
on them. Although some still believe they are a hoax,
analysis done on the plates showed that whoever carved them had a fluency in the language,
which led to some believing in their authenticity. There has been much controversy regarding
the Michigan tablets. Several theories propose that some influence
from another world is responsible for these relics. In a book about this topic published in the
80’s, by comparing ancient copper mines that were located on Isle Royal Michigan from
1800 to 1000 BC and tying them to the Greeks and Egyptians who extensively used copper
in the same time period, the author believes that the tablets may have come from an alien
people discovered in both Greek and Egyptian records. Known as the “Keftiu” to the ancient Egyptians,
they were said to be “red-skinned” people who came from the “isles of the seas”. Another researcher looking into the origin
of the relics is said to have found a “mystical symbol” that he believes points to fourth
century Coptic Egyptian Christians. Known as one of the oldest Christian churches
in the Middle East, Coptic Christians originated in Egypt shortly after the death of Jesus. Now the University of Michigan and professional
archaeologists have said that the relics are quite crude and while clergymen wanted to
believe in the biblical images depicted in the tablets, that they are just whimsical
objects made by locals. All they did was confuse people about the
past and create a looting spree when everyone went to try to steal things from real ancient
burial sites. 1: Lost Greek Treasures
Archaeologists excavating the lost city of Tenea have uncovered a stockpile of invaluable
artifacts including coins, sculptures, baths, and even ordinary things like lamps and household
goods. The discovery of the lost city itself was
pretty big news, as for a long time there had been rumors that an ancient city had been
built on the coast of Greece to house the prisoners left over from the Trojan War, and
that it had grown into a thriving metropolis under Roman rule, only to later be lost and
forgotten. The city was abandoned 400 AD for unknown
reasons and not discovered again until 2013, when excavations began. But even after it was found again, it took
another five years for archaeologists to confirm that they were indeed digging in the mythical
lost city of Tenea. They had to uncover enough artifacts to confirm
their theory – and they definitely have! An oil lamp was discovered with the depiction
of the Trojan hero Aeneas carrying his father during the evacuation of Troy.. But they also found coins, cosmetic containers,
and lots of statues that confirmed their theory. And as for where the residents of Tenea went
and how the city was lost, it's believed that the Slavs invaded the area, causing the people
to flee and never return. Then over time, the structures and buildings
collapsed and were covered by dirt. As of right now, excavations are still ongoing. Thanks for watching!
