The ridicule of Christ, the head of a wolf, mysterious eggs and other artifacts found in 2020

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The past has always attracted a person, because it contains an infinite amount of information about everyday life, beliefs and even about the environment that was long before us. From the remains of wild animals to works of art, all the discoveries made by scientists amaze us year after year. What interesting things did 2019 bring and what finds surprised the whole world?

1. The head of a wolf, Siberia

It is no secret that among the permafrost of Siberia more and more often they began to find the most diverse and inherently unique finds. For example, in 2017, locals discovered fragments of the body of a small cave lion, which is about 50 thousand years old, near the Tirekhtyakh River. Also, a year later, several hunters who were hunting for priceless mammoth tusks were able to find fragments of the body of a foal, whose age was about 42 thousand years. However, the most incredible find is considered to be the discovery that was made last year, which was an almost perfectly preserved head of a wolf from the Pleistocene period, which is approximately 32 thousand years old.

These wolves, who lived in Siberia at that time, were the ancient descendants of modern wolves. In the first reports in the media, the head of this beast seemed incredibly huge, and therefore guesses were made about the real size of the animal itself. However, Love Dalen, a geneticist at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, in an interview with Smithsonian University noted that "the found representative of the wolf family was actually not much larger than the modern wolf."

Scientists were unable to reliably determine how and why the head was separated from the body and why there was a huge block of ice in the neck area. The most popular theory that exists today is that the head of the predator was probably cut off by people of that period after his death. Also biologist Tory Heridge argues that the body of a wolf could have been simply lost due to decomposition.

2. Cave with Mayan artifacts, Chichen Itza

About fifty years ago, a system of caves was first discovered at Chichen Itza. It was located on the Yucatan Peninsula and it was rumored that it represents the ruins of the once majestic Mayan civilization. Only last year, archaeologists were able to penetrate there and find incredible things.

It is also worth noting that, according to some sources, the locals who reported the discovery of the caves contacted the archaeologist. However, instead of carrying out excavations there, he ordered to stop them and lock the cave, probably in fear of something or wanting to protect the treasures hidden there.

The researchers had a chance to make their way to the caves in the most outlandish ways. So, the path to these multi-chamber structures was too narrow for a person, and therefore scientists literally had a chance to crawl towards their goal. However, the discovery that was made then was definitely worth it. Scientists have found over 155 ceramics incense burners, vases, plates and other clay items. Also, some ritual offerings have been found that the Maya left in caves during the ritual of calling the rain, trying to appease the god Tlaloc.

One of the archaeologists, Guillermo de Anda, said in an interview with National Geographic:.

3. Mockery of Christ, France

In the fall, a small panel, which was going to be thrown into the trash bin because of its ugliness, ended up at an auction and was sold there for $ 26.8 million. And all because the experts who studied it confirmed that the authorship of the small drawing belongs to the artist Cimabue - an almost forgotten genius of the early Renaissance.

The painting was called "The Mockery of Christ" and was painted around the thirteenth century. All these years, the small drawing was kept in the kitchen of an elderly French woman, hanging right next to the stove. According to journalists from the Guardian, the owner of this work always believed that it was some kind of religious icon, while suspecting that its value could be incredible. However, the Frenchwoman could not remember when and how her family had the panel.

Philomen Wolfe, who was working at the auction at the time, stumbled upon this job while cleaning the house of an elderly woman. She noted:.

Scientists who studied this picture, defined it not as an independent one, but as part of a polyptych created by the artist. The painting was probably painted in 1280. In addition, Cimabue himself was better known as the teacher of the legendary Giotto di Bondone, but he also created his own works of art.

To date, only two parts of the polyptych are known. One is kept in New York, in the Frick collection, and another is the property of the National Gallery of London.

Scientists noted that the painting also contained lines and traces that were left by the larvae that feed on the tree, and that this is the best proof of its authenticity. Eric Tyurkin, historian and art critic, told reporters:.

4. Body of a Celtic woman in a coffin, Switzerland

An amazing find awaited scientists last year. It is believed that the body of a Celtic woman, who was buried in a coffin about two thousand years ago, belongs to the Iron Age. It is curious that she was buried in a very unusual way, not in the usual sense for us, but in a specific grave chipped out of a tree trunk. She was richly dressed in fleece, a sheepskin coat and a shawl. According to research by scientists, the woman was about forty years old, and she also belonged to the highest Celtic nobility, since she practically did not engage in physical labor, and also ate sweet fruits and starch products.

The Bureau of Urban Development of the city of Zurich claims that the discovery was made in a small Swiss town during the renovation of a school. The woman's body was found buried along with accessories in the form of necklaces made of amber and glass, as well as a bronze bracelet, a turquoise chain, a pendant belt and much more. Scientists are speculating about whether she had a relationship with a Celtic warrior whose remains were discovered in 1903 in about the same area. According to the official statement, both pairs of remains were buried around 200 BC, which means that the possibility of their close acquaintance cannot be ruled out.

5. Skeletons from the Middle Ages, London

The Tower of London was often a place where many famous personalities were kept in custody, and visited, for example, by Guy Fawkes, Anne Boleyn, William the Conqueror and many others. However, in that year, several pairs of skeletons were discovered, which are about half a thousand years old. They were discovered in one of the chapels, and became a reminder that this fortress is full of its own, mysterious and intriguing secrets.

Scientists excavated the chapel of St. Peter ad Vinkula early last year when they discovered remains dating from 1450-1550. It is known that one of the skeletons belongs to a woman who died at the age of 35-45, and the other belonged to a small, seven-year-old child. Studies have shown that neither the child nor his mother were killed by force, which means that they were not prisoners.

One of the scientists told the Telegraph edition that they are considering a theory that claims that the remains found could belong to the Royal Mint, the Armory, or the soldiers who guarded the jewelry.

Alfred Hawkkins, Assistant Curator, noted on his blog:

6. Mysterious eggs, England

Not so long ago, archaeologists have found several chicken eggs, whose age was about 1700 years. This find was made in central England, in a swampy pit, from where they were carefully excavated. Two eggs gave off a characteristic, sulfurous odor, cracked from the excavation, but the last egg remained intact, and its secrets were reliably hidden behind a gray shell.

The remaining find has been named the only known Roman-era egg ever found in Britain. The excavations themselves were carried out in the small town of Berrifields, which was located along the busy Akeman road. Scientists also noted that the pit where the eggs were found could have been used for brewing beer in ancient times, and a little later turned into a kind of well. The eggs themselves were found next to a bread basket, shoes, tools and other things that could be a kind of offering to the gods.

Not only ancient artifacts are full of secrets and mysteries, which is replete with a variety of facts that few people know about.