|
As
the human race gets older, we supposedly get smarter. We possess
technology and scientific knowledge that has solved many mysteries
that once puzzled our predecessors, but there are still some
things out there that have left experts scratching their heads.
These five discoveries seem to indicate that some of our ancestors
may have been smarter than we once thought.
|
|
Saqqara
Bird
|
|
Where: Saqqara, Egypt
What: A six-inch bird made of sycamore wood found
in an Egyptian tomb. It has a body, seven-inch-long downward-curving
wings, a fixed rudder, and a tail. It looks like a modern
airplane or glider, but is dated at about 200 BC.
Mystery: No one knows for sure what the function of
the bird may have been, but there are many theories out there.
Some think it may have been a ceremonial object, a child's
toy, or a hunting tool. The most controversial theory suggests
that the ancient Egyptians possessed sophisticated knowledge
of aviation long before the airplane was invented. Apparently
the bird can actually glide easily through the air, and some
people have recreated the object with even better results.
While not aerodynamically perfect, the bird still possesses
technology that hadn't been developed until about two millenia
later.
Most Outrageous Theory: Going off the aviation theory,
some people even go so far as to suggest that the Saqqara
bird is a model of a working aircraft the Egyptians may have
invented, as putting miniature models of their technology
in their tombs was common practice. But, since an ancient
flying machine has yet to be discovered, this theory isn't
exactly supported by the scientific community.
|
|
Stone
Spheres of Costa Rica
|
|
Where: Isla de Caño, Costa Rica
What: Three hundred spheres of varying size (ranging
from a few centimeters to 2 meters in diameter) scattered
throughout the island. Most are made of volcanic rock, but
some are made of limestone or sandstone. They date back to
approximately between 200 BC and 1500 AD.
Mystery: Who made the spheres is still unknown, as
is the purpose they serve. The exact age of the stones is
unclear, and they have undergone centuries of wear and tear,
so it's impossible to tell what their original shapes may
have been. They are most likely man-made, but some claim that
they could be natural formations. Most of the stones are no
longer in their original positions, and some have been blasted
apart by people hoping to find something hidden inside, but
so far, nothing has been found. Some theories suggest that
the stones may have served as some sort of marker, celestial
or religious-wise.
Most Outrageous Theory: Some believe that humans did
not have the capacity to make the near-perfect spherical shape
of the stones without some sort of technology, and that they
must have been created with the help of aliens.
|
|
(continued on page
2)
|
