15 MOST bizarre things found in caves
15 MOST bizarre things found in caves
Transcript
00:00Hey everyone, you know caves often hold secrets from bygone eras and shelter extraordinary
00:05finds that baffle even the most seasoned experts.
00:08Well, join me as we explore the top 15 most bizarre things found in caves.
00:12Let's start with number 15, the Dead Sea Scrolls.
00:16The Dead Sea Scrolls, also known as the Qumran Cave Scrolls, are a collection of ancient
00:21Jewish manuscripts from the Second Temple Period.
00:24They were discovered between 1946 and 1956 at the Qumran Caves near Ein Feshke in the
00:29West Bank, and these scrolls date back to the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE.
00:34They include the oldest surviving manuscripts of entire books later incorporated into the
00:39biblical canons, as well as extra-biblical and deuterocanonical texts from late Second
00:44Temple Judaism.
00:46These scrolls illuminate the emergence of Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism.
00:50Nearly all of the 15,000 scrolls and fragments are housed in the Shrine of the Book at Israel
00:55Museum in Jerusalem.
00:57The majority are written in Hebrew, with some in Aramaic and a few in Greek.
01:01Most are on parchment, with some on papyrus and one on copper.
01:04Now, the consensus dates these scrolls to between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st CE,
01:09associated with manuscripts from other Judean desert sites, and they range from the 8th
01:14century BCE to the 11th century CE.
01:17Bronze coins found at these sites, starting with the John Hyrcanus of the Hasmonean Kingdom
01:22and contributing to the First Jewish-Roman War, support the paleography and radiocarbon
01:27dating of the scrolls.
01:28Due to their poor condition, not all of the texts have been identified.
01:32Their identified texts fall into three categories.
01:34About 40% are Hebrew scriptures, copies, and 30% are texts from the Second Temple period
01:39not canonized in the Hebrew Bible, such as the Book of Enoch and the Book of Jubilees.
01:45And the remaining are sectarian manuscripts revealing the beliefs of particular Jewish
01:49groups, like the Community Rule and the War Scroll.
01:5414.
01:55The Apollo 11 Cave Stones About 25,000 years ago, an animal was drawn
02:01in charcoal on a hand-sized slab of stone in a rock shelter in the Huns Mountains of
02:06Namibia.
02:08Over time, the stone was buried under layers of sediment and debris.
02:11In 1969, a team led by German archaeologist W.E.
02:15Wendt excavated the site and found the first fragment.
02:18Wendt named the cave Apollo 11 after NASA's successful moon mission, which he heard about
02:23on his shortwave radio.
02:25More than three years later, Wendt discovered a matching fragment.
02:28In total, seven stone fragments of brown-gray quartzite, some depicting animal figures in
02:33charcoal, ochre, and white, were found in a concentrated area of the cave floor.
02:39Radiocarbon dating of these archaeological layers suggests the stones were buried between
02:4325,500 and 25,300 years ago, during the Middle Stone Age period, making them the oldest known
02:50art in Africa at the time of their discovery.
02:53These stones offer a small glimpse into early human artistic expression before the advent
02:57of formal writing.
02:59The cave also reveals a sequence of cultural layers representing over 100,000 years of
03:03total occupation.
03:05Stone artifacts such as blades, pointed flakes, and scrapers were found, indicating long-distance
03:10transport of raw materials.
03:12Additionally, rock paintings from the later Stone Age period were discovered, including
03:16white and red zigzags, handprints, geometric images, and traces of color.
03:21These findings contribute to our understanding of early human creativity and technological
03:25advancement.
03:2713.
03:29Hobbits Homo floresiensis, an extinct species of small,
03:33archaic humans, inhabited the island of Flores in Indonesia until around 50,000 years ago.
03:39The species, standing at about 1.1 meters tall, was discovered in 2003 at Liangboa Cave.
03:45Nicknamed the Hobbit after J.R.R.
03:48Tolkien's fictional characters, some discoverers suggested naming the species H. hobbitus.
03:53However, the Tolkien Estate later objected to the use of the term hobbit in promoting
03:57scientific lectures.
03:59In 2012, The Asylum, an American film studio known for its low-budget mockbuster films,
04:05planned the release Age of the Hobbits, depicting a community of this species enslaved by Java
04:11Men.
04:12The studio argued that the film didn't violate Tolkien's copyright since it was about this
04:16species.
04:17Initially, it was thought to have survived until 12,000 years ago, however, further stratigraphic
04:22and chronological studies revised this to around 50,000 years ago.
04:27The skeletal remains dated from 60,000 to 100,000 years included LB1, a nearly complete
04:32skeleton of a 30-year-old woman nicknamed the Little Lady of Flores, or Flo, and a tooth
04:38labeled LB2.
04:40Stone tools found alongside the remains dated back from 50,000 to 190,000 years ago, and
04:45the discovery provides significant insights into human evolution, revealing a distinct
04:49branch of early humans that adapted uniquely to their environment.
04:5412.
04:55Vardzia Cave City Vardzia is a cave monastery site in southern
05:00Georgia carved into the slopes of a mountain on the left bank of the Kura River.
05:05Constructed in the second half of the 12th century, the cave extends along a cliff for
05:08500 meters and reaches up to 19 tiers.
05:12This monastery served as an important cultural center known for its literary and artistic
05:16contributions.
05:17The Church of the Dormition, dating back to the 1180s, features a significant series of
05:21wall paintings here.
05:23Following the Ottoman takeover in the 16th century, the site was largely abandoned.
05:27Today, it is part of a state heritage reserve and the Greater Vardzia-Kertvesi area, submitted
05:33for future inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
05:36This area includes 15 churches, notably the early 11th century church at Zeta Vardzia
05:42and the 10th to 12th century rock village and cave churches of Ananuri, which contain
05:47original frescoes.
05:49The main site, carved at an elevation of 1,300 meters, comprises about 500 caves.
05:54Divided into the Church of the Dormition, the eastern part of the complex includes 79
05:58separate cave dwellings in eight tiers, totaling 242 rooms.
06:03These include six chapels, Tamar's room, a meeting room, a reception chamber, a pharmacy,
06:08and 25 wine cellars, with 185 wine jars embedded in the flooring, indicating the importance
06:15of wine to the monastery.
06:17The western part, between the bell tower and the main church, contains 40 houses across
06:2113 tiers, totaling 165 rooms.
06:25These include chapels, a refectory with a bakery, additional ovens for bread, and a
06:29forge.
06:30From the bell tower, though, the complex rises to 19 tiers, with steps leading to a cemetery.
06:35The infrastructure includes access tunnels, water facilities, and defensive provisions.
06:40Water was supplied via a 3.5-kilometer-long aqueduct.
06:45Number 11.
06:46Ajanta Caves The Ajanta Caves, located in the district
06:49of Maharashtra in India, are a series of 30 rock-cut Buddhist monuments dating from the
06:542nd century BCE to about 480 CE.
06:58Now it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the caves are renowned as masterpieces of
07:02Buddhist religious art.
07:04They feature expressive paintings and rock-cut sculptures that vividly convey emotions through
07:08gesture, pose, and form.
07:10The construction of the caves happened in two phases.
07:12The first began around the 2nd century BCE, and the second took place between 400 and
07:17650 CE, though some scholars suggest a more condensed period.
07:22These caves served as ancient monasteries and worship halls for different Buddhist traditions,
07:27carved into a 75-meter rock face.
07:29The artwork within includes paintings depicting the past lives and rebirths of the Buddha,
07:34stories from Arya Sura Jatakamala, and sculptures of Buddhist deities.
07:39Historical records do indicate that the caves provided a monsoon retreat for monks and had
07:43a resting site for merchants and pilgrims.
07:46Among the rich collection of Indian mural paintings, Caves 1, 2, 16, and 17 hold the
07:51largest surviving corpus.
07:53The Ajanta Caves were covered by jungle until their accidental discovery in 1819 by British
07:59officer Captain John Smith during a tiger hunt.
08:02The paintings predominantly narrate the Jataka Tales, which describe the previous births
08:06of the Buddha.
08:07These fables convey ancient morals and cultural lore shared with Hindu and Jain traditions.
08:13The tales highlight the Buddhist life and examples and sacrifices across hundreds of
08:17past incarnations, depicting him as reborn in various forms, both animal and human.
08:2310.
08:25The Altamira Cave Paintings The Cave of Altamira, located in Cantabria,
08:30Spain, is renowned for its prehistoric cave art, which features charcoal drawings and
08:34polychrome paintings of local fauna and human hands.
08:38The earliest paintings, created around 36,000 years ago during the Upper Paleolithic, were
08:42discovered in 1868 by Modesto Cubillas and later studied by Marcelo Sartuala.
08:48Altamira gained fame as the first European cave with paintings suggested to be prehistoric,
08:53though this claim initially sparked controversy among experts who doubted the artistic capabilities
08:58of prehistoric humans.
08:59It wasn't until 1902, after similar findings in the Franco-Cantabrian region, that this
09:03prehistoric origin of Altamira's paintings was widely accepted.
09:07In 1985, UNESCO declared Altamira a World Heritage Site, recognizing its significance
09:12within the Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic cave art of northern Spain.
09:17For conservation reasons, the cave is no longer open to the public, but replicas are available
09:22for viewing.
09:23The cave's paintings, created with charcoal, ochre, and hematite, often utilize the natural
09:27contours of the cave walls to achieve a three-dimensional effect.
09:32The most impressive feature is the polychrome ceiling, which depicts a herd of extinct steppe
09:36bison, horses, a large doe, and possibly a wild boar.
09:41Number 9.
09:42Lascaux Caves, France Lascaux Cave in southwestern France contains
09:48over 600 parietal wall paintings depicting large animals from the Upper Paleolithic Period,
09:53around 17,000 years ago.
09:55These paintings, created by multiple generations, represent local fauna and are considered masterpieces
10:00of prehistoric art.
10:02It was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, and this cave has been closed
10:06to the public since 1963 to prevent damage.
10:10Discovered on September 12, 1940, by Marcel Revedat and his friends, the cave features
10:14various galleries named the Hall of the Bulls, the Passageway, the Shaft, the Nave, the Apes,
10:21and the Chamber of Felines.
10:23Despite initial archaeological investigations, human activity in the cave caused significant
10:28deterioration, leading to its closure and subsequent restoration efforts.
10:34Number 8.
10:35The Cave of the Crystals, Mexico The Cave of the Crystals in Naica, Chihuahua,
10:41Mexico contains some of the largest natural crystals ever found.
10:45Discovered in April 2000 by brothers Juan and Pedro Sanchez, the cave lies 300 meters
10:51below the surface and features giant selenite crystals, the largest measuring over 11.4
10:57meters and weighing over 12 tons.
10:59The cave's extreme heat and humidity, reaching up to 58 degrees Celsius, makes it too difficult
11:04to explore without proper protection.
11:07The cave formed over half a million years ago through a process involving mineral-saturated
11:11heated water and by an underground magma chamber.
11:15The other caverns, such as the Queen's Eye Cave and Candle's Cave, were discovered in
11:192000, and the Ice Palace was found in 2009, featuring smaller crystals.
11:26Number 7.
11:27Neanderthal Stone Circles Brunickel Cave is an archaeological site near
11:32Brunickel in an area which has many Paleolithic sites in southwestern France.
11:37Ring and pile structures made of broken stalagmites have been found 330 meters from the cave entrance,
11:43which given that traces of fire were also found, the constructions have been dated to
11:47approximately 176,000 years ago.
11:50They've become known as the Neanderthal Circles.
11:53In a letter to Nature reporting the discovery in 2016, Jacques Jobur and his co-authors
11:57state that the structures are anthropogenic origin, and early Neanderthals were the only
12:02humans in the area at the time.
12:04They must have been the builders, a conclusion that's accepted by Chris Stringer of the Natural
12:08History Museum in London.
12:10The discovery demonstrates early Neanderthals were capable of building more elaborate structures
12:14than previously realized and had a more complex social organization than previously thought.
12:19The modern human Ornacean culture, more than 100,000 years later, is not known to have
12:24produced constructions in caves.
12:26This cave was closed naturally during the Pleistocene, but a complex structure containing
12:30three circles located in the cave was discovered when cavers dug through the collapsed entrance
12:34in 1990.
12:36During the initial research in the cave during the early 1990s, a plan was made of the circles.
12:40A burnt bone found in the cave was carbon dated to more than 47,000 years because carbon-14
12:45was no longer detectable in the bone, indicating thus a greater age.
12:50Very few of these stalagmites are whole, half of being in the middle of a broken-off portion
12:55trimmed to exclude the root and tip, and all six structures show signs of fire with 57
13:00reddened and 66 blackened pieces.
13:02Burnt organic material was also found, including a 6.5-centimeter bone from a bear or large
13:07herbivore, and as of 2023, no other evidence of human activity is yet to be found during
13:12the archaeological research that continues in this cave.
13:16Number 6.
13:17The Cave of Letters The cave in Nahal Hevir in the Judean Desert
13:21contains letters in papyri from the Roman Empire period, including correspondence from
13:26the Bar-Kobar Revolt.
13:28Discovered by Bedouin in the 1950s and explored further in 1960, the cave reveals artifacts
13:33from the Roman periods.
13:35Notable finds include the Bar-Kobar letters, the Babatha's legal documents, coins, bronze
13:40vessels, and human remains, providing insights into historical conflicts and daily life.
13:46The cave's name derives from the letters found within, which have offered valuable
13:49information about the period and the individuals who sought refuge there.
13:53On March 23, 1960, four teams set out to explore the caves over a period of two weeks.
13:58The first was finding a niche of skulls, tucked away in a crevice opening where remains of
14:02human skeletons wrapped in textiles and covered in a large mat were.
14:07One skeleton was covered by a colorful mat and other textiles, while the remains of a
14:11child dressed in a tunic were discovered in a leather-lined basket.
14:15Other finds of archaeological significance were samples of the Bar-Kobar Revolt coinage
14:20and inscribed on one side, Shemion, and on the other side, To the Freedom of Jerusalem.
14:25Some arrows were found at the entrance to the cave, and a basket of bronze vessels and
14:28incense shovels were found.
14:30They had been made with Roman images on them, but the faces of the various pagan gods and
14:34creatures were defaced.
14:375.
14:38The Lake of Liquid Sky Deep beneath Carlsbad Caverns National Park
14:42in New Mexico lies a stunning natural wonder, the Lake of Liquid Sky.
14:47It was discovered within a network of unexplored cave passages.
14:51This pristine pool sits around 700 feet below the park's surface.
14:55Described as completely pristine, the pool had never been seen by human eyes before its
15:00discovery.
15:01Its unique appearance, surrounded by white frosted rock, gives it an almost unearthly
15:05feel, and the water itself is crystal clear but appears creamy and milky, a visual illusion
15:11created by the unique conditions within the cave.
15:14First uncovered in 1993, the pool is part of the extensive Lechuguilla cave system,
15:18known for being one of the longest and deepest caves in the world.
15:22This system, once considered insignificant, now features over 138 miles of mapped passages.
15:29Microbiologists have discovered new species of microbes in the cave's pool, including
15:33this latest addition.
15:34The water in the pool is believed to have originated from ancient rainwater that seeped
15:38through the limestone above and slowly made its way down into the cave.
15:42The discovery of this pristine pool highlights the ongoing importance of cave exploration.
15:47The delicate ecosystem within the cave too, isolated for hundreds of thousands of years,
15:52offers invaluable insights into microbial life and geological processes.
15:56The Lake of Liquid Sky remains an example of the hidden wonders of our natural world,
16:01continuing to attract researchers and explorers eager to uncover its secrets.
16:064.
16:07Cave of the Hands The Cave of the Hands, or Cueva de las Manos,
16:12is an extraordinary rock art site located in Santa Cruz, Argentina.
16:16Named for the hundreds of hand stencils adorning the walls, this cave offers a vivid glimpse
16:21into the lives of early South American hunter-gatherers.
16:24These hand paintings, created between 7300 BC and 700 AD, are among the best material
16:29evidence of these ancient groups.
16:31The artwork includes depictions of people, animals, and numerous human hands created
16:36using a technique where the paint was sprayed through bone pipes to stencil the outlines.
16:41The authenticity and age of the paintings have been verified through various dating
16:45methods, including radiocarbon dating of the bone pieces used for spraying the paint.
16:50Chemical analysis of the pigments has further confirmed their historical significance.
16:54This site was designated as a National Historic Monument in Argentina and a UNESCO World Heritage
16:59It provides valuable insights into the culture and artistic expression of its ancient inhabitants.
17:05In addition to those hand stencils, the cave art includes representations of animals that
17:09the inhabitants hunted, such as guanacos, and the overlapping layers of paint suggest
17:14multiple waves of occupation and artistic activity over thousands of years.
17:18The Cave of Hands is an example of the ingenuity of early humans, preserving a rich cultural
17:23heritage that continues to fascinate scholars and visitors today.
17:283.
17:29Pangayasadi Pangayasadi, located in southeastern Kenya,
17:34is an archaeological treasure trove with a long record of human activities.
17:38This cave has provided continuous history of human occupation, dating from around 78,000
17:43years ago until approximately 400 years ago.
17:46The most significant discoveries here are ancient human remains, including a child's
17:50tooth dating back over 78,000 years.
17:52It is believed to be part of Africa's oldest intentional burial.
17:56This find indicates that a burial practice where the child's head was laid on a pillow
18:01and the body was placed in a fetal position.
18:04Further excavations revealed an Iron Age burial from about 400 years ago, where an adult male
18:08was interred alongside artifacts such as a marine shell, beads, small stone tools, and
18:13a ton of tradition pottery.
18:16The ancient DNA recovered from these remains shows a close genetic relationship with both
18:20ancient and present-day hunter-gatherers in eastern Africa.
18:24These findings provide a deep insight into the cultural practices and lifestyles of these
18:28ancient inhabitants.
18:30The continuous occupation of Pangayasadi demonstrates the adaptability of human populations over
18:35tens of thousands of years.
18:37And this site continues to be a focal point for research that's going to enhance our understanding
18:42of early human history in Africa.
18:441.
18:45The Cradle of Humankind – South Africa Sterkfontein, part of the Cradle of Humankind
18:51in South Africa, is a site of immense paleoanthropological significance.
18:56It's located about 40 kilometers northwest of Johannesburg.
19:00These limestone caves have yielded some of the most critical discoveries related to early
19:04human ancestors.
19:06Modern excavation began in the late 1890s, when miners stumbled upon fossils and brought
19:10them to scientists' attention.
19:12In 1936, students of Professor Raymond Dart and Dr. Robert Broome from the University
19:17of Witwatersund started systematic excavations, uncovering the first adult Australopithecine,
19:23a pivotal find supporting Dart's claim that the Taung child was a human ancestor.
19:29Excavations stopped during World War II but resumed afterwards, leading to the discovery
19:33of a nearly complete Australopithecus africanus skull known as Mrs. Plez in 1947 by Dr. Broome.
19:40In 1997, Ronald J. Clark discovered a nearly complete skeleton of another Australopithecus
19:46species, nicknamed Littlefoot.
19:48Extraction of this skeleton from the surrounding breccia is ongoing, with each find adding
19:53to our understanding of human evolution.
19:56This site has produced over 500 hominid fossils, making it one of the richest sites in the
20:01world for early hominids.
20:03Its designation as a World Heritage Site in 2000 does underscore its global importance,
20:07and it's supported by the Paleoanthropology Scientific Trust, and ongoing research at
20:11Sturkfontein continues to provide invaluable insights into the origins and development
20:16of early humans, cementing its place as a cornerstone of paleoanthropology.
20:22Thanks for sitting through all that guys, I'll see you next time.