The chances of these prehistoric mysteries ever being solved are slim to none. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down enduring mysteries from the mists of prehistory.
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00:00Some of the lines are thousands of meters all the way up to 25 miles and this is quite incredible.
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down enduring mysteries from the mists of prehistory.
00:11Inevitably in archaeology if we don't know what something is for we think of ritual
00:15but really it's pure speculation.
00:19Number 10. The purpose of Stonehenge.
00:22Every year a million people descend on Stonehenge.
00:27They ask the age-old questions about this mysterious monument.
00:32This famed prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England was constructed around 5,000 years ago.
00:38Its origins have been a topic of speculation with conjectures including an astronomical observatory,
00:43a religious site or a place for rituals.
00:46Recent archaeological findings suggest Stonehenge may have been part of a larger sacred landscape
00:52including nearby burial mounds and ceremonial pathways.
00:55Nearly 60 human burials were excavated here.
00:59Many in that outer ring of 56 pits known as the Aubrey holes.
01:04The transportation and erection of its massive stones some weighing up to 25 tons
01:09remains an impressive feat considering the limited technology of the time.
01:13The alignment of the stones with solstices suggests a connection to celestial events.
01:18Stonehenge's design and construction exhibit sophisticated understanding of mathematics
01:23and astronomy by its builders.
01:38Number 9. The Settlement of the Americas.
01:41The timing and route of the first human settlement in the Americas have been the subject of extensive
01:47research and discussion among archaeologists and anthropologists.
01:51While the traditional theory suggests migration from Asia to North America
01:55via the Bering Land Bridge around 13,000 years ago, recent discoveries challenge this timeline.
02:00There are plenty of unresolved questions about this though like when exactly the migration
02:05happened and why the ancient Native American and East Asian genomes are so different.
02:08Sites like Monte Verde in Chile and Bluefish Caves in Canada suggest an earlier presence,
02:14potentially predating the Clovis culture.
02:17This gave rise to a new theory that humans may have traveled by boat,
02:21starting in Beringia and sailing down the coast some 16,000 years ago.
02:26These findings imply alternative migration routes, including coastal or island hopping paths.
02:32Genetic studies have added complexity to the debate, indicating multiple waves of migration.
02:37Understanding the initial peopling of the Americas sheds light on migration patterns
02:42and the adaptation of humans to new environments.
02:45Number 8. The Tassili-Najir Rock Art
02:48Numerous paintings, some dating back 8,000 years,
02:52give us a glimpse of how life changed and evolved in the Sahara over the centuries.
02:56Located in the Sahara Desert of Algeria, the Tassili-Najir Plateau features one of
03:02the most important collections of prehistoric rock art in the world.
03:05The art, dating back to the Neolithic period,
03:08includes thousands of paintings and engravings depicting a wide range of subjects.
03:13This three-meter-tall painting of a god-like figure is the oldest painting in the area.
03:18His biceps and horns are symbols of power and strength.
03:21These works illustrate a transition from a wetter climate with savanna-like environments
03:26to the current desert conditions. The art provides clues about the lifestyle,
03:31beliefs, and environment of the prehistoric inhabitants of the region.
03:34The depiction of animals such as giraffes, elephants, and cattle
03:38indicate a once diverse and abundant wildlife.
03:41Paintings dating from around 6,000 years ago show people tending large herds of cows,
03:47but there are also scenes of battles with bows and arrows.
03:51The Extinction of Megafauna
03:52When in recent history the fossils of megafauna began to emerge,
03:57people were as intrigued as they were confused.
04:00Around 10,000 years ago, the world witnessed the abrupt disappearance of large prehistoric
04:05animals known as megafauna, including the woolly mammoth, saber-toothed cats, and giant
04:10ground sloths. Despite its looming presence, the giant sloth was a gentle herbivore. Not really
04:16built for speed, it weighed in at over two tons. The leading theories for their extinction are
04:22overhunting and climate change, but a definitive cause remains elusive. Some researchers suggest
04:28a combination of both factors, along with other possibilities like disease and environmental
04:33changes. The loss of these megafauna had profound ecological impacts, altering ecosystems and the
04:39biodiversity of regions worldwide. Their extinction also coincides with the end of the last ice age,
04:45adding complexity to the understanding of climate and environmental shifts during prehistoric times.
04:516. The Lascaux Cave Paintings
05:04This cave in southwestern France is renowned for its Paleolithic paintings, estimated to be over
05:1017,000 years old. These paintings depict a variety of animals, human figures,
05:15and abstract symbols, showcasing a high level of artistic skill for the time.
05:20Cave paintings were mostly created with red or black pigments made from rocks.
05:25Some artworks were painted directly onto cave walls, while some were first engraved into the
05:31stone with tools. The purpose of the paintings is unknown, with potential explanations ranging
05:36from religious or ceremonial functions to expressions of early storytelling or documentation.
05:41Symbols repeated across artworks may indicate that those symbols had agreed-upon meanings
05:46among the artists. Thus, perhaps cave art also represents the earliest form of graphic
05:52communication. The cave's discovery in 1940 provided invaluable insights into upper
05:57Paleolithic life and art. The variety of animals painted, including horses, deer, and large cats,
06:04indicates a rich biodiversity in the region during that period. The paintings also raise
06:09questions about the symbolic and communicative abilities of early humans and their relationship
06:14with their environment. Cave artists were prehistoric naturalists. Their detailed
06:20drawings may teach us about the appearance and behavior of animals that have long been extinct.
06:25Number 5. The Origin of Language. Language is probably the hardest problem in science.
06:33Nobody really knows how it works, and nobody really knows where it came from.
06:37Indeed, we can all do it. How language began is a complex and unresolved issue in the field
06:43of linguistics and anthropology. The lack of direct evidence makes it challenging to pinpoint
06:48when and how humans developed structured, symbolic communication. Theories on the origin range from
06:54a gradual evolution of language from animal calls to a sudden emergence due to genetic mutations.
07:00The fossil record of our ancestors and relatives can still give us important clues about the time
07:06when we first talked. The development of language is closely tied to the evolution of the brain,
07:11particularly regions associated with speech and cognitive processing. The appearance of
07:16symbolic artefacts such as cave paintings and carved figurines suggests the presence of abstract
07:23thinking and communication skills in early humans. Number 4. Gobekli Tepe's Purpose.
07:29It's a real mystery here. Who built this place? And more importantly, how could they have done it?
07:36Located in southeastern Turkey, Gobekli Tepe is one of the oldest temple complexes known,
07:41dating back to around 11,000 years ago. The site predates Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids,
07:47challenging traditional views of the development of complex societies. Gobekli Tepe consists of
07:53massive stone pillars arranged in circles, many carved with elaborate animal motifs and
07:58abstract symbols. The site's construction
08:06implies a high degree of social organisation and communal effort, suggesting that religious or
08:11ritual activities played a significant role in early societies. Gobekli Tepe remains a subject
08:17of speculation, and possible explanations include a ceremonial site, a centre for a cult, or a
08:23gathering place for hunter-gatherers. Number 3. The Venus Figurines.
08:34It's the earliest representation of a human being, and it's the absolute root of figurative
08:41depiction as we know it. The small prehistoric statuettes depicting female figures found across
08:46Europe and parts of Asia date back to between 30,000 and 10,000 years ago. These figurines vary
08:53in style and detail, but most share common features, such as emphasised breasts and hips.
08:59The widespread distribution of these figurines suggests a shared cultural or symbolic significance
09:05across different Paleolithic societies. Theories include representations of fertility or motherhood,
09:11symbols of a mother goddess, or simply artistic expressions. Some researchers propose that the
09:17figurines may have been used in rituals or served as amulets. We can see very clearly, for instance,
09:23that the figurine has no head, right? Instead of a head, the figurine has a ring. It was perhaps
09:28worn at times, suspended on a string of some sort. The variation in their forms, from realistic to
09:35highly stylized, indicates a diversity of cultural practices and beliefs among prehistoric peoples.
09:41The sexual attributes are key, which clearly link this depiction to ideas of reproduction,
09:47fecundity, sexuality, ideas that are absolutely essential to all of humanity also today.
09:54Number 2. The Nazca Lines.
10:04Peru is the location of the Nazca Lines, a series of large geoglyphs created by the
10:09Nazca culture between 500 BCE and 500 CE. The designs, visible only from a high vantage point
10:16or the air, include various animals, plants, and geometric shapes.
10:25The purpose of these lines is still debated, with hypotheses ranging from
10:30astronomical markers to religious or ceremonial functions. The geoglyphs were made by removing
10:44the reddish-brown, iron-oxide-coated pebbles that cover the surface of the Nazca Desert,
10:49and revealing the light-coloured earth underneath. The preservation of the lines,
10:53despite being in a region prone to earthquakes and wind erosion, is remarkable.
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11:14Number 1. The Disappearance of Neanderthals.
11:18Neanderthals, a distinct species or subspecies of archaic humans,
11:22lived in Eurasia until approximately 40,000 years ago. Their disappearance coincides with
11:27the arrival and spread of anatomically modern humans in Europe and Asia. Various attempts
11:40have been put forward to explain their extinction, including competition for resources,
11:45climate change, and a lower reproduction rate. Genetic evidence shows interbreeding
11:58between Neanderthals and modern humans, with traces of Neanderthal DNA present in the modern
12:03human genome. The Neanderthals' ability to create tools, use fire, and possibly have
12:13symbolic thought and language indicates a high level of cognitive and cultural complexity.
12:19Their disappearance marked a significant event in our evolution.
12:23What do you think is the biggest unsolved prehistoric mystery? Let us know in the comments!
12:43And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.