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Lesser-known ancient sites that make you go WOW!

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Day 4 of excavating the Sacsayhuaman walls. If you guessed that it was going deeper, you were right. What seems to be another layer of blocks starts to appear! 🧵 1/3

Day 4 of excavating the Sacsayhuaman walls. If you guessed that it was going deeper, you were right. What seems to be another layer of blocks starts to appear! 🧵 1/3

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Day 3 of excavating the Sacsayhuaman wall. About 60cm deep. How much deeper do you think this wall go? Place your bets. 1/3. Check the other excavations below.

Day 3 of excavating the Sacsayhuaman wall. About 60cm deep. How much deeper do you think this wall go? Place your bets. 1/3. Check the other excavations below.

272,573 Aufrufe

🚨Exciting news for archaeology and for human knowledge in general! It has been a long and tedious process, but the Peruvian Ministry of Culture has finally granted permission to export geological samples that will hopefully enable the age of Sacsayhuaman's construction to be determined! Three types of samples have been collected for analysis using different dating methods, and some of them are already on their way to different labs in the US and in Europe. 1 - Soil samples collected from right beneath the blocks that make up the megalithic walls of Sacsayhuaman for Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating – this method is used to determine the time elapsed since minerals like quartz and feldspar were last exposed to sunlight by measuring the light energy (luminescence) released from trapped electrons that accumulated in the mineral crystal lattice due to natural radiation since their last bleaching/reset event (i.e., when the ground was covered by the blocks). 2 - Limestone samples from megalithic blocks, quarry sites and carved bedrock, for Cosmogenic Nuclides dating – this method is used to determine the age of geological surfaces by measuring the accumulation of rare isotopes (mainly ³⁶Cl) produced when the limestone is hit by cosmic rays. 3 - Speleothems samples (calcium carbonate deposits such as stalactite or flowstone) collected on carved surfaces for Uranium-Thorium dating – this method is used to calculate the age of carbonate materials by measuring the buildup of thorium-230 from the slow decay of its uranium-234 parent isotope. This won’t give us the age of the carving of these rocks, but this will give us a minimum age, since the rock was obviously cut before these deposits formed. Additionally, if some organic material is found in the soil or speleothems samples, radiocarbon dating will also be performed, which would give us a fourth means of dating the construction of the site. Whether you believe this megalithic site was built by the Incas or by a much older civilization, science will hopefully put an end to this debate once and for all. And, to top it all off, some limestone samples have also been sent to the Geopolymer Institute of Joseph Davidovits for analysis. This is proof, if any were needed, that not all archaeologists are dogmatic and closed to alternative theories. Now, Let's hope that all these methods will yield results. Whatever these results may be, they will be the subject of a scientific publication, and I will share them here on X, so make sure to follow. This could potentially rewrite history!

🚨Exciting news for archaeology and for human knowledge in general! It has been a long and tedious process, but the Peruvian Ministry of Culture has finally granted permission to export geological samples that will hopefully enable the age of Sacsayhuaman's construction to be determined! Three types of samples have been collected for analysis using different dating methods, and some of them are already on their way to different labs in the US and in Europe. 1 - Soil samples collected from right beneath the blocks that make up the megalithic walls of Sacsayhuaman for Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating – this method is used to determine the time elapsed since minerals like quartz and feldspar were last exposed to sunlight by measuring the light energy (luminescence) released from trapped electrons that accumulated in the mineral crystal lattice due to natural radiation since their last bleaching/reset event (i.e., when the ground was covered by the blocks). 2 - Limestone samples from megalithic blocks, quarry sites and carved bedrock, for Cosmogenic Nuclides dating – this method is used to determine the age of geological surfaces by measuring the accumulation of rare isotopes (mainly ³⁶Cl) produced when the limestone is hit by cosmic rays. 3 - Speleothems samples (calcium carbonate deposits such as stalactite or flowstone) collected on carved surfaces for Uranium-Thorium dating – this method is used to calculate the age of carbonate materials by measuring the buildup of thorium-230 from the slow decay of its uranium-234 parent isotope. This won’t give us the age of the carving of these rocks, but this will give us a minimum age, since the rock was obviously cut before these deposits formed. Additionally, if some organic material is found in the soil or speleothems samples, radiocarbon dating will also be performed, which would give us a fourth means of dating the construction of the site. Whether you believe this megalithic site was built by the Incas or by a much older civilization, science will hopefully put an end to this debate once and for all. And, to top it all off, some limestone samples have also been sent to the Geopolymer Institute of Joseph Davidovits for analysis. This is proof, if any were needed, that not all archaeologists are dogmatic and closed to alternative theories. Now, Let's hope that all these methods will yield results. Whatever these results may be, they will be the subject of a scientific publication, and I will share them here on X, so make sure to follow. This could potentially rewrite history!

113,042 Aufrufe

Update on the excavation of the Sacsayhuaman wall on day 2. Before you comment that they haven't made much progress, you should know that archaeological digs are slow for a reason, and that no, you cannot use a backhoe. I get the frustration, but patience is a virtue.

Update on the excavation of the Sacsayhuaman wall on day 2. Before you comment that they haven't made much progress, you should know that archaeological digs are slow for a reason, and that no, you cannot use a backhoe. I get the frustration, but patience is a virtue.

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Day 5 of "How deep do the Sacsayhuaman walls go?" Current depth: about 100cm (video shot at midday). The stones of the 3rd pit are coming out tomorrow. 🧵1/3

Day 5 of "How deep do the Sacsayhuaman walls go?" Current depth: about 100cm (video shot at midday). The stones of the 3rd pit are coming out tomorrow. 🧵1/3

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🚨BREAKING NEWS, WE'RE BREAKING GROUND!🚨 Today is a day to remember for Peruvian archaeology! The excavations of the chincanas have officially started in Sacsayhuaman. Three 2x2m squares are being dug simultaneously above the main section of the chincana that goes under the iconic megalithic walls. I'll see if I can live stream on Youtube in a few days when things get really interesting (i.e. when the roof of the chincana comes into view). Stay tuned!

🚨BREAKING NEWS, WE'RE BREAKING GROUND!🚨 Today is a day to remember for Peruvian archaeology! The excavations of the chincanas have officially started in Sacsayhuaman. Three 2x2m squares are being dug simultaneously above the main section of the chincana that goes under the iconic megalithic walls. I'll see if I can live stream on Youtube in a few days when things get really interesting (i.e. when the roof of the chincana comes into view). Stay tuned!

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Looks like the entrance of some random cave, right? Wait till you see what’s inside! Why would anyone go to such great lengths to build a wall with such precise masonry? Could it be the entrance to a deeper underground structure that has since been sealed off? Yet another mystery of Ancient Peru…

Looks like the entrance of some random cave, right? Wait till you see what’s inside! Why would anyone go to such great lengths to build a wall with such precise masonry? Could it be the entrance to a deeper underground structure that has since been sealed off? Yet another mystery of Ancient Peru…

Weird Old World

42,410 Aufrufe • vor 20 Stunden

Yuraq Rumi, also know as Ñusta Hispana is a site that few people visit because of its remoteness. It is about a 6-hour drive west of Cusco. It’s been on my list for years and I finally had a chance to go there last week. This imposing monolith of white granite (covered with black fungus), whose name means "White Rock" in Quechua, is as mysterious as it is mind-blowing, given the apparent randomness and precision of all these cuts in such hard rock. I was lucky enough to visit while archaeological excavations were underway. Two new excavation pits are set to open this week, including one at the base of the monolith, as indicated by the white strings visible on the ground. Archaeologists have already found metal artifacts buried in the ground. I'll do my best to keep you updated on any new discoveries coming out of this exciting project. Check out the comments for additional photos.

Yuraq Rumi, also know as Ñusta Hispana is a site that few people visit because of its remoteness. It is about a 6-hour drive west of Cusco. It’s been on my list for years and I finally had a chance to go there last week. This imposing monolith of white granite (covered with black fungus), whose name means "White Rock" in Quechua, is as mysterious as it is mind-blowing, given the apparent randomness and precision of all these cuts in such hard rock. I was lucky enough to visit while archaeological excavations were underway. Two new excavation pits are set to open this week, including one at the base of the monolith, as indicated by the white strings visible on the ground. Archaeologists have already found metal artifacts buried in the ground. I'll do my best to keep you updated on any new discoveries coming out of this exciting project. Check out the comments for additional photos.

Weird Old World

294,876 Aufrufe • vor 7 Tagen

You’re probably familiar with the Nazca lines, and perhaps even with the lesser-known Palpa geoglyphs, which I’ve posted videos of before, but very few people know about the Paracas geoglyphs. In fact, they’re so little known (apart from the famous Candelabra) that I couldn’t even find any photos or videos of them online before filming them. You’ll find photos of each of them separately in the comments. What do you think they represent? I’ll post videos of more rarely seen geoglyphs and a so-called "lost city" I filmed in remote corners of the Peruvian desert in the coming days after I’ve sorted through my footage.

You’re probably familiar with the Nazca lines, and perhaps even with the lesser-known Palpa geoglyphs, which I’ve posted videos of before, but very few people know about the Paracas geoglyphs. In fact, they’re so little known (apart from the famous Candelabra) that I couldn’t even find any photos or videos of them online before filming them. You’ll find photos of each of them separately in the comments. What do you think they represent? I’ll post videos of more rarely seen geoglyphs and a so-called "lost city" I filmed in remote corners of the Peruvian desert in the coming days after I’ve sorted through my footage.

Weird Old World

65,307 Aufrufe • vor 18 Tagen

The mysterious "Band of Holes", also known as Monte Sierpe or Viruela, is a site near Pisco in Peru, that consists of more than 5,000 pits and which stretches over 1.5 km of rugged terrain, which gives it the appearance of a snake. Its origin and function remain unknown to this day.

The mysterious "Band of Holes", also known as Monte Sierpe or Viruela, is a site near Pisco in Peru, that consists of more than 5,000 pits and which stretches over 1.5 km of rugged terrain, which gives it the appearance of a snake. Its origin and function remain unknown to this day.

Weird Old World

34,354 Aufrufe • vor 10 Tagen

Possibly never filmed before Nazca geoglyphs! These 4 geoglyphs that look like targets or crosshairs are made of pebbles so small that they are almost invisible in satellite images. Modern drones, which are flying farther and longer than ever before, are ushering in a new era in desert exploration. Chances are that many other geoglyphs of this type remain to be discovered. I'll be going back to Nazca to try to document them all. Whether they are modern or ancient, whether they are works of art or serve a practical purpose, their origins remain a mystery. Who do you think made them and why?

Possibly never filmed before Nazca geoglyphs! These 4 geoglyphs that look like targets or crosshairs are made of pebbles so small that they are almost invisible in satellite images. Modern drones, which are flying farther and longer than ever before, are ushering in a new era in desert exploration. Chances are that many other geoglyphs of this type remain to be discovered. I'll be going back to Nazca to try to document them all. Whether they are modern or ancient, whether they are works of art or serve a practical purpose, their origins remain a mystery. Who do you think made them and why?

Weird Old World

40,728 Aufrufe • vor 14 Tagen

Suspense intensifies in Cusco as the chincana excavations get deeper and muddier.

Suspense intensifies in Cusco as the chincana excavations get deeper and muddier.

Weird Old World

63,588 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

New development in the search for tunnels beneath Cusco. The Chincana Project team has examined various access points leading to underground passages beneath the floor of Cusco Cathedral. To be continued...

New development in the search for tunnels beneath Cusco. The Chincana Project team has examined various access points leading to underground passages beneath the floor of Cusco Cathedral. To be continued...

Weird Old World

212,746 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

Day 6 of "How deep do the Sacsayhuaman walls go?" Depth of pit #1 is now about 140cm and we still can't see the bottom of the buried block. 1/3

Day 6 of "How deep do the Sacsayhuaman walls go?" Depth of pit #1 is now about 140cm and we still can't see the bottom of the buried block. 1/3

Weird Old World

326,370 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten

The things you find in the Peruvian desert... What in the world of geoglyphic rebus is that?! An eye, an anchor and a crash test target? How would you interepret these geoglyphs? Filmed in the Ica desert, not too far from the Nasca lines. Tomorrow I'll post a video of a lost city I filmed on the same day.

The things you find in the Peruvian desert... What in the world of geoglyphic rebus is that?! An eye, an anchor and a crash test target? How would you interepret these geoglyphs? Filmed in the Ica desert, not too far from the Nasca lines. Tomorrow I'll post a video of a lost city I filmed on the same day.

Weird Old World

24,593 Aufrufe • vor 17 Tagen

Have you ever visited Sacsayhuaman and wondered how much of the walls was still buried underground? How deep do these huge blocks really go? Well, we’re about to find out...

Have you ever visited Sacsayhuaman and wondered how much of the walls was still buried underground? How deep do these huge blocks really go? Well, we’re about to find out...

Weird Old World

242,814 Aufrufe • vor 10 Monaten

Update on the flooded chamber beneath Cusco cathedral. It looks like the back wall might conceal another cavity. And after removing a stone slab from the floor, air bubbles rose to the surface. Could the fabled chincana be located underneath? To be continued...

Update on the flooded chamber beneath Cusco cathedral. It looks like the back wall might conceal another cavity. And after removing a stone slab from the floor, air bubbles rose to the surface. Could the fabled chincana be located underneath? To be continued...

Weird Old World

103,509 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

Another possibly undocumented Nazca geometric geoglyph. What’s even more interesting are the ruins buried right next to it. Look at the extent of these structures in the last seconds of the video! As far as I know this site doesn’t have a name, has never been excavated and is not even registered with the Ministry of Culture. I'd love to have a drone-mounted GPR to see what else could be buried in this desert!

Another possibly undocumented Nazca geometric geoglyph. What’s even more interesting are the ruins buried right next to it. Look at the extent of these structures in the last seconds of the video! As far as I know this site doesn’t have a name, has never been excavated and is not even registered with the Ministry of Culture. I'd love to have a drone-mounted GPR to see what else could be buried in this desert!

Weird Old World

12,906 Aufrufe • vor 12 Tagen

Day 8 of the Sacsayhuaman walls excavations. This is it. The bottom has been reached in all 3 pits. In the deepest one (first video) the bottom block sits at about 190cm/6.2ft. Now, the most interesting part can begin — Soil sampling and dating! Once the analyses have been done, we should finally know when these walls have been built! Place your bets!

Day 8 of the Sacsayhuaman walls excavations. This is it. The bottom has been reached in all 3 pits. In the deepest one (first video) the bottom block sits at about 190cm/6.2ft. Now, the most interesting part can begin — Soil sampling and dating! Once the analyses have been done, we should finally know when these walls have been built! Place your bets!

Weird Old World

181,584 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten

The step pyramid of Djoser, located in Saqqara is allegedly the first Egyptian pyramid to have been built, during the third dynasty in the 27th century BC. It rests on a HUGE substructure that extends more than 30 meters below ground over at least six floors, and which is closed to the public. This network of underground tunnels stretches over more than 6 km and forms a labyrinth around a huge central shaft. This is where more than 40,000 predynastic stone vessels were found (like the precision stone vases of Matt Beall’s collection) As you can see on the pictures, many shards of broken stone vessels can still be found down there. Check out the video to get an idea of what it looks like. Thanks to Trevor Grassi for arranging a private visit for us. Hopefully we’ll have a 3D model of it soon!

The step pyramid of Djoser, located in Saqqara is allegedly the first Egyptian pyramid to have been built, during the third dynasty in the 27th century BC. It rests on a HUGE substructure that extends more than 30 meters below ground over at least six floors, and which is closed to the public. This network of underground tunnels stretches over more than 6 km and forms a labyrinth around a huge central shaft. This is where more than 40,000 predynastic stone vessels were found (like the precision stone vases of Matt Beall’s collection) As you can see on the pictures, many shards of broken stone vessels can still be found down there. Check out the video to get an idea of what it looks like. Thanks to Trevor Grassi for arranging a private visit for us. Hopefully we’ll have a 3D model of it soon!

Weird Old World

91,802 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

Someone recently found this skull of a so called "duende" in the mountains near Cusco. Duendes are small beings that allegedly live in caves and trees and that many people of this region claim to have seen at some point in their life. Looks like it would be hard to make something like this. What do you think?

Someone recently found this skull of a so called "duende" in the mountains near Cusco. Duendes are small beings that allegedly live in caves and trees and that many people of this region claim to have seen at some point in their life. Looks like it would be hard to make something like this. What do you think?

Weird Old World

143,152 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Inside an excavation pit of the chincana project in Cusco... Muddy business!

Inside an excavation pit of the chincana project in Cusco... Muddy business!

Weird Old World

13,958 Aufrufe • vor 26 Tagen

A roped off area of Sacsayhuaman that rarely gets filmed. Look at all these cuts!

A roped off area of Sacsayhuaman that rarely gets filmed. Look at all these cuts!

Weird Old World

111,299 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

This morning in Cusco, a man hit the iconic twelve-angled stone with a hammer several times, causing irreversible damage. He's since been arrested. Video credit: El Buho.

This morning in Cusco, a man hit the iconic twelve-angled stone with a hammer several times, causing irreversible damage. He's since been arrested. Video credit: El Buho.

Weird Old World

106,680 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Chincana Project update - Day 80 This line of at least 5 equal-sized carved blocks a few meters underground could be from the roof of a collapsed tunnel. Things are getting interesting in Sacsayhuaman. Also notice the piece of bone.

Chincana Project update - Day 80 This line of at least 5 equal-sized carved blocks a few meters underground could be from the roof of a collapsed tunnel. Things are getting interesting in Sacsayhuaman. Also notice the piece of bone.

Weird Old World

65,813 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten

There are a lot of peculiar limestone blocks in Sacsayhuaman, but this one is quite unique, with a mix of waxy, porous and fibrous/stringy textures when you look really close. Check out the close-up pictures in the comments. If there are geologists reading this, I’d love to know what those tiny filaments are (photo 2) and what could cause the spongy texture (photo 3). Is that something that commonly occurs during the formation of sedimentary rocks? I’m also curious to know how team geopolymer would reconcile this with their theory.

There are a lot of peculiar limestone blocks in Sacsayhuaman, but this one is quite unique, with a mix of waxy, porous and fibrous/stringy textures when you look really close. Check out the close-up pictures in the comments. If there are geologists reading this, I’d love to know what those tiny filaments are (photo 2) and what could cause the spongy texture (photo 3). Is that something that commonly occurs during the formation of sedimentary rocks? I’m also curious to know how team geopolymer would reconcile this with their theory.

Weird Old World

58,216 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr