10 Incredible Unearthed Ancient Megastructures Inside Bruniquel cave in Southern France, hundreds of carved stalagmites can be found jutting from the cave floor. The cave was originally found in 1990 but remained closed off until 2013. Researchers were finally able to examine the mysterious circles constructed from the stalagmites. The stalagmite circles are notable because there is evidence that they were altered and used by early men for heat, lighting, and cooking.
It was believed that they had been built around 40,000 years ago, but carbon dating places them at an astonishing 165,000 years old. The only species in the area at that time were the Neanderthals, once thought to be brutish and unintelligent. The 400 elaborate stone stalagmite structures tell a different story. The Neanderthals apparently possessed sufficient knowledge and cunning to create such elaborate constructions.
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Poster Comment:
I tho't wikid could be relied on to ruin this pleasant thesis, but it raises the ante: 'Traces of fire were also found. The constructions have been dated to around 176 thousand years ago.'
Elsewhere on this page: discovery of remnants of a "Superhenge" 15 times bigger than Stonehenge -- and some heartbreaking irony. An Aztec "skull rack" 115 feet high "would have held hundreds of skulls, many of which were obtained through human sacrifice. The skulls, bleached white for preservation, weren’t of ordinary people; they were enemy warriors who were captured and decapitated. The skull rack would have been symbolic of two important characteristics of of the Aztecs—war and spiritualism."
War and spiritualism -- isn't that a recipe that drives too many civilizations? Two criminals that cover for each other like the Menendez brothers.
Slightly lighting the gloom is the page author's biographical note: 'Gordon Gora is a struggling author who is desperately trying to make it. He is working on several projects but until he finishes one, he will write for Listverse for his bread and butter. You can write him at gordongora21@gmail.com.' He contributes a lot of good stuff to the site and as you see, you can make a little money doing so.
