All over the world, historic monuments made of stone have been standing for millennia. Given that they were raised before the concept of writing extensive logs caught on, there are no records from builders or nearby residents as to the purpose of each monument.
Despite this, clues in the structures themselves may tell us why they were raised. Dolmens were used to bury the dead while some standing stones “worked together” with other monuments to help early peoples chart the stars.
Some sites, however, have histories so shrouded in mystery that it’s hard to say what they were truly for. We have hints, clues, and archaeological proof that something was happening at these locations but no decisive evidence to tell us the full stories behind these mysterious sites.
Here are 10 such puzzling monuments. What do you think they were for?
10 Beltany Stone Circle
Found in the North West of Ireland near the town of Raphoe, the Beltany Stone Circle is made of 64 stones spanning 45 meters (145 ft) in diameter with the entire setup encircling a mound. It’s thought that the stones were raised around 1400 BC to 800 BC, with the average height of the stones being about 2 meters (6 ft).
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It appears that some makeshift investigation of the site occurred around the beginning of the 20th century. When a man called Oliver Davies investigated the site in the 1930s, he stated that “the platform had been recently and unscientifically excavated and had been left in dreadful confusion.”
Despite the crude search, not much is known as to why Beltany was raised. One theory suggests that its origins are hidden in its name. The word “Beltany” might have originated from the word “Beltane,” which was the name of a pagan festival. “Beltane” originates from “Baal Tinne,” meaning “Baal’s fire.”
The festival involved lighting fires on top of hills to rejuvenate the Sun, so it might tie into that. Other theories state that the circle looks similar to the circles at Carrowmore Cemetery, hinting at a possible purpose during burial procedures. Some claim that the entire setup was built to mark a burial cairn.
9 Bada Valley Megaliths
Within Bada Valley in Indonesia, some well-sculpted monuments can be found—a collection of megaliths that have been shaped to look like Moai and Dol Hareubang statues. With their striking appearance and craftsmanship, one might think it would be easy to pinpoint when and why these megaliths were made. Yet historians aren’t even sure how old they are, let alone what they were made for. Attempting to ask the locals about their purpose only gets the response that they’ve “always been there.”
Although archaeological evidence for their purpose hasn’t been found yet, the locals have their own tales to share. Some believe that the megaliths herald back to the days of human sacrifice, some say that they exist to ward off malevolent spirits, some state that they’re criminals turned to stone, and some believe that the stones have the ability to move on their own. Regardless, given that the megaliths are made from stone not found in the area, they’re definitely very mysterious.
8 Rujm El-Hiri
Also known as the “Wheel of Giants,” Rujm el-Hiri is a large, circular, megalithic structure near the Sea of Galilee. It appears as a giant stone wheel with inner rings and “spokes” that connect everything. Right in the middle of the ring, almost like a bull’s-eye, is a place for burial.
Not only are archaeologists unsure that the burial site was made at the same time as the wheel but further investigation of the site revealed that no burials actually took place in it. It’s thought that valuable artifacts were once here because there is proof that looters hit the site, including a Chalcolithic pin potentially dropped by a looter.
As for proposed functions, archaeologists don’t believe it was a place built for dwelling or defense. Some believe that it was a calendar given how the sunrise on the solstices align with the entrances of the wheel.
One popular explanation points to the burial site, claiming that people were placed there to undergo excarnation, the act of removing the flesh from a human body. The bones would be moved to another site, which explains the lack of evidence that a burial took place. However, it would be hard, if not impossible, to prove that this actually occurred at Rujm el-Hiri.
Regardless, the site has been estimated to have taken 25,000 working days in total to build. Whatever purpose it was meant to perform, it was obviously very important.
