When ancient, mysterious architecture is found by accident, it typically means that the discovery was unintentional and unexpected. Hence, the term 'mysterious.' These findings often occur during activities unrelated to archaeology.
Whether intended by its builder or not, several mysterious architectures were often found by accident because they are primarily located in isolated areas or places where people rarely go, like mountain ranges, deep ocean floors, jungles, or those that would only need one person at a time.
Design Times shared that one factor is natural elements, where buildups of sediments or rocks completely covered up the mysterious architectures we see today and were only found by excessive excavation projects.
In this list, these top 5 mysterious architecture found by accident used to be mysterious when initially found. Now, they hold meaning to lost civilizations already existing in history books.
French President Francois Hollande visits Lascaux 4, a new replica of the prehistoric paintings of the Lascaux cave, in Montignac, on December 10, 2016. It will be open to the public on December 15, 2016. (Photo : REGIS DUVIGNAU/AFP via Getty Images)a
1. Lascaux Cave
The famous Lascaux cave in France was accidentally discovered in September 1940 when four French teenagers' dog found a hole in the ground while exploring a forest, as narrated by History.
Curious, the four climbed down a stone shaft and discovered an underground cavern. To their surprise, they found the cave's walls adorned with thousands of ancient paintings and engravings.
At first, they kept the discovery a secret, but eventually told their schoolteacher, who then had a cave expert verify the authenticity of the find. The discovery of the Lascaux cave quickly gained attention across Europe, earning the nickname the "Sistine Chapel of Prehistoric Art" due to the remarkable quality of its ancient artwork.
Historians like Groeneveld later determined that the cave paintings were created some 15,000-17,000 years ago, likely by Upper Paleolithic peoples. Many believe the cave served as a site for religious and hunting rituals.
Tourists explore a passage in the Derinkuyu underground city, in Turkey's central Nevsehir province, on August 24, 2022. - The ancient city of Elengubu, known today as Derinkuyu, reaches the depth of 85m below the Earth's surface, and could accommodate up to 20,000 people. (Photo : OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images)2. Derinkuyu Underground City
The Derinkuyu Underground City in Turkey was accidentally discovered in 1963 during a home renovation. According to BBC, a local man knocked down a wall in his basement and was shocked to find a hidden room behind it.
Upon further exploration, he realized the room was part of a massive underground network of tunnels and chambers. What the man had stumbled upon was an ancient multi-level city that could house thousands of people.
Archaeologists later revealed, as shared by the New York Post, that this underground city had been used for centuries, possibly as early as the 8th century B.C., by various civilizations seeking refuge from invaders.
Derinkuyu contained living quarters, food storage, wells, and even ventilation shafts, making it one of the most "advanced and expansive" underground settlements ever discovered.
General view of the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in the Urubamba valley, seventy-two kilometres from the Andes city of Cusco, on February 15, 2023, open for the first time after they were closed to the public for security reasons on January 21, after protesters blocked the railways during protests against the government of President Dina Boluarte that have shaken the Andean country since December 7, 2022. (Photo : CAROLINA PAUCAR/AFP via Getty Images)3. Machu Picchu
In a story shared by National Geographic, American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham was on an expedition in search of the lost city of Vilcabamba, the last stronghold of the Inca empire, on July 24, 1911. While traveling through the dense jungles of Peru, he encountered local farmers who informed him of ancient ruins high in the mountains.
Intrigued, Bingham followed them up a steep path to a ridge nearly 8,000 feet above sea level. To his surprise, he stumbled upon the site of a mysterious architecture we now know as Machu Picchu, an ancient Inca city that had been concealed by thick jungle vegetation for centuries.
Trekkers recalled that Machu Picchu would have been much harder to look for, if it hadn't been for local farmers, due to its remote location in the Andes Mountains. The dense jungle that had overtaken the site acted as a protective barrier, preserving it from looting and destruction.
(Photo : Wikimedia Commons)4. Uluburun Shipwreck
In a recent record, Washington University reported that the Uluburun Shipwreck was discovered by accident in 1982 by a Turkish sponge diver near the coast of Uluburun, Turkey.
While diving for sponges, the diver came across ancient artifacts scattered on the seabed about 50 meters (164 feet) below the surface. He later reported it to local authorities, leading to one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries in history.
According to the Institute of Nautical Archeology, the shipwreck, dated to the late Bronze Age (around 14th century BCE), contained a treasure trove of items, including copper and tin ingots, glass beads, ivory, and luxury goods from ancient civilizations, providing invaluable insights into trade networks of the time. The Uluburun Shipwreck remains one of the oldest and most well-preserved shipwrecks ever found.
Terracotta warriors are seen at the Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Emperor Qin Shihuang in Xian, in northwestern China's Shaanxi Province on January 8, 2018. (Photo : LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)5. The Xian Terra Cotta Army
While not considered a mysterious architectural structure, Xian Terra Cotta Army's discovery is an important archaeological find that provides insight into the art, culture, and burial practices of ancient China. The site where the Terracotta Army was discovered can be considered a mysterious architectural site.
According to the National Geographic Society, the Xi'an Terracotta Army was discovered by accident in 1974 by local farmers in the Shaanxi province of China. While digging a well near the tomb of the first Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the farmers stumbled upon fragments of clay sculptures buried underground.
Curious about their find, they unearthed more pieces and noticed that they were part of a large army of life-sized statues.
The discovery quickly attracted the attention of archaeologists and historians, who identified the figures as part of the Terracotta Army. The mysterious architecture where they were found was considered a funerary complex built to accompany the emperor into the afterlife. The site includes thousands of soldiers, chariots, and horses.
What People Should Do After Finding Mysterious Architecture Accidentally
The main takeaway from the list is that there is a high chance everyone reading this now can find mysterious architecture sites on their own or even bits of them. Should you find one yourself, the National Geographic Society recommends that you refrain from further touching or moving them. Then, document the discovery first before reporting to authorities. Make sure to also mark the location so it can be easily found by professionals.
Lastly, if you want to be an unlicensed archeologist for some time, you're free to stay, help, or watch while a new ancient discovery is being written into history.
