Top 20 Most Controversial Discoveries In History

#20: The Saqqara Bird

Flight is an entirely recent phenomenon…or so we think. A small, wooden figurine of a falcon was all it took for researchers to reconsider the entire concept. The Saqqara Bird was carved to show its full wingspan, making it look eerily similar to modern-day planes. Since its discovery in 1898, there has been mass speculation about its purpose. Some immediately jumped to the most extreme take– that it was proof of ancient civilizations having an understanding of aviation before the science behind it had even been known. This caused a debate to ensue, with detractors insisting that the figure itself is too heavy to remain airborne. Testing in 2023 was more conclusive, confirming that those in the former group had been severely mistaken.

#19: The Antikythera Mechanism

When this was found in 1901, no one thought much of it at all. That is, until they noticed its gears. Studying the Antikythera Mechanism revealed how intricate it is, and that it had the ability to predict events like eclipses several years before they occurred. Considering it was constructed during the 2nd century BC, it serves as proof that some Ancient Greek citizens understood complex technology more than we thought. This altered everything known about technological development, leading to fringe theories being created. Some experts claim it isn’t real, while others are convinced it was created in the future and brought back in time. While that’s clearly not the case, it shows where some people’s minds jump to when presented with mind-blowing information.

#18: Codex Gigas

A book as this wasn’t created in a night– even if that’s what the legend wants you to believe. The Codex Gigas is unlike any other Bible, both in appearance and lore. It’s a 13th-century manuscript, with a legend that has been at the center of debate for some time. It states that it was written by a monk named Herman the Recluse, who was under threat of execution and had to include all of human knowledge in the prose. Supposedly, he turned to Satan for help finishing– which is why a large illustration of him graces an entire page. There have been several tests disproving this, with one revealing that it would’ve taken two decades of non-stop writing to achieve.

#17: Paracas Skulls

If there’s one theory that will always pop up during a new discovery, it’s that aliens are involved. The Paracas skulls are no exception. Due to the remains’ elongated skulls, several people are convinced that they are proof of extraterrestrial life. Others aren’t so sure, and instead posit that the odd formation is caused by cultural head binding or a deformation of the bone. Even that is up for debate, with those on the pro-alien side pointing out aspects that don’t match up to human skulls, such as a vastly different weight. Even DNA testing couldn’t reveal a definitive answer, although it showed that they had mutations not found in primates. While that doesn’t confirm they’re Martian bones, it doesn’t rule it out either.

#16: The Palace of King David

In religious texts, the lines between fact and story are sometimes blurred. While there are some historical figures and locations mentioned, some of the evidence surrounding them can be tenuous. So when a team of archaeologists claimed to have found the Palace of King David– whose existence is corroborated by the discovery of an inscribed stone– in 2013, their findings were quickly contested. The site, Khirbet Qeiyafa, is believed to date back to the monarch’s alleged reign, but the hard proof ends there. Some dissenters have pointed out that the structure could’ve belonged to any other leader of that period. While the team definitely found proof of an ancient city, whether or not it belonged to the biblical figure is still up for debate.

#15: The Vinland Map

Not even cartography is safe from controversy. In 1957, a map claiming to have the oldest known drawing of North America was found. The document depicts both the New World and the rest of the continents, along with an unknown island named Vinland. It didn’t take long after the photos were released that it was subject to forgery accusations. So many critics came forward that an entire conference was held to let the arguments play out in real time. It was then examined several times over by scientists on either side, both of which made mistakes that impacted their findings. After decades of debate, it was finally declared fake in 2018 following an ink line test that determined it had been created with modern-day tools.

#14: The London Hammer

This being true would also change everything we know about the world. Found in Texas in 1936, the London Artifact is simple: a hammer encased in rock. It seems like a normal find, until you learn that the artifact is allegedly at least one hundred million years old. At that age, it’d predate every known human ancestor and most dinosaur periods. Naturally, this has led to endless disagreements. Creationists claim that it’s proof of the world that existed before the flood featured in the story of Noah’s ark. Dissenters argue that the limestone formed around it naturally– and that the hammer is suspiciously similar to American tools created during the 1800s. With no concrete answer having been found, it seems the debate will live on.

#13: The Pyramid of Gunung Padang

It’s a shame when a gorgeous site is overshadowed by a hoax. Located in Indonesia, the Gunung Padang pyramid is truly a site to behold. In 2023, an Indonesian geologist purported that the structure was 27,000 years old. For reference, that would make it more than five times older than the currently recognized oldest one, the Djoser pyramid in Egypt. That estimation was met with immediate backlash from others in the archaeological field, who derided the poor evidence used as proof. The community was so incensed by the ridiculous estimation that the magazine that published it retracted the paper entirely.

#12: The Dare Stones

The mystery behind the disappearance of the Colony of Roanoke still haunts historians to this day. When it seemed like a message on a stone had been left from one of the colonists herself, Eleanor Dare, the puzzle was thought to finally be solved. After receiving widespread attention, another 47 stones found by Bill Eberhardt soon came to light. Despite the fact that they varied greatly from the original, they were all initially accepted as fact. Each message contributed to a widespread phenomenon in the United States. In 1940, however, it all came crashing down when it was revealed that Eberhardt’s were all fake. It’s still unknown if the initial stone is a forgery as well. If so, we’ll be right back to square one.

#11: Piltdown Man

While any historical hoax is a detriment, little has had as much of a negative impact as this. In 1912, Charles Dawson claimed to have found one of mankind’s oldest predecessors. His discovery was named the Piltdown man, and was estimated to have lived 500,000 years beforehand. Though his findings were immediately met with dissent from some, they were accepted by the public at large. Forty-one years later in 1953, it was found that Dawson had taken the remains from three different species to form the skull. The ruse affected evolutionary research heavily, including actual findings being ignored, incorrect facts being spread, and over 250 papers being nullified. It goes to show the importance of fact-checking, especially in a science-based field.

#10: Acámbaro Figures

The discovery of these clay figurines in 1944 caused a debate on Earth’s true age. Some of the dolls even depicted humans domesticating dinosaurs. It was argued that the only way this could be possible was if the two co-existed at some point. Some were convinced this was proof that the world wasn’t as old as we thought. However, an examination revealed the truth– that they weren’t ancient at all. Further testing estimated that they had been created only a few decades or so before they were found, and not in 2,500 BCE as originally posited. Despite the proof falling through, some are still asserting the validity of these to this day.

#9: Father Crespi’s Heirlooms

Who knew that one man had access to years worth of history? Father Carlo Crespi Croci was a priest who had spent decades collecting heirlooms that he was given while on mission trips. Throughout his life, he collected over 50,000 pieces, including a set of mysterious metallic plates. They ended up causing controversy, due to some believers claiming they were made by aliens and found in a golden cave. However, researchers concluded that they were modern-day art pieces coated in metal. The most likely case is that they were created by those helped by Father Crespi, and given to him as a gift. While not as thrilling as aliens, it certainly makes more sense.

#8: The Shroud of Turin

Since being unearthed in the 1300s, the legitimacy around this piece has been constantly questioned. The Shroud of Turin seemingly bears an imprint of a human form. The assumption by many religious believers is that it was depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. But while some regarded it as a holy icon, others weren’t so sure. Even some religious leaders have agreed that it is not what it is purported to be. There have been countless tests done to properly date the Shroud, analyzing everything from the material to the alleged blood stains. Scientists still aren’t sure about when it truly originated, as there are factors such as potential historical repairs that make dating it difficult. It goes to show that even with advanced technology, some answers remain just outside our grasp.

#7: Ancient Artifacts of Quimbaya

The Quimbaya civilization existed in South America around 500 CE. And when some of its artifacts were discovered — small golden statues seemingly depicting a flying vessel – there was an initial wave of excitement. Some conspiratorial modern sources are adamant that this was proof of the culture’s interest in aviation, while others have seen them, rather, as complex depictions of various animals. So what is the truth? While no one is sure, serious historians and archaeologists believe that these figurines hold no major significance– that they were just art pieces common to that time, and that modern people have projected a larger story onto it.

#6: The Jade Discs

If there’s one thing we’ve gleaned about older civilizations, it’s that they took their burial rituals seriously. One prime example is Chinese aristocrats being buried with intricate jade discs, presumably to help them on their path to the afterlife. These discs have left historians confused, as they were incredibly detailed for the time period. Jade is notoriously hard to work with due to its hardness. The fact that they were able to carve into it without the help of modern tools is baffling. The closest guess is that they were made via brazing, but we don’t know for sure. How they came to be may always be a mystery, as they were created during a period that preceded recorded history.

#5: America’s Stonehenge

The actual Stonehenge in England is mysterious enough. The so-called private-ly controlled “America’s Stonehenge” is not quite the same. It’s been claimed that the structures and stone formations are proof of an ancient pre-Columbian European colony or settlement. But this site in its entirety, while of some archaeological and geological significance, has been meddled with in numerous ways over the years for commercial gain, among other motives. This, of course, has made it even more contentious. But again, serious historians and archaeologists maintain this is not what its mystery hypes it up to be.

#4: Talpiot Tomb

Finding the final resting place of Jesus of Nazareth would be the finding of a lifetime, for both religious and historical reasons. While some stated to have found it, they certainly haven’t been able to prove it’s the real deal. The Talpiot Tomb was revealed in 1980, and since then, the arguments have been ceaseless. Some are adamant that names and details match up perfectly to those in the New Testament, with opposing voices proclaiming that the names were popular for the time period, and therefore not substantive evidence. Devout scholars have postulated that there isn’t enough proof to verify any assertions. It’s a fierce dispute that has been ongoing for decades– and we may never know the truth.

#3: Jehoash Inscription

The existence of falsification in archival findings is unfortunately common. One well known case of this was the Jehoash Inscription, which claimed to have been renovation details for a Temple mentioned in the Bible. If the inscription were found to be true, then it would have been verification of not only that temple, but other historical aspects of the holy book as well. However, only one study later, experts found it to be suspect. This was evidenced by the sheer amount of spelling errors and the usage of different forms of the alphabet. While multiple courts have ruled that there isn’t enough officially legal proof to write off the supposed relic, the scientific community begs to differ.

#2: The Kensington Runestone

There was a period of time when Americans became enamored with the idea of Scandinavians coming to the New World, due to Leif Erickson’s journey being widely popularized. So when a Minnesotan found a stone supposedly engraved with a message from 14th century Europeans, people were curious to say the least. However, a study done at a local college disputed this, and brushed it aside as a more modern creation. Supporters of the stone refused to believe this, and so it was continuously tested throughout the 1900s. There is still a dedicated group who are insistent about the stone’s authenticity.

#1: Piri Reis’s Map

We often depend on artifacts to give us correct information about a specific time period, but they’re not always trustworthy. In 1513, famed cartographer Piri Reis created his World Map, and it caused a sensation after it was discovered in the 20th century. Unlike other works from his period, he depicted continents like Africa with some precision. He also drew the coast of Antarctica. Centuries later, the realization of this led to further investigation. Discrepancies were found however, such as the continent being drawn much further North than it should’ve been. There were also notes on the map describing the location as warm, which is the antithesis to Antarctica’s climate. This cast major doubt as to the firsthand knowledge and accuracy of this important historical document.Are you skeptical of any historical discoveries? Let us know in the comments below!