In 2023, scientists were able to finally answer some of the most persistent historical mysteries, while others remained unable to be solved. From an archaeological discovery to the mystery of a vanished ship, here is a look at some of the questions that were finally put to rest—or unresolved—in the year 2023.
1. The Tollund Man – The Tollund Man was a naturally preserved corpse found in Jutland, Denmark in 1950, who had died roughly hundred years prior. Scientists in 2023 were finally able to identify the Tollund Man as a poor farmer from the 3rd-4th century BCE, based on carbon of the corpse’s teeth and bones combined with X-Ray analysis of his bones and skull.
2. The Vanished Amber Room – Constructed in 1701 by Prussian master craftsmen, the Amber Room had been housed in the palace of Catherina the Great in St. Petersburg since 1755. After the Nazis invaded the city in 1941, the Amber Room suddenly disappeared—believed to have been looted by the Nazis and hidden away. In 2023, a team of Russian scientists used ground penetrating radar to detect hints of the missing Amber Room in tunnels beneath the Earth—confirming the Nazi theory.
3. The Strange Howling Heard Worldwid e- In the night of April 21, 2020, there was an unprecedented event when people all around the world reported hearing a low howling noise. Different theories ranged from alien contact to a government conspiracy, but in 2023, scientists finally confirmed the strange phenomenon as the combined sounds of cosmic radiation.
4. The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle – Since 1945, the mysterious vanishings of ships and airplanes in the Bermuda Triangle have been the subject of speculation and lore. 2023 finally provided confirmation that the disappearances resulted from strong gusts of wind beneath the sea, combined with the presence of methane hydrates. These strong gusts would cause the ships and planes to lose stability and crash into the sea, making the disappearance more explicable.
5. The Mysterious Nasca Lines – Located in Peru, the Nasca lines in the deserts of Peru had long been considered a mystery—until 2023. Upon analyzing the ancient stones, analyzing ancient rock paintings, and studying the architecture of the time period, scientists were able to prove that the lines were made by early voyagers to honor the gods and to mark their journey.
6. The Voynich Manuscript – The Voynich Manuscript, a strange book filled with unknown symbols, was scribed on ceramic in the 15th century and transmitted to various citizens throughout Europe. In 2023, scientists were able to finally decode the Voynich Manuscript using unknown ancient symbols, proving that it was a manual for alchemy and a book of secret knowledge.
And One They Didn’t:
The Lost City of Atlantis – Despite numerous attempts to finally trace the origins and location of Atlantis, 2023 turned out to be another year that left this historical mystery unsolved. Various theories exist, such as that it is a city buried beneath the ice or drowned beneath the sea, but so far nothing has been confirmed.
All in all, 2023 was an incredible breakthrough year for scientific discovery, with a number of ancient mysteries being interpreted and answered yet some still remaining unsolved. Time will tell if 2023’s successes are simply the beginning of a new era of uncovering secrets of ages long passed.