Every now and then you come across those web sites that list bizarre photo's or lists of strange events ... in my case quite often as I keep a watch out for them. Most images portrayed are well known, and often are described on the sites as being 'mysteries', when in fact often there is a valid explanation (even if unproved, because so much time has passed since the events).
As this sort of stuff I always find interesting, if not always convincing, I have banded a few well known, and perhaps lesser well known of these 'mysteries' with a more prosaic explanation if known.
Kryptos:
Just outside the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, you will find a statue that has coded encryptions on its surface. This very captivating sculpture was created by artist Jim Sanborn to show that everything can be resolved and decoded, with the use of patterns and clues. Of the four inscription sections that were included, only the first three have been cracked. But the fourth? Not even the brilliant minds in the CIA were able to get to the bottom of it.
Bermuda Triangle:
Known as the Bermuda Triangle, this legendary expanse of ocean can be found between the points of Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. Pilots allegedly often tell of their instruments going haywire and numerous ships have been lost at sea. With explanations ranging from *gas bubbles rising from the seabed, to aliens, no one is sure what is behind the strange phenomena.
However did you know that if you create a triangle of similar size over many busy expanses of sea, you will find that the number of missing aircraft and ships is around the same, if not larger? There are in fact various of these sea triangles around. For instance the Michigan Triangle, Bennington Triangle, Bridgewater Triangle and the Devils sea.
*the atmospheric or sea effects are known as 'air bombs' or 'bubbling seas'.
The Taos Hum:
In the small town of Taos, New Mexico, there is often reported to be a buzzing noise. Its claimed that it can be heard by the naked ear, but not by recording devices, and that no one still knows how this sound is being created. However ground noises are a well known, if not always easily explained phenomenon.
Shugborough Inscription (aka Shepherd’s Monument):
In Staffordshire, England, there is a sculpture that has invited the wits and intellect of many intellectuals in an attempt to decode an inscription reading the eight letters 'OUOSVAVV', framed by the letters 'DM. Although the Shepherd’s Monument was constructed sometime between 1748 and 1763, the letters found therein were never solved, even 250 years after it was completed.
The Zodiac Killer:
During the 1960s and 1970s, there was a serial killer in the San Francisco Bay area who was identified as the Zodiac Killer by the press for the series of letters he sent to the police and to the press which contained four cryptograms (or ciphers). Although one of the four letters code was cracked, and which contained a very disturbing message about torture, the other three have never been decoded and the killer of seven people never caught. There have been copycat killers in the US and Japan since, but none have contained such obtuse 'clues' and both were captured.
Georgia Guidestones:
Also identified as the American version of Stonehenge, the Georgia Guidestones located in Elbert County are shrouded in mystery, although they were erected only in 1979. Written on the walls are 10 “new commandments” written in English, Swahili, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, China, Russia, and Spanish although no one is sure why or for whom they were meant.
Rongorongo:
In the mysterious Easter Islands where the Moai stands, a set of glyphs have been discovered, called the Rongorongo. These glyphs have never been deciphered although they may contain clues concerning the huge heads found scattered around the island. They may be proto writing but no one knows.
The Black Dahlia:
22-year old Elizabeth Short was murdered in Hollywood. The "Black Dahlia" was a nickname posthumously given by the press possibly after the movie 'The Blue Dahlia' ... Her case became highly publicized as her corpse had been mutilated and cut in half. Her unsolved murder has been the source of several subsequent books, television and film adaptations, and her murder is one of the oldest unsolved murder cases in Los Angeles history.
Turin Shroud:
The Shroud of Turin containing an imprint of a human face has been one of the main focuses of Christian research for centuries, as many have suggested that the person’s face in the shroud could be Jesus Christ of Nazareth. It has been dated as from the Middle Ages, and therefore a fake (which they were capable of), but these results have been disputed and the cloth weave seems to be older. There is also a relic in Spain, known as the Sudarium of Oviedo. This is thought to be the cloth that was wrapped around the head of Jesus Christ after he died (as per Jewish funerary practices of the time), and has been dated to around 700 AD by radiocarbon dating. However, it has been noted that in actuality the cloth has a definite history extending back to approximately 570 AD. Arguments between science and faith still rage over both objects.
Foot Beach:
It is not uncommon for bodies to wash up on beaches, but for one beach on the Salish sea in British Columbia severed feet have consistently been floating ashore for the past several years, causing numerous theories to be put forth.
DB Cooper:
When the criminal known as DB Cooper hijacked a Boeing 727 he demanded a ransom of $200,000, he then proceeded to jump out of the plane with a parachute. He was never found, and this remains the only unsolved criminal case in US aviation history.
Nazca Geoglyphs:
The Nazca civilization is responsible for some of the most fascinating geoglyphs on Earth. They include everything from spiders, monkeys, sharks, orcas, and flowers, the precision of which is incredible given that the Nazca had no way of examining their work from above. They may well be processional walkways.
SS Ourang Medan:
What happened to SS Ourang Medan or “Man from Medan” in Malaysia is one of the most fascinating mysteries in seafaring history. An SOS message in 1947 stated the captain, along with the rest of the crew, were dead. The telegrapher apparently died during the transmission of the message. When the Silver Star was able inspect the ship, they confirmed the deaths of all aboard. Speculations around hazardous chemicals have been postulated, but there is still no conclusion as to what actually happened.
Out Of Place Artefact:
Back in 1974, a group of workers in Romania discovered three different objects 10 meters deep in a sand trench. Two of the items were prehistoric elephant bones that have been dated as old as 2.5 million years ago. The third object however, is an aluminium wedge that was found together with the ancient bones. This discovery confounded researchers, as aluminium was difficult to create even by 19th century standards. While some call it evidence of extraterrestrials, others are calling it a hoax. Whatever it is, we may never know but they join a long list of out of place artifacts.
As this sort of stuff I always find interesting, if not always convincing, I have banded a few well known, and perhaps lesser well known of these 'mysteries' with a more prosaic explanation if known.
Kryptos:
Just outside the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, you will find a statue that has coded encryptions on its surface. This very captivating sculpture was created by artist Jim Sanborn to show that everything can be resolved and decoded, with the use of patterns and clues. Of the four inscription sections that were included, only the first three have been cracked. But the fourth? Not even the brilliant minds in the CIA were able to get to the bottom of it.
 |
| Kryptos Statue ... One Code Undeciphered |
Bermuda Triangle:
Known as the Bermuda Triangle, this legendary expanse of ocean can be found between the points of Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. Pilots allegedly often tell of their instruments going haywire and numerous ships have been lost at sea. With explanations ranging from *gas bubbles rising from the seabed, to aliens, no one is sure what is behind the strange phenomena.
 |
| Michigan Triangle |
However did you know that if you create a triangle of similar size over many busy expanses of sea, you will find that the number of missing aircraft and ships is around the same, if not larger? There are in fact various of these sea triangles around. For instance the Michigan Triangle, Bennington Triangle, Bridgewater Triangle and the Devils sea.
*the atmospheric or sea effects are known as 'air bombs' or 'bubbling seas'.
The Taos Hum:
In the small town of Taos, New Mexico, there is often reported to be a buzzing noise. Its claimed that it can be heard by the naked ear, but not by recording devices, and that no one still knows how this sound is being created. However ground noises are a well known, if not always easily explained phenomenon.
Shugborough Inscription (aka Shepherd’s Monument):
In Staffordshire, England, there is a sculpture that has invited the wits and intellect of many intellectuals in an attempt to decode an inscription reading the eight letters 'OUOSVAVV', framed by the letters 'DM. Although the Shepherd’s Monument was constructed sometime between 1748 and 1763, the letters found therein were never solved, even 250 years after it was completed.
 |
| Shepherd’s Monument ... Not Yet Solved |
The Zodiac Killer:
During the 1960s and 1970s, there was a serial killer in the San Francisco Bay area who was identified as the Zodiac Killer by the press for the series of letters he sent to the police and to the press which contained four cryptograms (or ciphers). Although one of the four letters code was cracked, and which contained a very disturbing message about torture, the other three have never been decoded and the killer of seven people never caught. There have been copycat killers in the US and Japan since, but none have contained such obtuse 'clues' and both were captured.
Georgia Guidestones:
Also identified as the American version of Stonehenge, the Georgia Guidestones located in Elbert County are shrouded in mystery, although they were erected only in 1979. Written on the walls are 10 “new commandments” written in English, Swahili, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, China, Russia, and Spanish although no one is sure why or for whom they were meant.
 |
| Georgia Guidestones ... Mysterious Messages? |
Rongorongo:
In the mysterious Easter Islands where the Moai stands, a set of glyphs have been discovered, called the Rongorongo. These glyphs have never been deciphered although they may contain clues concerning the huge heads found scattered around the island. They may be proto writing but no one knows.
The Black Dahlia:
22-year old Elizabeth Short was murdered in Hollywood. The "Black Dahlia" was a nickname posthumously given by the press possibly after the movie 'The Blue Dahlia' ... Her case became highly publicized as her corpse had been mutilated and cut in half. Her unsolved murder has been the source of several subsequent books, television and film adaptations, and her murder is one of the oldest unsolved murder cases in Los Angeles history.
Turin Shroud:
The Shroud of Turin containing an imprint of a human face has been one of the main focuses of Christian research for centuries, as many have suggested that the person’s face in the shroud could be Jesus Christ of Nazareth. It has been dated as from the Middle Ages, and therefore a fake (which they were capable of), but these results have been disputed and the cloth weave seems to be older. There is also a relic in Spain, known as the Sudarium of Oviedo. This is thought to be the cloth that was wrapped around the head of Jesus Christ after he died (as per Jewish funerary practices of the time), and has been dated to around 700 AD by radiocarbon dating. However, it has been noted that in actuality the cloth has a definite history extending back to approximately 570 AD. Arguments between science and faith still rage over both objects.
Foot Beach:
It is not uncommon for bodies to wash up on beaches, but for one beach on the Salish sea in British Columbia severed feet have consistently been floating ashore for the past several years, causing numerous theories to be put forth.
DB Cooper:
When the criminal known as DB Cooper hijacked a Boeing 727 he demanded a ransom of $200,000, he then proceeded to jump out of the plane with a parachute. He was never found, and this remains the only unsolved criminal case in US aviation history.
Nazca Geoglyphs:
The Nazca civilization is responsible for some of the most fascinating geoglyphs on Earth. They include everything from spiders, monkeys, sharks, orcas, and flowers, the precision of which is incredible given that the Nazca had no way of examining their work from above. They may well be processional walkways.
SS Ourang Medan:
What happened to SS Ourang Medan or “Man from Medan” in Malaysia is one of the most fascinating mysteries in seafaring history. An SOS message in 1947 stated the captain, along with the rest of the crew, were dead. The telegrapher apparently died during the transmission of the message. When the Silver Star was able inspect the ship, they confirmed the deaths of all aboard. Speculations around hazardous chemicals have been postulated, but there is still no conclusion as to what actually happened.
Out Of Place Artefact:
Back in 1974, a group of workers in Romania discovered three different objects 10 meters deep in a sand trench. Two of the items were prehistoric elephant bones that have been dated as old as 2.5 million years ago. The third object however, is an aluminium wedge that was found together with the ancient bones. This discovery confounded researchers, as aluminium was difficult to create even by 19th century standards. While some call it evidence of extraterrestrials, others are calling it a hoax. Whatever it is, we may never know but they join a long list of out of place artifacts.
Kryptos
ReplyDeleteJim Saborn's sculpture was apparently created to show that everything can be resolved and decoded. I don't know where this statement comes from but I would guess that it's incomplete and that the missing part says "and some things can't because we just don't have enough information or they are just a random collection of symbols".
The Taos hum
Unusual noises aren't restricted to New Mexico. Steve Punt investigated one closer to home in this episode of Punt PI
Shroud
Science can be inaccurate and even wrong sometimes, it's incredible how some simple experiments can be difficult to reproduce. In carbon dating these artifacts science attempts to find the truth about their age whereas Religion just asserts that the object is the age that they want it to be.
The truth is the goal of science and the enemy of Religion and conspiracy theorists.
It's natural to be intrigued by these stories and it seems that this feeling is so agreeable to some that they don't wish to get off the ride. Like most people (I think) I like the thought that a time traveller might have dropped something in a prehistoric setting or that an ancient people were gifted some advanced knowledge from a spaceman but my reason tells me that other explanations are more probable.
My you have been a busy boy .... glad this post grabbed your interest. The shroud is possibly the only really interesting one because
Delete(a) The Catholic Church makes no claims about the relic’s authenticity, so your claim that 'Religion just asserts that the object is the age that they want it to be', doesn't hang true in this case.
(b) There is a real possibility that the carbon dating sample was taken from a patch that was a known medieval repair. So guess what, it came back with a medieval date!!.
(c) There is also the fact that both it and the Spanish part of the shroud share a cloth weave that dates much further back into time. A study by the Hebrew University, also concluded that pollen and plant images on the shroud showed it originated in the area around Jerusalem sometime before the eighth century.
(d) There is of course the forgery theory that a medieval 'proto-photographer' created a light sensitive emulsion, possible silver nitrate, and coated it onto linen cloth and exposed this medieval 'film' using a room sized camera obscura, with a dead body in front of its crystal lens. Although this begs the question as to why this technology wasn't used again in the medieval period, if this theory of its production is true. There is also a theory by Italian chemist Luigi Garlaschelli, that simple water and red ochre on the cloth will over the period of a week or so replicate the shroud.
However in my view, the juries still out on the date, and although there is no doubt that the photo negative image effect on the shroud was a technology that was possible in the medieval ages, why it would only be used once is a major weakness to that theory.
Intrigued by the aluminium found with prehistoric elephant bones, I did a search and found this piece on rationalWiki which makes short work of the "mystery".
ReplyDeleteGood find, that's pretty much killed that one LOL. Frankly I'm sceptical on all these phenomena, but an open mind is needed in all cases .... let the evidence lead you. After all when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ... No Sh*t Sherlock!!
Delete