Undiscovered Archaeological Sites

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12-06-2025

Through the centuries, historical sites are bound to disappear. Whether due to climate change, political turmoil, or even grave robbers, there are many reasons why discoveries at notable locations are sparse, but there are still typically traces of the people and customs. Occasionally, though, it's as if they never existed to begin with...
One might believe that, in regard to important historical figures and locations, there would be some form of record, whether written or oral, that would allude to a location. However, that's not always the case...From the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to Cleopatra's tomb, here are 9 important archaeological sites that may never be found:
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon:
Considered one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World," the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the only Wonder that has remained elusive to archaeologists.Most historians believe that in the sixth century BCE, King Nebuchadnezzar II had the Gardens constructed as a gift for his wife, Amytis, who was homesick for her native Media (modern-day Iran). In that day and age, it would have taken a feat of engineering to ensure the gardens were properly irrigated, leading scientists to theorize that a system akin to Roman aqueducts would have delivered water from the nearby Euphrates River to the Gardens.While there are many descriptions of the Gardens in Greek and Roman texts, these were second-hand accounts that had been passed down throughout the centuries, as there is no mention of them in any preserved Babylonian texts. Due to the lack of archaeological evidence, some scientists assume the Gardens never truly existed. However, Oxford's Dr. Stephanie Dalley, an Assyriologist, discredited those assumptions: "That's a pretty stupid copout, really. It doesn't make sense to say we couldn't find it, so it didn't exist."
Dalley claims the lack of archaeological evidence is due, rather, to the fact that the Gardens weren't located in Babylon at all, but rather in Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria (modern-day Iraq and Turkey). She believes Assyrian king Sennacherib, not Nebuchadnezzar II, built the Gardens in the seventh century BCE, an entire century earlier than hypothesized in Babylon.
Genghis Khan's tomb:
Before Genghis Khan died in August 1227 CE, he requested that his grave not be marked in any way. However, this hasn't stopped a variety of individuals, from archaeologists to grave robbers, from attempting to find the ruler's final resting place, despite the fact that Marco Polo recounted that even by the late 13th century, the mystery eluded even the Mongols themselves.Most fieldwork that has taken place to find Khan's tomb has centered around Burkhan Khaldun in northeastern Mongolia, near his birthplace. The location was even mentioned in The Secret History of the Mongols, the oldest surviving work about Khan's final days. According to the text, he declared it to be the most sacred mountain in Mongolia and said, "Bury me here when I pass away." (Historians still don't know what officially caused his demise, but one popular theory is that it was due to injuries sustained from falling off a horse in 1226). Despite this statement, archaeological searches in the area have been fruitless.
The details of Khan's burial have long been shrouded in mystery. In an oft-recounted tale, Marco Polo claimed that after 2,000 slaves finished burying Khan, they were killed by soldiers, who were in turn killed by another group of soldiers, who later killed themselves in an effort to finally secure the privacy of their revered ruler's burial site. However, this legend is not mentioned in contemporary stories.
The Lost Colony of Roanoke:
One of the biggest mysteries of pre-colonial America is the fate of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. While we do know that the colony was located on present-day Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina, archaeologists are still unable to pinpoint the settlement's exact location and where/if the colonists resettled elsewhere. In the words of Adrian Masters, a University of Texas historian, "It's the 'Area 51' of colonial history."The story of the Lost Colony began in 1584 when Sir Walter Raleigh sought permission from Queen Elizabeth I to establish a permanent North American settlement. She approved his request and granted permission for the establishment of "Virginia." Shortly after, over 100 British men, women, and children boarded the ship Lyon, and ten weeks later, landed on the coast of North Carolina.Roanoke Island was only meant to be a stopping point in the settlers' journey, as records show they intended to move 50 miles into the mainland, eventually making their home in Salmon Creek. But winter derailed their plans, forcing them to settle in Roanoke for longer than intended. The changing seasons, as well as a tenuous relationship with the local Algonquian tribe, the colony's governor John White to return to England to gather supplies. On August 25, 1587, the settlers asked, "...we all of one mind, and consent, have most earnestly entreated, and incessantly requested John White, Governor of the planters in Virginia, to pass into England, for the better and more assured help..." White was reluctant, but realized supplies would be beneficial, so on August 27, he set off for his home country.
His return trip was particularly ill-timed as it took place in the midst of the war between Spain and England. The threat of the fearsome Spanish Armada caused Elizabeth I to prohibit British ships from leaving the port, lest they be needed to face off against the Spaniards. In April 1588, despite the prohibition, White was able to arrange a relief mission. However, a battle with the French forced the ships to return to England.