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Archaeologists Discover 5,500-Year-Old Pyramids in Poland
Archaeologists Discover 5,500-Year-Old Pyramids in Poland

Yahoo

time4 days ago

  • Science
  • Yahoo

Archaeologists Discover 5,500-Year-Old Pyramids in Poland

This year, archaeologists have discovered quite a few old relics. They have discovered 2,200-year-old pyramids in Egypt and also Mayan cities in a Guatemalan jungle. Now, they have discovered more pyramids, this time in Wyskoć, which is in west-central Poland. In a Facebook post, the pyramids were estimated to be 5,500 years old, and photos surfaced of the findings. The original post was written in Polish. "We've discovered "Polish pyramids" dating back 5,500 years! In the General Dezydery Chłapowski Landscape Park, our colleague Artur Golis discovered mysterious earth mounds during landscape analysis," the post read." Archaeological verification of two structures, including excavation of one of them, confirmed the discoverers' suspicions. These are long earth tombs built 5,500 years ago (!) by the Funnelbeaker culture (late Stone Age/Neolithic)." The post also showed several photos of the findings. The post came from the Team of Landscape Parks of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, and it is the second grouping of such pyramids to be discovered in Poland. The tombs are said to be 650 feet long and 13 feet high. Artur Golis, chief specialist for nature and landscape protection from the park, spoke about the findings. 'These artifacts could provide further insight into the spiritual and daily lives of the Funnelbeaker people," Golis said, per Popular Mechanics. 'Each generation built its own megalith, honoring the deceased who played a vital role in their community." All in all, it's quite the Discover 5,500-Year-Old Pyramids in Poland first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 16, 2025 Solve the daily Crossword

Archaeologists Found Trapezoidal Tombs Older Than the Egyptian Pyramids
Archaeologists Found Trapezoidal Tombs Older Than the Egyptian Pyramids

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Science
  • Yahoo

Archaeologists Found Trapezoidal Tombs Older Than the Egyptian Pyramids

Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Archaeologists in Poland discovered 5,500-year-old tombs dubbed 'Polish pyramids.' The oversized graves feature earthen mounds in a trapezoidal shape, some stretching 656 feet in length. The scene offers glimpses into one of Europe first agricultural societies. The new discovery of uniquely shaped 'Polish pyramids' from 5,500 years ago highlights the distinct way early European agricultural societies buried their dead. Discovered by a team from Adam Mickiewicz University using advanced remote sensing technology during routine field work, the team uncovered 'mysterious ground embankments' before confirming them as long earthen tombs constructed during the Funnelbeaker culture of the Neolithic age, according to a translated statement from the Landscape Parks Complex of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship. To locate the tombs after the initial discovery, archaeologists employed aerial laser scanning followed by on-the-ground excavation. Known as Polish pyramids—or 'beds of giants'—the tombs located at the General Dezydery Chlapowski Landscape Park form an elongated trapezoid, with some stretching as long as 656 feet. This particular style of construction has the east end wider and taller than the west, creating a triangle shape or tail-like design from the tomb. Experts believe the use of the trapezoid shape is tied to the style of houses once used by nearby Neolithic cultures, according to the Polish Press Agency. While the tombs rarely reach taller than 13 feet, the transparent size and design make them a distinct sight in Poland. The most recent find is only the second in the region, while more are known in northwestern Poland. Each tomb was typically covered with cobblestones and massive boulders were placed in front, some weighing as much as 10 tons, a show of the culture's intricate teamwork and tool know-how to make happen. 'The largest boulders that formed the entrance of the tomb are missing,' said Artur Golis, chief specialist for nature and landscape protection from the park, according to the Polish Press Agency. He believes the stones were chipped away over the centuries for use by the residents in other projects. While fields of the Polish pyramids typically offered a communal location for the region's burials, only the most prominent folks within the society would get buried within the tombs. Each oversized tomb often only contained a single skeleton of a key leader, with the body placed in an upright position and surrounded by grave gifts. The tops of the pyramids were then covered with stones. 'Each generation built its own megalith, honoring the deceased who played a vital role in their community,' said Golis. While no such skeletons were found in the most recent tomb discovery, archaeologists remain hopeful they can locate grave goods still buried nearby, most likely axes and pottery. 'These artifacts,' Golis said, 'could provide further insight into the spiritual and daily lives of the Funnelbeaker people.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?

5,500-year-old ‘pyramids' discovered during landscape work — in Central Europe
5,500-year-old ‘pyramids' discovered during landscape work — in Central Europe

Miami Herald

time6 days ago

  • Science
  • Miami Herald

5,500-year-old ‘pyramids' discovered during landscape work — in Central Europe

Constructed pyramids have long been thought of as one of the peaks of human engineering. Despite the structures standing for thousands of years, archaeologists are still working to learn how the ancient Egyptians or Mayans were able to build with such precision and ingenuity. As the mystery continues, a different kind of pyramid has been unearthed for the first time, and not in Egypt or Mexico. In a landscape park in western Poland, remote sensing equipment discovered long, triangular formations below the surface, according to a July 9 Facebook post from the Team of Landscape Parks of the Greater Poland Voivodeship. Archaeologists began work to excavate one of the structures, and found that it was an ancient megalithic tomb, officials told the Polish Press Agency (PAP), through the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The tombs range in length from a few dozen feet to more than 650 feet, officials said, and were formed in an elongated triangle. The 'front' of the triangle is multiple feet wide and about 13 feet tall before narrowing as the triangle tapers into the embankment, according to the PAP. The tombs were called Polish pyramids or the beds of giants, according to the Facebook post, and were created by members of the Funnel Beaker culture in the Stone Age. The structures were dated to 5,500 years ago, officials said. Funnel Beaker communities lived in the temperate regions of Europe and earned their names from bell-shaped beakers commonly decorated with toothed stamps made by the people, according to Britannica. Funnel Beaker groups were typically pretty egalitarian, but the larger, megalithic tombs were created for important members of their community like a leader, a priest or a shaman, specialist Artur Golis told the PAP. Each generation created their own megalith, Golis said, and would typically hold a single burial that would be surrounded by grave goods and sometimes covered in cobblestones. Officials believe the human skeleton inside the tomb likely hasn't survived, but goods like pottery or copper ornaments may still be buried inside, according to the PAP. The remote sensing showed five promising formations underground, but only two have been examined more closely and only one excavated, officials said. This is the second grouping of these kinds of pyramids to be discovered in Poland. The site is located in Wyskoć, in west-central Poland. Chat GPT, an AI chat bot, was used to translate the Facebook post from the Team of Landscape Parks of the Greater Poland Voivodeship. Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the Polish Press Agency.

Older than Giza? 5,500-year-old ‘Pyramids' found in Polish forest
Older than Giza? 5,500-year-old ‘Pyramids' found in Polish forest

Mint

time6 days ago

  • Science
  • Mint

Older than Giza? 5,500-year-old ‘Pyramids' found in Polish forest

In a remarkable archaeological breakthrough, researchers in Poland have discovered two massive ancient tombs, dubbed the Polish pyramids, that date back over 5,500 years, predating Egypt's famous pyramids. The burial sites were unearthed in Wyskoc, a village in Poland's Wielkopolska region, within the General Dezydery Chłapowski Landscape Park. The announcement was made by local park authorities on Facebook, and the excavation is being led by archaeologists from Adam Mickiewicz University. According to researchers, the monumental structures are believed to have been built by the Funnelbeaker Culture, a Neolithic society known for its advanced agricultural practices and monumental burial architecture. The megalithic tombs are trapezoidal, stretching up to 200 metres in length and 4 metres high, constructed using enormous stones, some weighing as much as 10 tonnes. These stones were transported and assembled using only primitive tools and human effort, showcasing the community's sophisticated engineering skills. What's more striking is that the structures are carefully aligned with cardinal directions, suggesting a solid grasp of astronomy and ritual precision. Inside the tombs, archaeologists expect to find individual burials, with the deceased lying on their backs, legs facing east. Grave goods like pottery, stone axes, and even opium vessels have been found, offering a glimpse into the spiritual and cultural life of Neolithic communities. 'Although the Funnelbeaker cultures were quite egalitarian, these tombs likely held important figures — a leader, a priest, a shaman,' said Artur Golis from the regional landscape park association. Dating back to the 4th millennium BCE, these tombs are contemporary with the likes of Stonehenge, and significantly older than the pyramids of Giza, which were built around 2600 BCE. Archaeologists say such discoveries are rare, especially as many similar tombs across Europe have eroded over time. The forested area where these tombs were found may have helped preserve them for millennia. 'Each generation would build their own megalith,' Golis told Poland's PAP news agency. 'We might still find stone axes, pottery, or clay vessels used for ritual purposes — including those linked to opium.'

Archaeologists Unearth Two Ancient Pyramids In Poland Dating Back 5,500 Years
Archaeologists Unearth Two Ancient Pyramids In Poland Dating Back 5,500 Years

NDTV

time7 days ago

  • Science
  • NDTV

Archaeologists Unearth Two Ancient Pyramids In Poland Dating Back 5,500 Years

Archaeologists working in Poland made a stunning discovery as they unearthed two massive prehistoric structures, dubbed the "Polish pyramids". The tombs, with Neolithic burials, were found in the General Dezydery Chlapowski Landscape Park in the village of Wyskoc, Wielkopolska region. The discovery was announced on Facebook by the Complex of Landscape Parks of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship. The archaeologists from Adam Mickiewicz University revealed that the megalithic tombs date back over 5,500 years to the 4th millennium BCE, roughly contemporary with Stonehenge and predating the Egyptian pyramids. The tombs were built using massive stones, some weighing up to 10 tonnes, which were transported with the help of tools and labour, Archaeology News reported. The structures are elongated trapezoidal shapes, up to 200 meters in length and 4 meters in height. The tombs are carefully aligned with the directions, hinting at a sophisticated understanding of astronomy among the builders. The tombs likely contained single skeletons, laid on their backs with legs pointing east, and were accompanied by grave goods such as pottery, stone axes and opium vessels. The archaeologists noted that the tombs were constructed by the Funnelbeaker Culture, a Neolithic society known for its monumental burial architecture and agricultural practices. "Although the Funnelbeaker cultures were quite egalitarian societies, the tombs held important figures for the community—the leader, the priest, the shaman," said Artur Golis from the regional landscape park association. "Each generation of a given community built its own megalith," he told PAP, Poland's press agency. The discovery provides valuable insights into the social, religious, and architectural sophistication of Neolithic Europe. It also challenges our understanding of early European civilisations. Many of the tombs have been lost or degraded over the centuries, with only those hidden in forested areas surviving into the modern era. "Potentially, these might include stone axes, hatchets, pottery, or characteristic clay vessels, including ones used for opium," Golis told TVP World.

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