Uploaded September 2018 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
Archaeologists have uncovered the most strange and mysterious tombs in the world containing Egyptian queens to a whole army
4. 42 Tombs
Egypt is much like the mecca of ancient burial sites and newer graves from periods past are discovered regularly. In 2016, archaeologists uncovered an incredible 42 rock-cut tombs alongside a shrine featuring a winged sun disc decoration near the banks of River Nile. Previously, the dig site where the discovery was made was thought to be just a quarry that produced cut stones for building.
The find revealed that the area could have been a major commerce hub and political activity during the ancient past. Diggers also found sheep and got remains suggesting that sacrificial offerings were made to the gods at the site. They also found crocodile remains which raised more questions than answers. It could be that they were swept into the area when the Nile overflowed.
3. Qin Shi Huang
When he was just 13-years old and around 246 BCE, boy-king Ying Zheng began the construction of his tomb in what is now China's Lintong District, Xi'an in the Shaanxi province. By the time he was 38, King Zheng managed to unite all of China's warring states and soon became Qin Shi Huang's first emperor. He became even more obsessed with the afterlife as his wealth continued growing. He expanded his tomb to 38 square miles and filling it with all the luxuries he enjoyed in life that he also wanted with him in the afterlife. That included a terracotta army to provide protection to him after his demise.
King Zheng also constructed a labyrinth off secrete tunnels running beneath his 200 palaces to travel safely and unseen. He also had magicians, alchemists, and scholars working round-the-clock trying to find a cure for mortality. Ironically, Qin Shi Huang died after drinking mercury believing that it would grant him immortality. Slave laborers had worked on his necropolis for three decades up until 208 BCE. He was laid to rest in the tomb in 210 BCE at the age of 49.
2. Unknown Queen
In 2015, archaeologists uncovered a pyramid necropolis belonging to a previously unknown Egyptian queen. They believed that she could have been Pharaoh Neferefre's wife and experts say that her tomb dated back to about 4,500 years ago. She is called Khentakawess and she shared the name with two other queens whose tombs dated back several years before her. Builders who constructed the tomb etched out the queen's name as well as her status in the inner walls.
The inscriptions "Mother of the King" and "Wife of the King" were found further supporting that it was indeed the tomb of Khentakawess III. Like most tombs, it had been vastly looted but site diggers still found nearly two dozen copper and limestone-made utensils. There were also small statues and travertine funereal vessels buried with the queen. Several of the pieces were long stolen by grave robbers, and they could have contained clues about the queen's lineage, life, and death.
1. Mongol-Rule Octagon Shaped Tombs
Archaeologists working on a site in Yangquan, China discovered in 2012 found interesting artwork covering the octagon-shaped tomb. Some of the murals on the walls of the tomb dated back to 700 years ago during the time when the Genghis Khan descendants ruled China. There are seven walls in total, each covered with ancient artwork and the eight has the entryway. The tomb also featured a pyramid-shaped roof decorated with images of the stars, sun, and moon. A majority of the murals showcase life in China during the Mongol rule including tea being prepared, a band of musicians, and horses and camels transporting people.
One of the murals told what seemed to tell a heinous tale of the past depicting parents perhaps trying to bury their young son alive. However, archaeologists didn't find skeletal remains inside the tomb while the north wall depicts the tomb's occupants who were a husband and wife. The mural could come from a Chinese folklore about Guo Ju and his wife who had to bury their child alive so that they could afford to care for Ju's ailing mother. When they set out to dig the hole they found a treasure trove of gold coins which was a reward from heaven for caring for Ju's ailing mother. Several more of the murals depict stories from ancient China.
Archaeologists have uncovered the most strange and mysterious tombs in the world containing Egyptian queens to a whole army
4. 42 Tombs
Egypt is much like the mecca of ancient burial sites and newer graves from periods past are discovered regularly. In 2016, archaeologists uncovered an incredible 42 rock-cut tombs alongside a shrine featuring a winged sun disc decoration near the banks of River Nile. Previously, the dig site where the discovery was made was thought to be just a quarry that produced cut stones for building.
The find revealed that the area could have been a major commerce hub and political activity during the ancient past. Diggers also found sheep and got remains suggesting that sacrificial offerings were made to the gods at the site. They also found crocodile remains which raised more questions than answers. It could be that they were swept into the area when the Nile overflowed.
3. Qin Shi Huang
When he was just 13-years old and around 246 BCE, boy-king Ying Zheng began the construction of his tomb in what is now China's Lintong District, Xi'an in the Shaanxi province. By the time he was 38, King Zheng managed to unite all of China's warring states and soon became Qin Shi Huang's first emperor. He became even more obsessed with the afterlife as his wealth continued growing. He expanded his tomb to 38 square miles and filling it with all the luxuries he enjoyed in life that he also wanted with him in the afterlife. That included a terracotta army to provide protection to him after his demise.
King Zheng also constructed a labyrinth off secrete tunnels running beneath his 200 palaces to travel safely and unseen. He also had magicians, alchemists, and scholars working round-the-clock trying to find a cure for mortality. Ironically, Qin Shi Huang died after drinking mercury believing that it would grant him immortality. Slave laborers had worked on his necropolis for three decades up until 208 BCE. He was laid to rest in the tomb in 210 BCE at the age of 49.
2. Unknown Queen
In 2015, archaeologists uncovered a pyramid necropolis belonging to a previously unknown Egyptian queen. They believed that she could have been Pharaoh Neferefre's wife and experts say that her tomb dated back to about 4,500 years ago. She is called Khentakawess and she shared the name with two other queens whose tombs dated back several years before her. Builders who constructed the tomb etched out the queen's name as well as her status in the inner walls.
The inscriptions "Mother of the King" and "Wife of the King" were found further supporting that it was indeed the tomb of Khentakawess III. Like most tombs, it had been vastly looted but site diggers still found nearly two dozen copper and limestone-made utensils. There were also small statues and travertine funereal vessels buried with the queen. Several of the pieces were long stolen by grave robbers, and they could have contained clues about the queen's lineage, life, and death.
1. Mongol-Rule Octagon Shaped Tombs
Archaeologists working on a site in Yangquan, China discovered in 2012 found interesting artwork covering the octagon-shaped tomb. Some of the murals on the walls of the tomb dated back to 700 years ago during the time when the Genghis Khan descendants ruled China. There are seven walls in total, each covered with ancient artwork and the eight has the entryway. The tomb also featured a pyramid-shaped roof decorated with images of the stars, sun, and moon. A majority of the murals showcase life in China during the Mongol rule including tea being prepared, a band of musicians, and horses and camels transporting people.
One of the murals told what seemed to tell a heinous tale of the past depicting parents perhaps trying to bury their young son alive. However, archaeologists didn't find skeletal remains inside the tomb while the north wall depicts the tomb's occupants who were a husband and wife. The mural could come from a Chinese folklore about Guo Ju and his wife who had to bury their child alive so that they could afford to care for Ju's ailing mother. When they set out to dig the hole they found a treasure trove of gold coins which was a reward from heaven for caring for Ju's ailing mother. Several more of the murals depict stories from ancient China.
