Have you ever wondered why the famous Castel del Monte has eight corners? here is why.
Why is Castel del Monte octagonal?
Ritual Cannibalism in Europe – A female goddess of death might hide in German fairy tales
Fascinating finds were made in a mysterious cave on Kyffhäuser Mountain in Germany. They seem to contain sacrificial human offerings, victims of cannibalism, which were offered to an ancient goddess. Perhaps they are the starting point of the legend of someone lying asleep in the mountain and of today’s famous fairy-tales....
Best place in Australia: Going to the mysterious Abrolhos reefs
When you go to Australia for tourism, you inevitably go to Uluru (Ayers-Rock), the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney. But you can even get better than that. The Abrolhos Reefs are one of the most magical places in the world and home to incredible historical events. It is not easy to get to the reefs,... Continue Reading →
In the land of the living dead
The Toraja are certainly the people with the most peculiar burial traditions in the world and you can experience them unexpectedly close up.
The hidden Tunnels of the Inca (Cusco, Peru)
The old city of the Inca Cusco in Peru is surrounded by numerous legends and a visit to this Inca city at an altitude of three thousand meters is a must for every globetrotter. A hidden mysterious lies, however, underneath.
The first Computer Programme of the world?
Few buildings are as rich in history and beauty as the ancient cathedral of Chartres in France. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the Paris region and is famous for the bright blue of its mighty windows. Inside the colossal church, numerous secrets can be discovered that attract esoteric and believing Christians... Continue Reading →
Please change those museums!
Archaeology has evolved. Museums mostly have not. It is time to change our museums and bring their context to the artefacts. A museum should not be an antiquity shop.
The most puzzling church in the world – Hagia Sophia (Turkey)
There are places that do not form part of everyday life. Places where something higher reigns and the breath of history sweeps the air. One such place is the Hagia Sophia. This despite the fact that after the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks it was consecrated as a mosque - or perhaps just because of it.
The mysterious singing pilars of Hampi (India)
The immense country of India is particularly rich in sights and archaeological sites. Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, the holy Varanasi on the Ganges and the Taj Mahal are among the most spectacular places in the world. At one place, however, secrets and beauty meet in an especially magical mix - in the mystical ghost town of... Continue Reading →
Getting lost in the jungle – Rurrenabaque
There are those mystic places in which you change your business attire to an Indiana Jones hat and to safari colours. Where you suddenly don’t mind anymore that there is no light at night and that you have to try to distinguish your face in the shabby mirror of the even shabbier bathroom cabin with... Continue Reading →
The Hoatzin – the oldest bird in the world
The Hoatzin is a most peculiar bird and may be even the oldest in the world. It has surprising characteristics...
Where is the Santa Maria, the ship of Columbus?
In May 2014, the American explorer Barry Clifford announced that he had found the wreckage of the Santa Maria. His announcement made headlines, even though he did not produce evidence. The hype was understandable. The Santa Maria was Christopher Columbus' flagship on his first voyage to the Americas and one of only three ships to... Continue Reading →
In the skin of another – literally!
In the National Museum of San Salvador (El Salvador) there stands a simple clay sculpture of a man. At first glance you think he is wrapped in feathers. At second glance, his clothes seem strange. And indeed they are. He wears a man's skin that has been stripped off and is decaying on his body.... Continue Reading →
The worst Volcanic Eruption ever
El Salvador in Central America is one of the most volcanic and earthquake-hit countries in the world. Twenty-two volcanoes crowd into the smallest of spaces. There is hardly a place in the country from which one does not see these mighty giants. The capital San Salvador, on the other hand, has only few sights. Whatever... Continue Reading →
Human Sacrifice by the Maya
It was a game of life and death. The “Pok-a-tok” in the the Mayan language was a ball game similar to soccer. It was held during ritual celebrations. The object of the game was to move the rubber ball by bouncing it off the hips or knees without using the hands or feet. The team... Continue Reading →
The bead-seekers of Mozambique Island
If you go to the eastern Coast of Africa, to the atmospheric place of Mozambique Island, you will see a strange image in the evenings. Groups of women, men and children linger on the beach and seem to be looking for something. And if you are lodged in one of the hotels on the beach,... Continue Reading →
The Adventures of the African Queen
A light-hearted, whilst nevertheless touching story of World War I is that of the ship Liemba, which still sails the Lake Tanganyika today. This is despite her having travelled over a mountain, endured two sinkings and experienced a war, experiences that have left bumpy traces all over her hull. Her story is one of the... Continue Reading →
The Mystery of Tiwanaku
The most impressive is the absolute loneliness of the region and the fact that it is despite all odds inhabited. This extensive, empty highland of Bolivia is an imposing area. The first time I came to the Altiplano was in the year 2000, when I worked researching in the Amazonian Jungle in Peru and this... Continue Reading →
Archaeology Mysteries 