Several years ago, Brazilian scientists exploring the southern and southeastern regions of Brazil discovered tunnels extending for tens of kilometers within the mountains. These tunnels, approximately 2 meters in height and 4 meters in width, exhibit distinct excavation marks. Archaeologists have dated these tunnels to be at least 13,000 years old, suggesting that the builders were likely not humans. So, who built these tunnels?
Brazil’s Mysterious “Tunnels”
The mysterious tunnels in Brazil are highly unusual, scattered throughout the rainforests with varying sizes and lengths. Some are only a few dozen meters long, while others extend over a hundred meters. There are no standard dimensions. Statistics indicate that there are over 10,000 such tunnels in the area, far exceeding just a few dozen kilometers in total length. The most famous tunnel is over 600 meters long, featuring branches and separated chambers. The tunnels show distinct marks similar to those made by tools, leading archaeologists to initially attribute them to ancient humans.
Throughout history, humans have engaged in mountain excavation. Ancient emperors often located their tombs at the base of mountains, such as China’s famous Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum at the foot of Mount Li. Ancient people also dug tunnels and caves for shelter or habitation, making tunnels not uncommon in any era.
In the 1930s, Brazilian archaeologists first discovered these mysterious tunnels and initially thought they were constructed by the ancient Maya.
Maya Ruins?
The Maya civilization was a prominent ancient American civilization known for its magnificent development and mysterious disappearance. The Maya civilization originated around 2000 BCE and flourished between 250 and 900 CE, renowned for its unique art, architecture, astronomy, mathematics, and writing system.
The development of the Maya civilization can be divided into three main periods: Preclassic, Classic, and Postclassic.
During the Preclassic period (2000 BCE to 250 CE), the Maya inhabited parts of southern Mexico and Central America. They primarily engaged in agriculture and established city-states. During this period, they developed agricultural techniques like irrigation systems and field construction, enabling them to produce abundant food.
Simultaneously, Maya culture began to take shape, with unique artistic expressions and religious beliefs, as well as the construction of splendid palaces.
The Classic period (250 to 900 CE) was the peak of Maya civilization. During this time, the Maya established numerous city-states, with some like Palenque, Copan, and Uxmal becoming important political and cultural centers. The Maya achieved great architectural feats, building vast cities and magnificent structures, such as pyramids, temples, and palaces. They also developed a highly accurate calendar system for measuring time and astronomical phenomena. Additionally, the Maya created a unique writing system to record historical events, religious rituals, and astronomical observations.
However, despite their achievements, the Maya civilization experienced a sudden decline around 900 CE. The reasons for this decline remain debated, with several major theories proposed.
One theory suggests that environmental factors played a significant role. Research indicates that the population surge during the Classic period led to over-cultivation and resource depletion, causing land degradation, water shortages, and reduced crop yields. Additionally, climate change and natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, may have exacerbated the crisis.
Another theory posits that social and political factors led to the collapse of the Maya civilization. Increased warfare and internal conflicts among city-states in the later Classic period may have caused social disorder and economic decline. Some city-states may also have been attacked by external invaders, such as the Toltecs and other neighboring civilizations.
Although the Maya civilization declined around 900 CE, it did not completely vanish. Some Maya people continued to live in smaller cities and rural areas, preserving some cultural traditions. However, the large-scale cities and civilization centers were gradually abandoned, leaving ruins for future generations to study.
Considering the Maya civilization’s level of sophistication, they could have constructed these tunnels. However, the tunnels are at least 13,000 years old, while the Maya civilization only began around 2000 BCE, making the timelines incompatible.
Tunnels Dug by Three-Toed Tools?
In 2010, after hearing about the tunnels, Brazilian geologist Amilcar Adamy decided to investigate. Upon arrival, he indeed found these tunnels. Inside, he could distinctly feel the excavated texture and immediately confirmed that these tunnels were not naturally formed. During the investigation, Adamy found clear excavation marks on the walls, resembling those made by a modern three-toed rake.
A three-toed rake is a commonly used agricultural tool for tilling and soil preparation. It consists of three prongs or claws, designed to break up and turn the soil. The design is simple, with a handle and three metal prongs.
These metal prongs usually have sharp ends to penetrate the soil easily. The prongs are spaced widely to effectively turn and till the soil.
Using a three-toed rake involves gripping the handle, inserting the prongs into the soil, and pulling back to break and turn the soil. This loosens the soil, removes weeds, and improves soil texture, creating better conditions for crop growth. The three-toed rake is widely used in agriculture, suitable for small plots, gardens, and farms, especially in soft soil and smaller planting areas. It is also commonly seen in urban landscaping and weeding.
However, prehistoric humans could not have possessed such advanced iron tools. The earliest use of iron tools was by ancient Egyptians and Sumerians around 4000 BCE, and even then, they primarily used rare meteoric iron, not actively smelted iron. Furthermore, 4000 BCE is only 6,000 years ago, far from 13,000 years.
Excluding the possibility of a three-toed rake, what could have dug these tunnels?
Remnants of Prehistoric Creatures
“Perhaps these tunnels were made by prehistoric giant ground sloths. Their three-toed feet match the spacing of the marks in the tunnels,” suggested Professor Frank, who later joined the exploration. This statement was a revelation. Adamy had always assumed humans built these tunnels, neglecting the possibility of animals.
Giant ground sloths were enormous herbivorous mammals belonging to the sloth family. They inhabited South America and went extinct in the late Pleistocene (around 18,000 to 11,000 years ago). Giant ground sloths were among the largest species in the sloth family, with massive and astonishing body sizes. Fossil and skeletal studies estimate their weight to exceed 4 tons, with a body length of up to 6 meters and a shoulder height of 3.5 meters, making them one of the largest terrestrial mammals.
Giant ground sloths had a distinctive appearance and adaptations. They possessed strong bodies and limbs, with longer and more robust hind limbs suitable for supporting their massive weight. Their forelimbs had powerful claws for digging and grasping plants. The head was relatively small, with a long tongue for feeding. As herbivores, they primarily ate plants, leaves, and branches, often feeding in a standing position, using their strong forelimbs to grasp vegetation and their tongues to pull it into their mouths.
Given that 13,000 years ago was during the Ice Age, it is speculated that giant ground sloths might have dug tunnels for warmth. Their powerful forelimbs would have allowed them to easily excavate various tunnels and caves, and their social nature might explain the particularly long tunnels (over 600 meters).
Conclusion
Thus, the mystery of the Brazilian tunnels seems to have a reasonable explanation, although there is still some controversy. This appears to be the closest answer to the truth.
Besides the Brazilian tunnels, Earth has many other unexplained phenomena. Human history is incredibly short compared to Earth’s history. How much do we truly know about past events and species that once existed?
