Located in the desert hills of Northern Sudan we find a set of enigmatic Pyramids that resemble their counterparts in Egypt. However, unlike the majestic structures erected in Egypt, the Pyramids of Sudan have remained unnoticed for decades.
Some 200 kilometers of Sudan’s Capital Khartoum we find the mysterious pyramids of Meroe.
The site once served as the primary residence for the rulers of the Kush Kingdom, more famously known as the Black Pharaohs.
In their honor, hundreds of strange pyramids were erected in Meroe where once an ancient, long-dried river existed.
The enigmatic Pyramids of Sudan range from 5 to 30 meters in height. According to scholars, they were built between 7120 and 300 BC and usually face east in order to meet the rising sun.
According to scholars, the Pyramids of Meroe feature decorative elements inspired not only by Pharaonic Egypt but by ancient Greece and Rome as well. This fact makes the priceless ancient relics according to UNESCO.
The enigmatic—miniature—Pyramids of Sudan featured a rather curious—most likely random—similarity to another ancient site located halfway around the world: the archaeological complex of Puma Punku.
Puma Punku is a large ancient temple complex that belongs to the ancient site if Tiahuanaco in Bolivia.
According to experts, the archeological site dates back to around 536 AD.
Translated to the “The Door of the Puma,” the Puma Punku complex is made up of an unwalled western court, a central unwalled esplanade, a terraced platform mound that is faced with stone, and a walled eastern court.
Puma Punku featured some of the most impressive stone blocks in South America.
The largest of the stones found at the site is 7.81 meters long, 5.17 meters wide, averages 1.07 meters thick, and is estimated to weigh about 131 metric tons.
It still remains an enigma as to how the ancient builders of Puma Punku—and Tiahuanaco—managed to transport these massive stones from their quarries.
Archaeologists argue that the transport of these stones was accomplished by the large labor force of ancient Tiwanaku.
In addition to massive stones, Puma Punku features smaller stones which have become a major object of study, due to their incredibly smooth surfaces, laser-like cuts, sharp corners and perfect shapes.
However, despite the fact that Puma Punku has a lot to talk about, we focus on the curious and perhaps most notable stones of the site: The famous H-Blocks.
The incredible H-shaped blocks found at Puma Punku all match each other with extreme precision and fit into each other like Lego blocks.
It is noteworthy to mention that the way the walls of Puma Punku were assembled is outrageously beautiful. Each stone was finely cut to interlock with the surrounding stones allowing its blocks fit together like a puzzle, forming load-bearing joints without the use of mortar.
Curiously, if we compare the ancient pyramids of Sudan and their beautifully designed entrances to the H-Blocks at Puma Punku, we notice an uncanny similarity that cannot go unnoticed.
Whether or not there is more to both of these archaeological sites is another story. However, we did want to point out that at least in terms of design, both archaeological sites may share a small similarity.
What do you think?