Strange Mysteries of Ancient World

   Strange Mysteries of Ancient World - Part 1

   The giant glass slab discovered in a cave in Galilee (Israel) puzzled the modern man. The measurements showed that it was the third largest piece of glass ever made. The other two were made in 1934. This piece was 1,000 years old.

   So what was that giant glass slab doing in a cave? Who created it at that time and how the incredible feat was achieved?

   The other puzzling archaeological mystery is about the Chinese aluminium. It was discovered accidentally by the laborers in a buried tomb. And the mystery amazed archaeologists and scientists for quite some time, as it made historians reconsider historical facts all over again.

The Amazing Glass Slab:

The Giant Glass Slab of Galilee

   With the new archaeological finds, the mysteries of the past are growing more and more complicated. The 20th century man is astonished to know that even during earlier times, man was quite advanced and has left behind such stupendous artifacts and buildings which are, technically speaking, mysteries to this day. And one such enigma is the great glass slab of Galilee.

   Local authorities had decided to convert a cave at Beth she’arim into a museum. The cave generated a lot of interest and speculation because it was situated at a site of an ancient city, where the Jews were cruelly buried in catacombs. The soon began in full vibration. At the time of mining, the cave was used as a water tank and was badly silted up. A bulldozer had to be called to clear up the mess. The bulldozer had hardly started cleaning up when suddenly the machine stopped in the middle of the floor. A large slab had struck it. The authorities of the museum liked the slab and preserved it as an item of display.

   The cave that was newly turned into a museum was opened to public and surprisingly for years the slab was used as a stand on which the model of the building was pointed out. Visitors came and passed by the slab, noticing only the model. Thus the slab remained there for years unnoticed and neglected.

   It was only in 1960 that some archaeologists noticed its specialty. They closely examined the slab and to their amazement, they discovered that it was not made of rock but of a purplish green glass. The discovery attracted experts from all over the world in great numbers. In 1964, a team of American experts under Dr. Robert Brill, Administrator of Scientific Research at the Corning Museum of Glass, New York, arrived. The team thoroughly checked the slab and was surprised were the mathematical calculations. It measured 3.40 by 1.94 meters and was 50 cms thick. It weighted 8.8 tons. These calculations made it the third largest glass slab. The other two were produced in 1834 in America, but this glass slab, according to the archaeologists, was well over 1,000 years old. The experts were curious to know about its history. They wanted to know as how an ancient man ever succeeded in making a magnificent large glass as this. What was it doing in a cave? And finally who made it?

The Giant Glass Slab of Galilee

   The answer to the first question was easily found out. Dr. Robert Brill along with the members of his team, dug under the slab. There he discovered many large stones which, according to him, must have been covered with clay where glass was mixed and heated. His guess was confirmed by the archaeologists who said that a layer of large stones was found there some time ago.

   The history of the cave was further analysis. The historical date suggested that the glass slab was made between the 4th and the early 7th century A.D. it was manufactured to be designed into decorative glass objects or perhaps to be used for beautifying architectural forms.

   However, both the suggestions were merely guesses and Dr. Robert Brill himself was not satisfied with the above hypothesis. So the purpose behind making of such a giant glass slab of Galilee (Israel) has remained a mystery till this day. Accepting it as an astonishing piece of superb ancient technology, we are still groping in the dark about its other details. The intentions of the Galilean glass-makers stay buried in the tantalizing silence of the past.

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