◬ Ancient Mystery Tours

Image credits

All photos are real photographs (no AI images). Most come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences: public domain, CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA. A small number are used with the person’s consent and are credited as such. We resize and crop Commons photos for the web; no other changes are made. Each free-licence entry links to the original file page and its licence. Favicon and social preview graphics are our own simple generated designs. If you are the author of an image and want a correction or removal, please contact us via the Imprint.

Site guides (23)

Temple of Hathor, Dendera

Temple of Hathor, Dendera

Author: Vyacheslav Argenberg
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Source: Temple of Hathor, Ceiling, Dendera, Egypt.jpg

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat

Author: Reinhard Onasch
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Angkor Wat Sunrise (209237385).jpeg

Columns of the Temple of Jupiter, Baalbek

Columns of the Temple of Jupiter, Baalbek

Author: Vyacheslav Argenberg
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Source: Lebanon, Baalbek, Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek.jpg

Visočica hill above Visoko

Visočica hill above Visoko

Author: Mhare
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Visočica hill from the road.jpg

Stone rows at Carnac

Stone rows at Carnac

Author: Myrabella
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Alignement Menec Carnac.jpg

Saint Theodore church in Derinkuyu town, above the underground city

Saint Theodore church in Derinkuyu town, above the underground city

Author: Travel Turkey
Licence: CC BY 2.0
Source: Saint Theodore Church Derinkuyu Front Entrance.jpg

Moai at Ahu Tongariki, Rapa Nui

Moai at Ahu Tongariki, Rapa Nui

Author: Rivi
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Ahu Tongariki cropped.jpg

The pyramids of Giza

The pyramids of Giza

Author: Ricardo Liberato
Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0
Source: All Gizah Pyramids.jpg

Enclosure with T-shaped pillars at Karahan Tepe

Enclosure with T-shaped pillars at Karahan Tepe

Author: tobeytravels
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Enclosure with T Shaped Pillars, Karahantepe (Karahan Tepe), Turkey (2).jpg

Megalithic terraces at Gunung Padang

Megalithic terraces at Gunung Padang

Author: Mohammad Fadli
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Gunung Padang Site.jpg

Ħaġar Qim megalithic temple, Malta

Ħaġar Qim megalithic temple, Malta

Author: Diego Delso
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Complejo de Ħaġar Qim, isla de Malta, Malta, 2021-08-25, DD 63.jpg

Basalt walls of Nan Madol

Basalt walls of Nan Madol

Author: Jebrennan
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Kids in Passage Through Basalt Wall, Nan Madol, Pohnpei.jpg

The hummingbird geoglyph, Nazca

The hummingbird geoglyph, Nazca

Author: Diego Delso
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Líneas de Nazca, Nazca, Perú, 2015-07-29, DD 52.JPG

Newgrange passage tomb, Ireland

Newgrange passage tomb, Ireland

Author: Graham Hogg
Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0
Source: Newgrange Passage Tomb - geograph.org.uk - 2857133.jpg

Ollantaytambo terraces and temple

Ollantaytambo terraces and temple

Author: Steve FUNG
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Ollantaytambo, Temple Hill (Fortress).jpg

The Ring of Brodgar, Orkney

The Ring of Brodgar, Orkney

Author: Stevekeiretsu
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Ring of Brodgar, Orkney.jpg

The Paracas Candelabra geoglyph

The Paracas Candelabra geoglyph

Author: Alex Zanuccoli
Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0
Source: Paracas Candelabra - Ica, Peru.jpg

Polygonal megalithic walls at Sacsayhuamán

Polygonal megalithic walls at Sacsayhuamán

Author: Martin St-Amant (S23678)
Licence: CC BY 3.0
Source: Sacsayhuamán Décembre 2006 - Vue Panoramique - Pleine résolution.jpg

Su Nuraxi nuraghe, Barumini, Sardinia

Su Nuraxi nuraghe, Barumini, Sardinia

Author: Norbert Nagel
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Nuraghe Su Nuraxi - Barumini - Sardinia - Italy - 07.jpg

Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain

Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain

Author: DeFacto
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Stonehenge Heel Stone.jpg

Avenue of the Dead and Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan

Avenue of the Dead and Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan

Author: Daniel Case
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: View down the Avenue of the Dead to Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan.jpg

Cut andesite blocks at Puma Punku

Cut andesite blocks at Puma Punku

Author: Janikorpi
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Puma Punku H profile wall.JPG

The underwater Yonaguni formation

The underwater Yonaguni formation

Author: Vincent Lou from Shanghai, China
Licence: CC BY 2.0
Source: Yonaguni Monument DSC02807 (12737575034).jpg

Learn (9)

Pakal’s sarcophagus lid, Palenque

Pakal’s sarcophagus lid, Palenque

Author: Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium
Licence: CC BY 2.0
Source: Palenque, Temple of the Inscriptions (20498755918).jpg

Solstice light at Newgrange

Solstice light at Newgrange

Author: Dentp
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: 2013 Solstice Newgrange.jpg

Paracas culture textile

Paracas culture textile

Author: Unknown creatorUnknown creator, Nasca or Paracas Necropolis, Peru
Licence: Public domain
Source: Detail, Bird, Paracas mantle, 0-100 C.E. Brooklyn Museum.jpg

Animal reliefs on a Göbekli Tepe pillar

Animal reliefs on a Göbekli Tepe pillar

Author: Zhengan
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Göbekli Tepe Pillar.JPG

The monkey geoglyph, Nazca

The monkey geoglyph, Nazca

Author: Diego Delso
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Líneas de Nazca, Nazca, Perú, 2015-07-29, DD 49.JPG

Radio telescopes of the Very Large Array

Radio telescopes of the Very Large Array

Author: ESO/P. Horálek
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Source: An Aged Observer (potw1925a).jpg

Fragment of the Antikythera mechanism

Fragment of the Antikythera mechanism

Author: Joyofmuseums
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Antikythera Mechanism - National Archaeological Museum, Athens by Joy of Museum.jpg

The twelve-angled stone in Cusco’s Inca masonry

The twelve-angled stone in Cusco’s Inca masonry

Author: Ljuba brank at Slovenian Wikipedia
Licence: Public domain
Source: 04 Cusco (26).jpg

Meteor Crater, Arizona

Meteor Crater, Arizona

Author: National Map Seamless Server
Licence: Public domain
Source: Meteor Crater - Arizona.jpg

Discoveries (51)

Aguada Fénix, Tabasco

Aguada Fénix, Tabasco

Author: Takeshi Inomata
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Aguada Fénix 1.jpg

Bent Pyramid, Dahshur

Bent Pyramid, Dahshur

Author: lienyuan lee
Licence: CC BY 3.0
Source: Bent Pyramid 曲折金字塔 - panoramio.jpg

Stonehenge interior

Stonehenge interior

Author: The Stones of Stonehenge
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Source: Stonehenge-Altar-Stone P1110732.jpg

Earthwork types in Acre, Brazil (figure from Pärssinen et al.)

Earthwork types in Acre, Brazil (figure from Pärssinen et al.)

Author: Pärssinen, M., Kalliola, R., Ranzi, A. et al. Over 20,000 precolonial earthworks in the Southwest Amazonia. Nature (2026
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Source: Diverse Aquiry earthwork types with their topographical contexts (Fig. 2 in Pärssinen et al. (2026). Over 20,000 precolonial earthworks in the Southwest Amazonia), Nature.png

A moai on Ahu Ature at Anakena, Rapa Nui’s traditional landing beach

A moai on Ahu Ature at Anakena, Rapa Nui’s traditional landing beach

Author: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Anakena-Ahu-Ature.jpg

The Antikythera mechanism

The Antikythera mechanism

Author: No machine-readable author provided. Marsyas assumed (based on copyright claims).
Licence: CC BY 2.5
Source: NAMA Machine d'Anticythère 1.jpg

Cueva de los Murciélagos, Albuñol

Cueva de los Murciélagos, Albuñol

Author: Loscast
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Vista General de la Entrada Cueva de los Murciélagos de Albuñol.jpg

The Baltic coast near the Bay of Mecklenburg

The Baltic coast near the Bay of Mecklenburg

Author: Radomianin
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Baltic Sea view from Schmiedeberg hill in Rerik, 2025-06-23.jpg

Caral, Supe Valley

Caral, Supe Valley

Author: Ariana zafra
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Huaca Caral 4.jpg

Kermario alignments, Carnac

Kermario alignments, Carnac

Author: Andy Hay
Licence: CC BY 2.0
Source: Kermario alignments, Carnac (222937612).jpg

Excavations at Çatalhöyük

Excavations at Çatalhöyük

Author: Omar Hoftun
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Çatalhöyük excavations ..jpg

Megalithic zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán

Megalithic zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán

Author: Steve FUNG
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Saqsaywaman, Section of Megalithic Walls.jpg

Dendera temple complex

Dendera temple complex

Author: Hamerani
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Temple of Hathor at Dendera (2).jpg

Desert kite hunting trap

Desert kite hunting trap

Author: Guy Baroz
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Desert Kites in west Samar.jpg

Step Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara

Step Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara

Author: Charles J. Sharp
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Saqqara pyramid ver 2.jpg

A Roman bronze dodecahedron

A Roman bronze dodecahedron

Author: User:Itub
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Roman dodecahedron.jpg

Dzibanche, Quintana Roo

Dzibanche, Quintana Roo

Author: Repositorio INAH
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Dzibanche Temple of the Lintels.png

Wild boar relief, Göbekli Tepe

Wild boar relief, Göbekli Tepe

Author: Dosseman
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Urfa museum Roaming group Boar statue Göbekli Tepe - Neolithic age 4780.jpg

A carbonised Herculaneum papyrus

A carbonised Herculaneum papyrus

Author: Sara Stabile, Francesca Palermo, Inna Bukreeva, Daniela Mele, Vincenzo Formoso, Roberto Bartolino & Alessia Cedola
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Source: Herculaneum papyri.jpg

Middle Jōmon “flame-style” pottery from Japan

Middle Jōmon “flame-style” pottery from Japan

Author: Netherzone
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Jomon Flame Style Pottery, 3000 BC.jpg

Kalambo Falls on the Zambia–Tanzania border

Kalambo Falls on the Zambia–Tanzania border

Author: Humphrey Kaburu
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: 235 meters of single drop waterfall, the second largest waterfall in Africa.jpg

Karahan Tepe excavation

Karahan Tepe excavation

Author: Frantisek Trampota
Licence: Public domain
Source: Karahan Tepe overview.jpg

Pyramid of Khafre, Giza

Pyramid of Khafre, Giza

Author: Daaaveee
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Khafre Pyramid Giza.JPG

Khaybar oasis, Saudi Arabia

Khaybar oasis, Saudi Arabia

Author: Hardscarf
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Khaybar - deserted houses.jpg

The Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, Egypt

The Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, Egypt

Author: kallerna
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Pyramid of Cheops - side.jpg

The granite King’s Chamber inside the Great Pyramid of Giza

The granite King’s Chamber inside the Great Pyramid of Giza

Author: Andrew Currie
Licence: CC BY 2.0
Source: Khufu Pyramid - King's Chamber.jpg

The “Astronaut” figure, Nazca

The “Astronaut” figure, Nazca

Author: Diego Delso
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Líneas de Nazca, Nazca, Perú, 2015-07-29, DD 46.JPG

Malta’s coastline

Malta’s coastline

Author: Thyes
Licence: Public domain
Source: Malta-dingli-coast-181.jpg

Calakmul, Campeche

Calakmul, Campeche

Author: Pavel Kirillov from St.Petersburg, Russia
Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0
Source: In Calakmul, Mexico (8726963632).jpg

Nohoch Mul pyramid at the Maya city of Cobá, Yucatán Peninsula

Nohoch Mul pyramid at the Maya city of Cobá, Yucatán Peninsula

Author: Bernard DUPONT
Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0
Source: Nohoch Mul Pyramid 2 - Cobá Maya site QR 2020.jpg

Inside the Dolmen of Menga, Antequera

Inside the Dolmen of Menga, Antequera

Author: Malopez 21
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Dolmen de Menga, vista interior desde el fondo del dolmen.jpg

Kaali meteorite crater, Estonia

Kaali meteorite crater, Estonia

Author: Mannobult
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Kaali-crater-saaremaa-estonia-aug-2007.jpg

Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies, San Lázaro

Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies, San Lázaro

Author: ProtoplasmaKid
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Palacio Legislativo de San Lázaro obtenido con dron 01.jpg

Moai on the slopes of Rano Raraku

Moai on the slopes of Rano Raraku

Author: Aurbina
Licence: Public domain
Source: Moai Rano raraku.jpg

Statue from Mont’e Prama

Statue from Mont’e Prama

Author: Ludovica Dal Molin
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Giganti Mont'e Prama, Lottatori.jpg

Cradle of Humankind, South Africa

Cradle of Humankind, South Africa

Author: Olof Somell (Nobel Museum)
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Cradle of Humankind at from Maropeng Visitor Centre.jpg

Excavation at the Ness of Brodgar

Excavation at the Ness of Brodgar

Author: Victuallers
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Source: Ness of Brodgar excavations 2017-.jpg

Maya temples of Calakmul rising above the Campeche forest, the same reserve system where Ocomtún was found

Maya temples of Calakmul rising above the Campeche forest, the same reserve system where Ocomtún was found

Author: Lugares INAH
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (Reserva de la biosfera de Calakmul).jpg

The Red Pyramid of Snefru at Dahshur, Egypt

The Red Pyramid of Snefru at Dahshur, Egypt

Author: Ivrienen at English Wikipedia
Licence: CC BY 3.0
Source: Snofrus Red Pyramid in Dahshur (2).jpg

The Roman concrete dome of the Pantheon

The Roman concrete dome of the Pantheon

Author: Wilfredor
Licence: CC0
Source: Pantheon (Rome), Dome interior.jpg

A rongorongo tablet

A rongorongo tablet

Author: unknown (for GFDL, cite source above as old copyright holder)
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Rongorongo R-a Atua-Mata-Riri.jpg

The zigzag megalithic walls of Saqsaywaman above Cusco, Peru

The zigzag megalithic walls of Saqsaywaman above Cusco, Peru

Author: Steve FUNG
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Saqsaywaman, Section of Megalithic Walls.jpg

Bronze heads with gold-foil masks from the Sanxingdui sacrificial pits

Bronze heads with gold-foil masks from the Sanxingdui sacrificial pits

Author: momo
Licence: CC BY 2.0
Source: Sanxingdui gold mask.jpg

Muon detectors installed inside the Great Pyramid (ScanPyramids figure)

Muon detectors installed inside the Great Pyramid (ScanPyramids figure)

Author: Sébastien Procureur, Kunihiro Morishima, Mitsuaki Kuno, Yuta Manabe, Nobuko Kitagawa, Akira Nishio, Hector Gomez, David
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Source: Detectors installed in the DC and in the MC.png

The Great Sphinx of Giza

The Great Sphinx of Giza

Author: Petar Milošević
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Great Sphinx (أبو الهول).jpg

Cave painting in Sulawesi

Cave painting in Sulawesi

Author: Oktaviana
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Leang Tedongnge cave mouth credit AA Oktaviana.jpg

Ancient hand stencils in a Sulawesi cave

Ancient hand stencils in a Sulawesi cave

Author: Cahyo
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Hands in Pettakere Cave detail.jpg

The Theban hills, Luxor

The Theban hills, Luxor

Author: Rémih
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Luxor west bank3.JPG

Upano Valley, Ecuador

Upano Valley, Ecuador

Author: Jlh249
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Rio Upano, Logroño.jpg

Fossilised human footprints in the gypsum at White Sands National Park (USGS photos, cropped)

Fossilised human footprints in the gypsum at White Sands National Park (USGS photos, cropped)

Author: United States Geological Survey
Licence: Public domain
Source: White Sands Fossil Footprints.png

Voices (4)

Brien Foerster

Brien Foerster

Author: Brien Foerster
Licence: Used with permission
Source: brien1-1-300x300.jpg (used with permission, 2026-11-12)

Giorgio A. Tsoukalos

Giorgio A. Tsoukalos

Author: goatling
Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0
Source: Giorgio Tsoukalos 2016.jpg

Graham Hancock

Graham Hancock

Author: Cpt.Muji
Licence: CC BY 3.0
Source: Graham-Hancock (cropped).jpg

Jaime Maussan

Jaime Maussan

Author: Dimaussan
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Wiki JM.jpg

Home (1)

Excavated enclosures at Göbekli Tepe

Excavated enclosures at Göbekli Tepe

Author: Teomancimit
Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: Göbekli Tepe, Urfa.jpg