Location: Watford, England

Year Discovered: 2019

Est. Value: $40*

During the demolition of a former pub in Watford, England, contractors made a remarkable and eerie discovery in the chimney section of the building.

They found a witch bottle, filled with an unidentified liquid, teeth, and fragments of glass. This peculiar artifact was believed to have originated from the 1800s.

The purpose of the witch bottle was likely to ward off witches and protect the property. This significance becomes more understandable considering that the pub’s location was the birthplace of the Witch of Saratoga, Angeline Tubbs.

She later moved to Saratoga, New York, in 1761, where she earned a living by practicing fortune-telling and crafting witch bottles to intimidate her competitors.

Location: Yuigahama Beach, Japan

Year Discovered: 2014

Est. Value: Unknown

The appearance of dead wildlife washing ashore often raises concerns about water quality issues. However, in a bizarre twist, a Japanese surfer made a peculiar discovery of an eight-foot tall Lego man on the beach.

The ominous-looking Lego figure wore a t-shirt with the phrase “No Real Than You Are” printed on it.

While some might be tempted to attribute such an odd finding to extraterrestrial origins, it turns out that the enigmatic creator of these gigantic Lego figures is a Dutch artist known as Ego Leonard. According to information from his website, he hails from a “virtual world.”

Surprisingly, this is not the first time such gigantic Lego men have appeared on beaches. Similar behemoth Lego figures were also found on the shores of Siesta Key, Florida, and Topanga Beach, California.

Location: West Sumatra, Indonesia

Year Discovered: 2020

Est. Value: Unknown

In the remote jungle of West Sumatra, Indonesia, a group of conservationists made a remarkable discovery – the largest flower bloom in the world.

The flower belongs to the species Rafflesia tuan-mudae, which is renowned for its enormous and elusive blossoms that only last for a week, occurring at the end of the plant’s life cycle.

This particular mammoth flower stunned observers with its impressive diameter of 3.6 feet, setting a new record as the largest Rafflesia ever documented. The flower’s appearance is distinctive, featuring flesh-colored petals adorned with white spots.

However, the description of its appearance matches the somewhat unflattering nickname given to this type of flora, as it is commonly known as the “corpse flower” due to its pungent odor reminiscent of a decomposing body.

Location: San Juan Capistrano, California

Year Discovered: 2012

Est. Value: $850*

The movie “Sharknado” may have been mocked when it was released in 2013, but life seemed to imitate art when a real-life event mirrored the film’s absurd premise. A bizarre incident occurred a year before the movie’s release, where a shark literally fell from the sky and landed near the twelfth tee of a golf course in California.

The workers at San Juan Capistrano Golf Course were taken aback when they witnessed a two-pound leopard shark dropping onto the turf. To their amazement, the shark was still alive.

After investigating the unusual situation, it was revealed that a bird had carried the leopard shark from the ocean but accidentally dropped it while in flight.

Quick-thinking cart attendants decided to place the bewildered fish in a bucket of salt water and then drove it to Baby Beach, where they released it back into its rightful habitat in the ocean.

Location: Cenote Angelita, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Year Discovered: 2016

Est. Value: N/A

Finding a river within the ocean may initially seem contradictory, given that the ocean is composed entirely of water. However, divers were in for a surprising discovery as they came across an underwater river concealed beneath a cloud of toxic gas off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

The river originates from the Cenote Angelita, an immense sinkhole. Approximately ninety feet below the ocean’s surface, this unique river flows out into the ocean.

Surrounding it is a layer of hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous gas that would be instantly lethal to anyone attempting to breathe it in. Adding to the eerie scenery are petrified trees and even a small skeleton situated within the noxious cloud.

The Cenote Angelita’s mysterious characteristics might have contributed to ancient Mayan beliefs that it served as a gateway to Hell.

Location: Oranjemund, Namibia

Year Discovered: 2008

Est. Value: $13 million*

It is indeed unexpected to imagine finding a ship in the Namibian Desert, as it’s probably the last place one would think of.

However, the astonishing truth is that the remains of the Portuguese ship, the Bom Jesus, were discovered there after being lost for five-hundred years. The ship sank off the coast of Namibia centuries ago, and with the recession of the coastline waters, the Bom Jesus resurfaced.

The Bom Jesus had vanished during a severe storm while en route to India, carrying valuable treasures such as gold and copper ingots. The discovery of the ship was made by diamond miners who promptly alerted the Namibian government.

Subsequently, an expedition team was dispatched to excavate the wreckage. To their amazement, they found nearly all of the cargo, including two-thousand pure gold coins and tens of thousands of pounds of copper ingots, in remarkably preserved condition on the Bom Jesus.

This find has provided valuable insights into maritime history and offers a glimpse into the wealth and trade of the past.

Location: Estonia

Year Discovered: 2000

Est. Value: $6 million*

In the depths of Lake Kurtna Matasjärv, a fascinating piece of history remained hidden for decades until it was uncovered by a young man named Kasper from Estonia in 2000.

Kasper stumbled upon a peculiar marking and an adjacent rope, which piqued his curiosity. Upon informing his parents about the discovery, an extensive excavation effort ensued, drawing the entire town into the venture.

To their astonishment, the excavation revealed a Soviet-built T34/76A tank emerging from the depths, standing as a haunting reminder of the past.

Kasper’s discovery was purely accidental, and the reason behind the tank’s presence in the lake, as well as how it ended up there, remains shrouded in mystery.

Location: Paris, France

Year Discovered: 2004

Est. Value: $5,000-$10,000* (Cost To Build)

The Paris Catacombs, an intricate labyrinth beneath the heart of France, were initially constructed to address the city’s need for a more suitable burial site. In the late 1700s, bodies were transferred into the tunnels, which extend five stories underground.

Given this eerie background, a particularly chilling discovery came to light in August 2004. During a police training exercise, Parisian authorities stumbled upon a fully-equipped movie theater concealed within one of the uncharted caverns of the Catacombs.

The mysterious theater featured terraces carved into the rock, creating an amphitheater-like setting. Inside, they found projection equipment, a full-sized cinema screen, and an assortment of thrilling and noir films.

Remarkably, the films found in the hidden theater were neither offensive nor banned. It appears that someone had gone to the lengths of setting up their own private and eerie cinema, deep within the subterranean world of the Paris Catacombs.

Location: Shropshire, England

Year Discovered: 2010

Est. Value: $10,000-$50,000* (Cost To Build, Adj. For Inflation)

The discovery made by Pat and Diane Farla in Shropshire, England, certainly has the makings of an intriguing and suspenseful plot, much like a scene from a horror movie.

During a Good Friday party at their home, curiosity got the better of them, and they decided to investigate what lay behind a six-foot-long rectangular plate on their wall. Surprisingly, they realized that they hadn’t looked behind it during the three years they had owned the house.

To their astonishment, after removing the plate, they found a hidden hole leading to a tiny underground chapel. The cellar-like structure contained pews and a cross, strongly suggesting that it had a religious purpose.

Authorities believe that this hidden church might have been used centuries ago by congregations seeking refuge from religious persecution during one of England’s historical religious wars.

Location: Edoy, Norway

Year Discovered: 2019

Est. Value: $545,000*

The archaeological team in Norway stumbled upon an extraordinary find while using ground-penetrating radar during an entirely different expedition.

Beneath the freezing ground of a farm, they made an unexpected discovery – a ship dating back to either the Merovingian or Viking Period. Remarkably, the ship was buried a mere two feet below the surface.

Originally present as part of a burial mound from around a thousand years ago, the ship’s existence was almost serendipitously uncovered.

The team’s use of deep-radar technology, similar to the technique employed to locate the GJellestad Ship in Norway, led to this astonishing revelation.

Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Year Discovered: 2015

Est. Value: $52,000*

The renovation of a kitchen in Phoenix, Arizona took an unexpected turn when the homeowners discovered a mysterious safe hidden behind a wall. Curiosity got the better of them, and they decided to open it. To their amazement, the safe contained a surprising assortment of items.

Among the discoveries were $50,000 in $100 bills, along with a vintage bottle of bourbon from the 1960s. However, what truly piqued their interest was finding directions to a treasure hunt within the safe.

The instructions led to a novel called “A Guide for the Perplexed” by E.F. Schumacher, published in 1977. Inside the book, specific passages were outlined, and accompanying it were a map of Arizona and a Bingo card with certain numbers marked.

The couple has embarked on solving the intricate set of clues from the treasure hunt but has yet to crack the puzzle.

Location: Paris, France

Year Discovered: 2018

Est. Value: $19 million*

The serendipitous discovery of an exquisitely decorated porcelain vase in the attic of a French couple led to an astonishing turn of events. Having gone unnoticed for years, the vase caught the homeowners’ attention, prompting them to have it appraised by Sotheby’s in Paris.

To their astonishment, Sotheby’s identified the vase as an original work of art from the Qing Dynasty, and its estimated value ranged from $590,000 to $825,000.

However, during the auction, the hidden treasure surpassed all expectations when a determined bidder secured the vase with a staggering winning bid of $19 million.

Location: Arlington, Vermont

Year Discovered: 2006

Est. Value: $15.4 million*

The discovery made by the two brothers during their postmortem excavation of their father’s home was nothing short of astonishing. Hidden within the walls, they found an original Norman Rockwell painting.

However, what made this find truly remarkable was that the Rockwell painting matched the one hanging just a few inches away on the wall.

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that their father had hidden the valuable original from his ex-wife during their divorce. He cleverly replaced the real Rockwell with a convincing fake, keeping the genuine painting hidden within the wall for years.

After the father’s passing, the truth behind the hidden artwork came to light.

Subsequently, the painting titled “Breaking Home Ties” was put up for auction at Sotheby’s. Its significance and the intriguing backstory captured the attention of bidders, leading to an astonishing sale price of $15.4 million.

Location: Hollywood, California

Year Discovered: 1991

Est. Value: $1.5 million*

The literary world was in for a remarkable surprise when a priceless artifact, lost for over a century, was unearthed in 1991. The 665-page handwritten document turned out to be none other than a copy of Mark Twain’s renowned work, “Huckleberry Finn.”

This remarkable find deviated significantly from the original source text, challenging existing perceptions about modern literature.

The manuscript had eluded discovery for so long that even the Mark Twain Project at the University of Southern California had given up hope of finding it. Twain himself had sent the manuscript to Buffalo, New York, where it seemed to have vanished without a trace.

However, fate had other plans, as the manuscript was ultimately found in a trunk in an attic.

The trunk belonged to the granddaughter of one of Twain’s close friends. Recognizing the historical significance of the discovery, she promptly handed it over to Sotheby’s for authentication.

Location: Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

Year Discovered: 1974

Est. Value: $4.5 million per warrior*

The discovery of the Terracotta Army in 1974 stands as one of the most significant archaeological findings in history.

While constructing a well, Chinese workers were astonished to uncover thousands of terracotta clay figures dressed in battle attire. This remarkable site, now known as the Terracotta Army, earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1987.

It was found near the mausoleum built for Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.

The level of detail and craftsmanship of these clay figures is astounding. They represent an entire replica of the king’s warriors, with a staggering total of 8,000 terracotta soldiers. However, only 2,000 of them have been excavated thus far.

These terracotta warriors were carefully designed and arranged to protect the emperor on his journey to the afterlife when he passed away in 210 B.C.

Location: Baltic Sea

Year Discovered: 2015

Est. Value: Unknown

The deep-sea alien hunt conducted by Swedish scientists certainly sparked intrigue and curiosity. During their expedition, they made a remarkable discovery that seemed to resemble a spaceship hidden in the depths of the Baltic Sea.

Despite the initial speculations and excitement among people, the explorers were cautious in their conclusions. They denied that the object was a spaceship and suggested that it might be a “natural geological formation.”

The leader of the Ocean Explorer team, Peter Lindberg, emphasized that the structure was not made of metal, which led many to question the assumption that all alien spaceships must be metallic.

Location: Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Year Discovered: 1972

Est. Value: $9 million*

The “Swamp Ghost” was a Boeing B-17E bomber that played a significant role in World War II, creating havoc until its unfortunate fate in 1942.

During a raid on Japanese forces in Rabaul, New Britain, the plane was hit by enemy fire and went down in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. Remarkably, the Swamp Ghost remained untouched for several decades.

In 1972, it was finally discovered, and its preservation was remarkable due to the protective covering of kunai grass and mire. The plane was found to be so well-preserved that even coffee in thermoses was still present in the cockpit.

Due to its exceptional condition, the value of such a well-preserved WWII plane like the Swamp Ghost is estimated to be around $9 million.

Location: Antikythera, Greece

Year Discovered: 1900

Est. Value: Priceless

The Antikythera Mechanism is a truly fascinating and remarkable ancient astronomical calculator, dating back two thousand years.

Comprising thirty precisely hand-cut bronze gears, this advanced tool was created by ancient Greeks and has posed as an enigmatic puzzle for scientists over the years. Mike Edmunds from Cardiff University even compared its value to being “pricier than the Mona Lisa.”

The discovery of this extraordinary device occurred in 1900 when sponge divers stumbled upon it while exploring an ancient shipwreck near the small Greek island of Antikythera.

Through the use of radiocarbon data, scientists determined that the mechanism was crafted around 65 B.C.

When it comes to assigning a monetary value to such a priceless artifact, it becomes a challenging task.

Location: Alaska, America

Year Discovered: 2015

Est. Value: Priceless

The Alaskan community near Anchorage was taken aback a few years ago when they stumbled upon a haunting sight on the desolate shoreline of Point Woronzof.

From a distance, it appeared as though real people were in distress. However, upon closer inspection, it was revealed that these eerie figures were, in fact, an art installation crafted by Sarah Davies.

Drawing inspiration from her personal encounter with an undiagnosed illness, Davies created over 85 humanoid sculptures, each representing a physical manifestation of various experiences of vulnerability.

These sculptures became a powerful visual representation of the diverse and unique ways individuals face challenges and hardships.