### Archaeological Sites That Are Off-Limited
There are archaeological sites that hold mysteries and priceless treasures, but are completely off-limits. From a gold vault beneath a temple in India to a mysterious cave in the Grand Canyon or a “time capsule” sealed for thousands of years, these places have left experts unable to explore.
1. **Padmanabhaswamy Temple, India**
Located in Kerala, this temple is home to one of the largest treasure troves ever discovered. In 2011, the Supreme Court of India ordered the opening of five of the six known vaults, and the world was stunned by the gold, diamonds, crowns, and countless other precious artifacts inside. However, vault B has not been opened due to the spiritual beliefs and curses associated with it. The Travancore royal family, who had power over the area, has prevented the vault from being opened for fear of bad luck. In 2020, the court ruled that Vault B would remain sealed, along with two other newly discovered vaults.
2. **Mysterious Cave in the Grand Canyon, USA**
In 1909, an article in the *Arizona Gazette* told of GE Kincaid, who claimed to have found a cave containing Egyptian antiquities in the Grand Canyon. Inside, he found statues, tools, and a giant mummy. Kincaid said he sent some of the artifacts to the Smithsonian Institution, but the institution denied receiving anything. This sparked conspiracy theories that the government was hiding evidence of an ancient civilization. The cave was later sealed off, with heavy guards.
3. **6,000-Year-Old Sealed Vault – “Crypt of Civilization”**
Unlike the small time capsules, the “Crypt of Civilization” at Oglethorpe University, Georgia, is a giant room, sealed since 1940 and only opened in 8113. Inside are books, films, typewriters, sewing machines and historical recordings, to help the future understand the 20th century world. But with modern technology, would these artifacts still be valuable when opened thousands of years later?
4. **Lascaux Cave, France**
Discovered in 1940, the Lascaux Cave contains ancient paintings depicting bison, horses and deer from 17,000 years ago. However, after opening to the public, the large number of visitors changed the air quality, leading to the growth of mold, which damaged the paintings. As a result, the cave has been closed to the public since 1963, with only a handful of scientists allowed in to study it.
5. **Altamira Cave, Spain**
Altamira Cave has impressive bison paintings dating back 36,000 years, which are extremely well preserved. However, like Lascaux, the impact of tourists has affected the quality of the paintings. As a result, the cave has been closed to the public since 1977, with only a handful of researchers allowed in.
6. **Zone Rouge Exclusion Zone, France**
After World War I, a large part of northeastern France was heavily bombed, leaving behind a large amount of unexploded munitions and toxic chemicals. The French government declared the area too dangerous to inhabit and banned access. Despite cleanup efforts, it could take centuries to completely clean up.
7. **Ark of the Covenant**
One of the most mysterious relics in the Bible, the Ark of the Covenant is said to contain the 10 commandments and disappeared after the Babylonians invaded Israel. According to Ethiopian legend, it is now kept in the Church of St. Mary of Zion in Axum, where only a priest is allowed access. No one else has seen it, sparking much debate about its authenticity.
8. **The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt**
Despite being a popular tourist destination, many areas inside the Great Pyramid of Giza are still off-limits. One of them is the Queen’s Chamber, located in the center of the pyramid, which is completely sealed. In addition, the tunnels below the King’s Chamber have not been fully explored. In the 1990s, a robot was sent down but only encountered a wall. What lies behind these sealed-off areas remains a mystery to this day.
9. **Bhangarh Fort, India**
Built in the 16th century, Bhangarh Fort was once home to more than 10,000 people but is now abandoned and off-limits after sunset. Locals believe the site was cursed by a witch doctor who tried to use a love potion on a local princess. When the potion backfired, he cursed the entire village, leaving it deserted. Those who have snuck in at night are said to have gone missing or encountered terrifying supernatural phenomena.
10. **Petra City, Jordan**
One of the most famous ancient cities in the world, Petra is notable for its sculptures carved directly into the cliffs. However, many parts of Petra remain closed to the public, especially the tombs and secret tunnels. The Jordanian government strictly controls excavations for fear of damaging sacred sites and local communities. Some theorize that there are still undiscovered treasures here.
