This Cave Shouldn't Exist

Today's episode is about a cave that shouldn't exist. Or, at the very least, we can't yet explain.

Welcome to the Azores! It's definitely our season with the most pirates so far.

This video was made possible thanks to our incredible Patreon subscribers: &pointer, Adam Kaufman, adam lenk, AJ, Akasha Yi, Alan Camolinga, Alex boneck, Alex Garland, Alex Papageorgiou, Alex Ross, Alex The Magical Cat, Alexander Lee, Alexander Reilly, Alf Einar Solberg, Alice LWatson, Almighty Bidoof, Amal Isaac, Ammobunny, Andrew, Andrew Beals, Andrew Larson, Anina Shaorandra, Anthony Ascencio, Aqeel Fassuhudeen, Arsalan N, Atsushi, Audrey Brown, Austin Cousineau, bajr, BattleGoat Studios, Ben Hewitson, Ben West, Benkei Paczek, Blacksun, BlobyTwo, Bob Dai, Boguslaw Smalec, Borian Brückner, Bradley Brown, Brenna and Peter, Brian ONeel, Calvin McAnarney, Carl Bodnaruk, Catherine Berry, Chien Lu Anderman, Chris Ferguson, Christopher Perrin-Porzondek, Christopher Simpkins, Cody Belichesky, Cody Schneider, Cole Skelton, Colin Miskowitz, CollapsingHrungDisaster, Colton Creasey, Cullen McFater, Curtis Shimamoto, Daniel Sierra Matus, Daniel Tyler, Daniel Volkman, David Badilotti, David James McConnell, Douglas Danger Manley, Edward Sykes, Einar Holmedal, Elsilan, Emma, Eric Floehr, Ervin Petrisevac, Evan, f1r3w4rr10r, fabledire, fadingnebula, fatsaxman, feo, Gabe S, Ggamefreak22, Gilberto Hart, Giulian Fava, Graeme, Gregory Kintz, Hollis Davis, Igor Stavchanskiy, J Neko, Jake Bryant, Jake Capoun, Jakob Mynster Blüdnikow, Jakob Ruder, Jan Langguth, Jan Vilhuber, jannes Dirks, Jason, Jean, Jeffery Konowal, Jeremy Impson, Jeremy Wheelis, Jesse Smith, Jessica Mayberry, Jesus Christ, joanne kokol, Joe Brown, John Cline, John Goff, Jonathan Gerry, Jonathan Lonowski, Jonathan O'Sullivan, Josh Hoppes, Joshua Clarke, Juan Coronado, Julia, Julian Fiander, Julian Fong, Justin Thomson, Kameron Stroud, Karol Pilat, Kenny Coulter, Kyle Hofer, L W, Lane & Kate Seppala, larry82, Lars Hjort Christensen, Lars Sturm, Lexi, Liam Gilles, Lilith Berkana De' Anu, Lillian Mark, Lorentz, Louis Lenders, Lukas Jackowski, Mad Sumac, Marc Anderson, Martin Green, Matt, Matthew Barrett, Matthew Roche, Max Poley, Michael, Michael Abernathy, Michael Amesse, Michael Loken, Michael S, Miguel Martínez Chapa, Mike, Mike Frysinger, Mondoria, Mrburgerdon, Muncorn, MysticCobra, Nancy Reid, Nekkowe!, Nicholas Kraabel, NiordSir, NM, Noah Hawkes, Nuno Balbona Perez, Oliver Frommeier, Oliver 'Kannik' Bollmann, Ollie b, Omar A., Pablo Rodriguez, Patrick Holdsworth, Paul Estella, Paul Hui, Peter Bjorvand, Peter Gravelle, Petr Doležal, Pjotr Bekkering, Pranav Maddula, Ricardo Machado, Rich Saber, Robert Velten, Rocky Yip, Roger L. Basler de Roca, Roger Wu, Ron Warris, Ronen Finegold, Ryan Breaker, Sabolc Jut, Sam Collins, Saul, Scott Pressman, Scotty From Marketing, Scrungii, Sean Dennis, Sean McCool, Sergi Rincon, Shawn Wang Williams, Shikyo_The_Dragon, Shivan, SilliusSodus, Simen Thoresen, smaz ruby, Space_Chickun, Sriram Govindarajan, Stephen Bourne, Steve Sick, Steve Williamson, Steven Buth, Svein Ove Aas, Tedd, Theo Davis, Thomas Paris, Tim Barrett, Tobias B, Traxys, Ubikwitus, Ursus Canis, Varun Perumal, Vasserot, Viktor Lundell, Vitali Perchonok, wandering3ngineer, Wes Mills, Whitefang, Will Mullins, Wu Jim, Xellos, Zach Preston, Zaratan, Zoltán Ulrich, and ZZ. We love you guys!

Thanks for watching! You're clearly one of the good ones.

[ChrisLeeW]

"The Norse were here, too" feels like an archaeology meme at this point.

[peyoteranchuk]

Just a note that Columbarium also means dovecote, roman's named the style of tomb after their word for a dovecote because of the obvious resemblance

[briano]

statue was "....broken into pieces, brought back to Lisbon and subsequently lost ..." The basic storyline of our entire history on this planet.

[homemurso]

You should've look for prof Félix Rodrigues when in Terceira island. He's a physicist professor at the Azores University and been studying those "anomalies" as an hobby for years now. He was the first one proposing a pre portuguese presence in the archipelago and the first identifying and studying that "columbarium" you talk about there and hundreds other sites scattered all over the island.

[tomfinn]

"Don't let anybody think for you; most people can barely think for themselves."

Love it. The one I came up with is lots wordier.

Some people feel thinking is a pleasure. Others feel it's a chore. Most, having never tried it, have no feel for it at all.

[itstheazorean]

Amazing video! I'm Azorean (from São Miguel) and this video popped up in my feed and I decided to watch it just by the title and was so surprised to see that, not only it's about the Azores, but also this isn't just another travel vlog, but about something I find so interesting and I wish it was talked about and researched more. Back in school, we are taught that the Portuguese discovered the islands (still I don't think it gives the right to some Lisbon boomer to be offended lmao), but I do recall teachers mentioned it was actually more like a "rediscovery" but they never went in-depth - maybe nowadays they do, not sure.
As a tourist guide, I occasionally get asked about the (re)discovery of the islands and I'll definitely be recommending this video - so thanks for it! I hope in the future further and proper research into this is done. :)

[kennethjohnson]

I was in the US Navy for 20 years. To this day, even in powered ships, we still sail past the Azores. This is weird, though. The amount of carving that would be required for the Phoenician-styled caves would take more than a season. I agree the stuff is certainly not Portuguese. Your right; this needs more research.

[andrewhinz]

It would be interesting to see a follow up that explains what specifically ties the second set of caves to the phoenecians or the punics. Evan said that they were closest aligned culturally but also said they weren't studied that well. Would go a long way to confirm.

[mokachoco]

Oh man, no point on arguing with old portuguese men! 😅 Take it from a portuguese woman!
As a history afficionado I got to say that Norse people were probably EVERYWHERE before any other European nation. Norse and early Polynesian explorers are often ignored and to me were truly a few of the first great explorers of the world. And I got to read more about the Phoenicians that was really interesting!
Wonderful video! You got a wonderful way with words!

*Edit* I got to say, as someone who is somewhat acquainted with the archeology scene in PT, it's not that "no one cares" about this particular site but more like lack of financial aid and government interest in the field of history and science. Conservation, studying and protection of heritage as well as scientific research lack a LOT of financing. I've heard researchers complain that in PT they have to count each cent. Things got a bit better now days but it still lacks and most of the focus is on the mainland as usual. The islands are often forgotten.

[webpa]

Having lived on Terceira for a couple of years in the 1960s, and as a student of both Atlantic weather and currents, I can easily believe the theory that the Portuguese were not the first visitors. I have also visited caves on the island in which one can find truly strange carvings and constructions.

[jeremiasrobinson]

I am an anthropology student right now, and I do study portuguese, so I will keep this in mind. Thanks.

[DireWolfForge]

The caves may be pottery drying shelves, the other cave used to fire them. If they were using the island as a waypoint it would make sense to have the ability to carry more water, food and other sundry items in pottery.

[leboyneski]

I'm currently studying history at university and the thing that fascinates me about it all is that nothing is static and that even tiny pieces of archaeological evidence can turn our whole view upside down.

[JustSomeInternetDude]

Lizard steals the show @6:33 . Upper right hand corner

[jmlkinc]

Whenever your hope in humanity feels low, it's therapeutic to watch a Rare Earth video and feel wonder towards humanity again.

[AndreSilva-vips]

As a portuguese I found this video extremely interesting. Not offended in any way and may have some extra bit of info that might surprise some. We hear very often people say the Açores were deserted islands with lush vegetation but no people. However if we read the original account of the discovery there are indigenous people mentioned. It's a small detail that was/is not convenient to point out for many I guess. Other issues came up also when a genetic analysis was conducted on the islands with the most notorious surprise coming from the east asian marker(s?) found in Corvo and Flores population. Hope you get to make a follow up on this one in some years time. Best regards

Behind my house is huge granite bedrock showing from the soil. Whenever I do something to or on the rock with modern tools I get to think about the past, how people done things… Makes me appreciate them and their wit.
The caves and your story are one more reminder and they way you tell the story was captivating. Thank you.

[HerbertLandei]

My last vacation was on the Azores (Sao Miguel, to be precise), they are beautiful. The Norse were there for sure, there are too many bits and pieces to ignore. It's absolutely possible that other people discovered the islands before the Norse when trying to get back to Europe or North-Africa.

[polohey]

Great narration, no annoying background music, and beautiful scenery. I'm definitely subscribing

[SimonEkendahl]

When you stand in front of the cave about 0:04, I really thought the notches where paintings that depicted a bunch of faceless heads!