Curiosmos
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists
No Result
View All Result
Like us on Facebook
Curiosmos
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists
No Result
View All Result
Curiosmos
No Result
View All Result

The Mystery of the Devil’s Corkscrews; Nebraska’s Giant Spirals

Ivan PetricevicbyIvan Petricevic
April 24, 2023 - Updated on January 20, 2024
in Unsolved Mysteries
A man standing next to one of the Devil's Corkscrews. Wikimedia Commons / Curiosmos.

A man standing next to one of the Devil's Corkscrews. Wikimedia Commons / Curiosmos.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Surprising Origins of Nebraska’s Enigmatic Spirals

Discover the astonishing truth behind the Devil’s Corkscrews, long considered an unsolvable mystery in the Sioux Country of Nebraska. Learn how prehistoric beavers hold the key to understanding these enigmatic spirals.

Unveiling the Enigma of Devil’s Corkscrews

For years, the Devil’s Corkscrews in Nebraska’s Sioux Country have puzzled scientists and left locals speculating about their origins. Who could have created these mathematically precise spirals, some reaching an impressive 15 feet in length and dating back 15 to 30 million years?

The Anatomy of a Devil’s Corkscrew

A typical Devil’s Corkscrew features two distinct components: the spiral itself and a large “root” that branches from the bottom of the formation. Found within a 500-square-mile area in Nebraska, millions of these curious structures emerge from the sandstone, comprised of quartz.

A Mysterious Discovery in 1894

The spirals first came to light in 1894 when an expedition in search of fossils stumbled upon them in the Badlands of Wyoming and Nebraska’s Rocky Mountains. Paleontologist Professor Barbour dubbed them “Daemonelix,” but without a clear explanation, they were soon attributed to the Devil’s handiwork.

Related Posts

Gunung Padang pyramid. Wikimedia Commons.

Gunung Padang pyramid may rewrite the origins of human civilization

December 18, 2018 - Updated on April 17, 2025
11 Objects You Should Keep At Home According to Baba Vanga.

11 Objects You Should Keep At Home For Better Health and Luck, According to Baba Vanga

September 14, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024

Searching for the Architects of the Spirals

As speculation grew, people turned to supernatural explanations for the spirals’ existence. Dubbed “fossil twisters,” various theories emerged, from petrified vines to enormous fossil worms, but none seemed entirely satisfactory. Some even proposed the idea that these enigmatic structures were the ultimate evidence of advanced ancient civilizations existing on the planet millions of years ago.

The Startling Truth: Prehistoric Beavers

But it wasn’t aliens or advanced, long-lost civilizations. In a surprising twist, scientists discovered that the Devil’s Corkscrews were the work of a prehistoric beaver known as Palaeocastor. These creatures lived in the North American Badlands during the late Oligocene period and were responsible for creating the corkscrew-shaped burrows and tunnels in the earth.

Revealing the Unique Burrowing Technique

Palaeocastor beavers constructed their vertical corkscrew burrows with side chambers for nesting, latrines, and water drainage. When these burrows were abandoned, tree roots invaded the empty spaces and eventually fossilized, leaving behind the enigmatic spirals we see today.

Visit the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

Witness the fascinating Devil’s Corkscrews for yourself at the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument on the Niobrara River in northwestern Nebraska, where these ancient remnants of prehistoric beaver activity continue to captivate visitors.

Share157Tweet98Share27ShareSend
Ivan Petricevic

Ivan Petricevic

I've been writing passionately about ancient civilizations, history, alien life, and various other subjects for more than eight years. You may have seen me appear on Discovery Channel's What On Earth series, History Channel's Ancient Aliens, and Gaia's Ancient Civilizations among others.

Related Posts

A stunning mosaic in the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna depicting the Three Wise Men. Credit: Cosi Tutti
Unsolved Mysteries

A Look Into The History Of The 3 Wise Men — Who Were They Really?

December 24, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
Unwritten Mystery: Was The World’s First UFO Recorded 780,000 Years ago?
Unsolved Mysteries

Unwritten Mystery: Was The World’s First UFO Recorded 780,000 Years ago?

September 23, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
Aerial View of Göbekli Tepe. Image Credit: Göbekli Tepe Project / UNESCO.
Unsolved Mysteries

7 Baffling Facts You Should Know About the World’s Oldest Megalithic Temple

May 15, 2020 - Updated on February 3, 2023
An image of the Sphinx circa 1878 where the statue remains partially excavated. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain.
Unsolved Mysteries

Why The Great Sphinx is Absent From Egypt’s Ancient Records

March 31, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
A view of the Great Pyramid of Giza, its entrance and people accessing it. Shutterstock.
Unsolved Mysteries

5 Incredible Things People Don’t But Should Know About the Great Pyramid of Giza

November 14, 2019 - Updated on January 21, 2024
Lost cosmonauts of the USSR and the chilling SOS recorded from space
Unsolved Mysteries

Lost cosmonauts of the USSR and the chilling SOS recorded from space

February 26, 2019 - Updated on April 18, 2025
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Fair Use Notice
  • DMCA / Removal
  • Impressum
  • Contact
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Ownership and Funding Information
  • Impressum
CURIOSMOS.COM

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists