When we think of “old” history, there are few who would think past ancient Rome or Greece. Yet in the grand scope of history, those time periods are relatively recent. In fact, in Ancient Rome, there was a shrine so old that even they had no idea who built it or what it was for!
It called Lapis Niger, which means black stone, and it still stands in the Roman Forum. Lapis Niger, with the Vulcanal, constitute the only surviving remnants of the old Comitium, which was an early form of government that preceded the Roman Forum. The site is believed to have been built in the 7th or 8th century BC.
The structure was so old that Romans considered it a place of great sacredness and extreme significance, yet they had no idea for what. The name is believed to have originated from the color of the black marble of the stone. Over the years, the Romans revered the structure and kept refurbishing it.