Mosaics of Lin in Lin, Albania

In Lin, Albania, archaeologists have uncovered remarkably preserved floor mosaics from a basilica destroyed nearly fourteen hundred years ago. The designs depict animals and religious imagery, but they're only exposed one at a time in rotation — the sun is their enemy. The remaining mosaics stay buried under plastic and sand, protecting them from the elements. Visitors who want to see them face a puzzle: the site's locked, and the caretaker's phone number that once adorned the gate is long gone. But ask around town and someone will call him directly. According to Atlas Obscura, the caretaker has been known to arrive within five minutes to unlock the area and reveal whichever mosaic is currently on display. The site is being considered for UNESCO recognition.

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