Ancient Ruins Youve Never Heard Of

 

Ancient remnants offer a peek into civilizations of yore and the enigmas they have left behind. While many are familiar with sites such as Machu Picchu or the Great Pyramids of Egypt there exist numerous lesser known ruins worldwide that remain cloaked in mystery. These hidden treasures not provide historical insights but also present fascinating narratives that deepen our appreciation of human history.

Göbekli Tepe, Turkey

Göbekli Tepe, situated in Turkey stands as the worlds oldest temple complex dating back to approximately 9600 BCE predating Stonehenge by several millennia. The carved stones set in circular formations hint at advanced architectural expertise and religious customs within early human communities. Through digs depictions of animals and abstract symbols have been unearthed, suggesting ritualistic purposes for the site. Despite its antiquity and significance Göbekli Tepe remains relatively undiscovered by the populace.

Scholars theorize that Göbekli Tepe served as a space for hunter gatherer groups prior to the rise of agriculture. Its unearthing challenges beliefs about human societys evolution proposing that organized religion might have preceded settled agricultural practices. This location stands as a testament to the nature of early human civilization and its capacity to construct monumental edifices.

Nalanda University, India

Nalanda University, in Bihar India emerged as one of the residential universities globally established during the 5th century CE. The ancient center of learning at Nalanda attracted scholars not from nearby regions like China, Korea, Japan and Mongolia but also from distant lands such as Turkey, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. The university complex covered an area of 14 hectares and housed various facilities like lecture halls, dormitories, meditation halls, libraries and monasteries.

Apart from its excellence Nalanda University played a crucial role as a hub for cultural exchange. It was a melting pot where diverse cultures intersected to share ideas and knowledge across boundaries. Todays remnants of Nalanda include stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) well as art pieces made of stucco, stone and metal.

• Founded: 5th century CE
• Location: Bihar, India
• Area: 14 hectares
• Significance: First residential university

Derinkuyu Underground City, Turkey

Moving on to Derinkuyu Underground City in Turkey nestled beneath Cappadocias surface – an architectural wonder that delves 85 meters deep. This underground marvel could accommodate up to 20,000 individuals alongside their livestock and provisions. The multi tiered city comprises residences, stables, churches, storage rooms, refectories and wine cellars interconnected by passageways.

Derinkuyu is traced back to around the century BCE when it served as a sanctuary during times of conflict or oppression. Its intricate ventilation system ensured a supply of fresh air, within the subterranean maze. Despite its significance and impressive engineering Derinkuyu remains relatively unknown compared to other ancient sites.

Feature	Details
Depth	85 meters
Capacity	20,000 people
Facilities	Dwellings, stables, churches
Era	8th century BCE

Kuelap Fortress, Peru

In a part of the world Kuelap Fortress in Peru stands as an ancient walled city perched on a mountain ridge in the Amazon region. Constructed by the Chachapoyas culture around the 6th century CE this fortress boasts stone walls and numerous round houses within its confines. While often overshadowed by Machu Picchus fame Kuelap provides an insight into pre Columbian Andean civilizations.

The fortress stretches 600 meters long with walls towering up to 19 meters high. Serving as both a bastion and a ceremonial hub for the Chachapoyas people Kuelap houses various structures like temples tower like buildings called "turrets " and intricate stone carvings depicting animals and deities.

Ġgantija Temples, Malta

Moving on to another marvel at Ġgantija Temples in Malta on Gozo Island these temples stand as some of the worlds oldest free standing structures dating back to approximately 3600 3200 BCE. Part of UNESCO World Heritage site these megalithic temples are famous, for their stone blocks some weighing over 50 tons.

The temples are named after the word for "giant " reflecting the local belief that they were constructed by a race of giants. The Ġgantija site comprises two temples enclosed by a wall. These structures consist of apses linked by a corridor and likely served ritualistic purposes as indicated by the altars and carvings discovered within them. The advanced building techniques used at the site and the immense stones employed in its construction continue to captivate both archaeologists and visitors.

List of 25 Ancient Ruins

• Göbekli Tepe; Regarded as the worlds oldest temple complex dating back to approximately 9600 BCE. It showcases carved stones arranged in circles hinting at sophisticated architectural skills and religious practices. Located in Turkey.
• Nalanda University; Among the residential universities globally founded in the 5th century CE. It attracted scholars from parts of Asia fostering intellectual exchange and knowledge sharing. Situated in India.
• Derinkuyu Underground City; An underground city stretching to depths of about 85 meters accommodating, up to 20,000 individuals. It encompasses residences, stables, churches and storage spaces. Located in Turkey.
• Kuelap Fortress; An ancient fortified city constructed by the Chachapoyas culture circa the 6th century CE. It boasts stone walls and circular houses. Found in Peru.
• Some of the standalone structures in the world date back to around 3600 3200 BCE. These ancient temples were likely used for practices. The Stonehenge in Malta is a monument consisting of a circle of upright stones believed to have served ceremonial or astronomical purposes dating back to around 3000 BCE.
• Machu Picchu, a citadel perched high in the Andes Mountains and constructed in the 15th century before being deserted is renowned for its advanced dry stone architecture.
• The Great Wall of China comprises a series of structures erected along Chinas northern borders spanning over 13,000 miles to ward off invasions.
• The Pyramids of Giza consist of pyramids constructed during Egypts Fourth Dynasty as part of the Old Kingdom with the Great Pyramid being one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• Petra, a city known for its rock cut buildings and water system was once the capital city of the Nabataean Kingdom in Jordan.
• Angkor Wat stands as a temple complex and holds the title as the largest religious monument globally; it was originally built as a Hindu temple, for the Khmer Empire.
• Cambodia is home to a citadel called the Acropolis of Athens, which houses various significant structures such as the Parthenon from the 5th century BCE.
• In Greece Chichen Itza stands as a pre Columbian archaeological site constructed by the Maya civilization renowned for its pyramid temple known as El Castillo.
• Pompeii in Italy is an ancient Roman city that was preserved due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE offering a vivid glimpse into Roman life.
• Located in the rainforests of Guatemala Tikal is among the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre Columbian Maya civilization.
• Luxor Temple in Egypt is an Ancient Egyptian temple complex situated on the east bank of the Nile River and established around 1400 BCE.
• Hampi in India is a village and temple town that holds UNESCO World Heritage Site status for its Vijayanagara Empire ruins.
• Palmyra Syria boasts ancient Semitic city ruins dating to the 2nd century CE featuring majestic colonnades, temples and a theater.
• The Moai Statues on Easter Island were carved by the Rapa Nui people between 1250 and 1500 CE presenting human figures.
• Great Zimbabwe perches, as a city nestled in Zimbabwes southeastern hills renowned for its substantial stone structures.