These iconic archaeological sites MUST be explored at least once in your lifetime!
There’s something surreal about strolling through the ruins of an ancient place where incredible cultures once blossomed yet faded away. But, while impressive archaeological sites can be found in many parts of the world, specific spots are infused with an air of mystery.
They also shed light on past civilizations, religious beliefs, societal structures, and modes of living. But as we all know, there are many of these beautiful locations around the world.
And we don’t all have the time, not to mention budget, to fly off to some exotic location on a whim. But that’s where Must See Places comes in. To help you plan a trip of a lifetime to one of these stunning worldwide archaeological sites!
Some were included among the Seven Wonders of the World, and others in UNESCO’s list of protected World Heritage sites. But no matter which you choose to visit, these places have significant historical and cultural importance.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about visiting an unexpected place, these 6 archaeological sites will leave you in awe!
Archaeological site: The Acropolis of Athens, Athens, Greece
Perhaps the most significant architectural achievement of Greece’s Golden Age, the Acropolis comprises 21 archaeological sites, including the Propylaea, the Parthenon, the Theater of Dionysus, the Erechtheum, and the Temple of Athena Nike.
Its meaning is “high city” in ancient Greek, and it was formed under the direction of the Greek general and statesman Pericles on an outcropping of rocks almost 500 feet high and underwent a series of construction spells beginning around the sixth century BCE and continuing until approximately 400 BCE.
Its use of diverse orders and styles of Classical art has influenced cultural and constructing aesthetics for over 2,000 years. This sacred spot is central to many seminal ancient Greek myths and religious festivals.
The structures have undergone extensive restoration throughout the years due to age, pollution, natural disasters, neglect, and war. In 1687, the Parthenon was used to keep gunpowder and exploded after being struck by an artillery shell during the Morean War.
Then, in the 1820s, during the War of Greek Independence, this archaeological site was used as a fortress and suffered extensive damage. However, it has been an archaeological site since 1833 and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Archaeological site: Stonehenge, Salisbury, United Kingdom
The archaeological site of Stonehenge, consisting of enormous prehistoric stones standing vertically and positioned in an outer ring and an inner horseshoe with more diminutive stones interwoven, is still standing at over 5,000 years old.
According to legend, the Arthurian wizard Merlin created the site, who magically brought the stones from Ireland, where goliaths had assembled them. Another theory is that they were erected by invading Danish armies.
There’s even one about them being ruins of a Roman temple. However, one thing most scientists agree on is that it was built in stages by the Bronze Age and Neolithic people, who created it with limited technology and simple tools.
While its purpose remains unknown, the monument is aligned, facing sunrise at the summer and winter solstices.
Standing at 13-foot-tall and 7-foot-wide, the outer ring has vertical sarsen stones, native to Southern England, weighing about 25 tons and crowned with horizontal rocks. Inside the circle stands a smaller ring of bluestones.
Another set of free-standing vertical sarsen stones completed with a lintel is within the bluestones, arranged in a horseshoe.
Human bones have also been found in the location, indicating that Stonehenge could have been a site of ritual sacrifice or a sacred burial ground. In 1986, the monument and its surrounding area were included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.
Archaeological site: Petra, Ma’an Governorate, Jordan
Nicknamed the Rose City, Petra was sculpted from native pink sandstone in the desert, where it started to thrive as the capital of the Nabataean Empire in the 1st century BCE through the trade of myrrh, frankincense, and spices.
The city subsequently became part of the Roman Empire and continued to flourish until the 4th century CE, when much of it was shattered by a large earthquake. This, and the switch from land to maritime trade routes, led to Petra’s desertion.
The ruins of the ancient archaeological site were lost for centuries before being rediscovered by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, a Swiss explorer, in 1812. The construction of countless cisterns permitted Petra to prosper in an otherwise sterile environment.
At the city’s main entryway is the Treasury, a whopping 148-foot-high temple with a Greek-style facade, which you might remember from the 1989 movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Also of note at this location are the royal tombs carved into the facade of a cliff.
Archaeological site: The Great Pyramids, Giza, Cairo,
The Great Pyramids, settled on the Giza Plateau on the outskirts of Cairo, are three in total. They’re detailed burial complexes constructed approximately between 2550 and 2490 BCE by the pharaohs Khafre, Khufu, and Menkaure.
Believing they would become gods in their next life, the pharaohs built pyramid tombs and temples to accommodate the goods they would need in their next embodiment.
Each one is part of a larger complex that contains temples, a palace, and pits comprising parts of a wooden boat suggested to lead the pharaoh’s soul back to an ancient ocean. This archaeological site includes the remnants of smaller settlements and temples, as well.
It’s also the location of the Great Sphinx, a limestone statue of a reclining beast from Egyptian myth that features a human head and a lion’s body.
It’s thought to have been created during Pharaoh Khafre’s reign, in his likeness to defend his pyramid tomb in the third millennium BCE, meaning it should be around 4,500 years old.
The Great Sphinx, facing toward the east, is the most massive monolithic statue in the world, standing at 66 feet high and 240 feet long.
Archaeological site: Cliff Palace, Mancos, Colorado
Now, we couldn’t have created a list like this and not included an incredible part of the US in it! Built into a cliff alcove in Mesa Verde National Park, this site comprises 23 sunken ceremonial circles called kivas and over 150 rooms.
It was built by the Ancestral Puebloans approximately 900 years ago as a primary residence for those who lived in the region. It’s believed that the area was abandoned about 200 years later due to severe drought.
But in 1888, the location was rediscovered by cowboys Charlie Mason and Richard Wetherill while they were searching for lost cattle.
Sadly, Cliff Palace was heavily vandalized by looters in the late 1800s and early 1900s but is under the protection of the federal government nowadays.
Archaeological site: The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Back in 72 CE, Roman Emperor Vespasian began construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre, otherwise known today as the Colosseum, as an entertainment venue for executions of prisoners, displays of exotic animals, recreations of battles, and, of course, gladiator fights.
It was finished in 80 CE under his son Titus and was utilized for 500 years. Located in the middle of Rome, nowadays, the Colosseum is the biggest standing theater in the world, measuring about 617 feet long, 512 feet wide, and 108 feet high.
When it was in service, the structure would have been blanketed with a canvas roof to shade viewers from the sun, while cages, machinery, and tunnels would have been concealed beneath wooden floorboards.
Throughout the times, the Colosseum has suffered earthquakes, looting, and World War II bombing since it was deserted in the sixth century, leaving the structure rather bare. However, with over 2,000 years of history, it still stands as a symbol of the Eternal City.
In the summer of 2007, Rome’s Colosseum became one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, and you can plan a trip to visit it… But you may want to pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes!
Have you ever visited any of these beautiful places? If so, please share your experiences with our readers in the comments section below.
And if you enjoyed this article, we also recommend reading: 7 Incredible US UNESCO World Heritage Sites to See in Your Lifetime
