Ancient Places

Ancient places can be found all over the world. Their fascinating histories and impressive artifacts open intriguing glimpses to times past, and visiting such ancient places in the world can be an unforgettable experience.

Science is constantly discovering new archaeological places and uncovering more evidence into what we once thought we knew about our history, therefore offering new pieces to the ever changing puzzle of humanity’s past and altering how we interpret it. This section will present the most interesting archaeological sites all over the world, as well as new discoveries of ancient places that are worth paying a visit.

Hagia Sophia built by Emperor Constantine of the Byzantine Empire. Source: feferoni / Adobe Stock.

20 July, 2019 - 02:01 Aleksa Vučković

A Millennium of Glory: The Rise and Fall of the Byzantine Empire

Late antiquity was one of the most dramatic periods in our history – a turbulent time in which nations and peoples rose and fell, vying for power and territory in a merciless fight for prominence...

The city of Palenque. Source: Jérôme Rommé / Adobe Stock.

18 July, 2019 - 23:02 george fery

Palenque – The Splendor of a Great Maya Metropolis

Hidden in the verdant hills of the Sierra Chapaneca in the beautiful state of Chiapas , southern Mexico, is the ancient capital of the B’aakal Kingdom. The name of the city then was Lakamha’ in Maya-...

Fort Shirley Source: Gail Johnson/ Adobe Stock

16 July, 2019 - 01:48 Ed Whelan

Fort Shirley, Where A Mutiny Led to Emancipation of the British Slave Soldiers

Dominica is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean . Its beauty, however, belies a somewhat violent past when it was often a center of violent conflict. One of the best-known historic...

Plastico di Roma imperiale at the Museum of the Roman Civilization. Source: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / CC BY-SA 2.0.

14 July, 2019 - 23:05 Sarah P Young

The Plastico di Roma Imperiale Wasn’t Built in a Day: Accurate Mini Rome Model Took 35 Years

The Roman Empire dominated most of Europe and parts of Africa and the Middle East for over thousand years, evolving from a monarchy to a democracy and finally a militaristic dictatorship. The empire...

Fort Fincastle

13 July, 2019 - 01:50 Ed Whelan

Fort Fincastle, The Small But Mighty Flatiron Protector of The Bahamas

The Bahamas is comprised of 700 islands as well as thousands of rocks and cays (low banks of coral reefs) spread out over 100,000 square miles of ocean. It’s an ecological paradise with some of the...

Mount Shasta

11 July, 2019 - 23:41 D.W. Naef

Mount Shasta: Spirits and Danger on a Sacred California Mountain

Mount Shasta, located near the Oregon border in northern California, holds the distinction of being one of the world’s preeminent sacred mountains. It is recognized as an eligible Native American...

Guayabo Monument, Costa Rica

10 July, 2019 - 01:54 Ed Whelan

Ingenious Abandoned Jungle City of Guayabo de Turrialba in Costa Rica

South and Central America have many amazing archaeological sites, some of which were left behind by pre-Columbian peoples and cultures who left no written records . One of the most significant sites...

The Norte Chico Civilization: Ancient Peruvian Civilization or Complex Society?

9 July, 2019 - 17:25 dhwty

Norte Chico: The First Civilization in the Americas?

The Norte Chico Civilization was an ancient civilization/complex society belonging to the Pre-Columbian era. This civilization flourished in Peru about 5000 years ago, and is believed to be the...

Kuelap, Peru - Ancient Fortress of the Cloud Warriors

9 July, 2019 - 01:48 dhwty

Kuelap, Peru - Ancient Fortress of the Cloud Warriors

Built by the Chachapoyas, the fortified citadel of Kuelap was home to the Warriors of the Cloud in Peru before they were conquered by invaders. Massive stone walls and hundreds of ruins stand as a...

Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii. Source: dbvirago / Adobe Stock.

7 July, 2019 - 01:40 Sarah P Young

Pompeii: The Ancient Roman City Frozen in Time

In the Campania region of Italy near the modern day city of Naples , there was once a prosperous Roman city - Pompeii. As a thriving center for trade, the inhabitants of the city were a mixture of...

One of the best ‘Green Man’ carvings in Rosslyn Chapel.

3 July, 2019 - 20:44 dhwty

The Rosslyn Chapel Carvings: Facts, Mysteries, and Conspiracies

The exquisite carvings of Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland are among the best in Europe and portray scenes not found in any other 15th century chapel. Much of the mystery and intrigue surrounding this site...

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

3 July, 2019 - 01:26 Joanna Gillan

Can You Name the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are seven awe-inspiring monuments of classical antiquity that reflect the skill and ingenuity of their creators. The list, comprised by ancient Greek historians...

Khachkars of Noratus, old cemetery. The oldest khachkars (Armenian cross-stones) are of 9-10th centuries, but the most of them are from 13-17th centuries.

1 July, 2019 - 23:04 Sarah P Young

The Khachkar Stones of Noratus and a Peculiar Resistance of the Invasion of Tamerlane

The ancient village of Noratus, in the Gegharkunik region of Armenia , is a hidden gem with a number of historical monuments. The modern village was established in 1829, but it was first declared a...

Xunantunich Temple . Credit: milosk50 / Adobe Stock

1 July, 2019 - 01:50 Ed Whelan

The Ancient Maya Apparition Who Showed the Way to Xunantunich

The ancient Maya civilization was one of the most remarkable of all the many Mesoamerican cultures, not only because they wrote books and were lovers of chocolate , but also because many of their...

Archaeological Site of Monte Alban - general view from the North Platform

30 June, 2019 - 22:43 Caleb Strom

The Zapotecs of Monte Alban - The First Civilization in Western Mexico?

In the central valleys of the Mexican state of Oaxaca lie stone ruins centered around an artificially leveled hill. It is now a famous tourist destination as well as a major archaeological site...

Christ the Redeemer struck by lightning. Credit: Cecilia / Adobe Stock

30 June, 2019 - 01:46 Ed Whelan

Rio’s Christ the Redeemer Statue Survives Despite Lightning Strikes

Perhaps the best-known landmark in the vast country of Brazil is the colossal statue, ‘Christ the Redeemer’. At 125 feet high, it continues to stand tall despite the fact that it has been struck by...

El Tajín

23 June, 2019 - 22:55 Ed Whelan

El Tajín, The Lost City of a Mysterious People

In recent decades many lost cities have been uncovered by archaeologists or explorers. One of the most mysterious is the ancient city of El Tajín in the state of Veracruz, Mexico . The city was...

Entrance to Balankanchè Cave. Source: Artix Kreiger 2 / CC BY-SA 2.0.

19 June, 2019 - 14:03 george fery

Maya Gateway to the World Below: Balankanché Cave, Throne of the Tiger Priest

Caves are central to the cosmologies of many world cultures , used by humans from the dawn of time. They are associated with powerful natural forces and are believed to be dwelling places for...

Stockpile at Castillo San Cristóbal

16 June, 2019 - 01:55 Ed Whelan

Fort of Castillo San Cristóbal: Built to Defend Against the English, Dutch and Marauding Pirates

Puerto Rico is a unique island with stunning scenery as well as a complex history and fascinating culture. It was part of the Spanish Empire for approximately 400 years and there are many reminders...

Puma Punku, Tiwanaku, Bolivia

14 June, 2019 - 21:49 Alicia McDermott

Puma Punku: This Ancient Andean Site Keeps Everyone Guessing

Puma Punku is a Pre-Columbian archaeological site in Bolivia that is steeped in wonder and mystery. The architecture found in the ruins astounds archaeologists and historians and has inspired...

Civita di Bagnoregio an ancient, dying city atop a crumbling rock. Source: JethroT / Adobe Stock.

14 June, 2019 - 18:59 dhwty

Civita di Bagnoregio - Italy’s Most Enchanting and Surreal Ancient Town Is Dying

Civita di Bagnoregio is a small town located in Viterbo , a province in the central Italian region of Lazio . The town is situated about 120 kilometers (75 miles) to the north of Rome . Due to its...

The Ruins of Quilmes, Argentina

14 June, 2019 - 14:01 Ed Whelan

Quilmes Ruins, Sacred Place of Diaguita People

Argentina is a vast country revered for its many natural wonders and beautiful scenery. Less well-known, however, are its historic sites. In fact, some of the most important pre-Columbian ruins, such...

Queen Dido, founder of Carthage and the Punic pantheon. Source: Eloquence / Public Domain.

13 June, 2019 - 19:01 dhwty

Gods of Carthage and The Punic Power House of Baal Hammon and Tanit

According to tradition, the city of Carthage was founded in 814 BC by the legendary Queen Dido . The founder of this city was originally a princess from the Phoenician city of Tyre. She was, however...

Eltz Castle in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

13 June, 2019 - 02:01 dhwty

Eltz Castle: A Majestic Medieval Pile Owned by the Same Family for 800 Years

Eltz Castle is a majestic castle situated on the top of a rock within a small wooded valley in Germany. Be it through luck or strategy, the castle has been mostly spared from the ravages of war...

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