Due to numerous reasons, modern buildings will not stand the test of the passage of time. However, that’s not the case for those landmarks that have been around for centuries worldwide. The monuments or landmarks, should you choose to refer them to that way exist for a long time and won’t disappear any time soon.
It is surprising that many of the most ancient monuments worldwide are from Neolithic times when humans first established permanent settlements. Some were constructed by one of the most advanced civilizations ever living on the planet. The structures that people left behind aren’t just old landmarks; they’re a permanent record of the culture which created them and provide an amazing glimpse into the past.
BARNENEZ – 4850 BC
Cairn de Barnenez, in Brittany, France, is the biggest mausoleum in Europe and is among the oldest structures constructed by humans anywhere in the world. The Neolithic megalithic site is approximately 246 feet in height and 82 feet wide and has 11 passage graves which create the inside and some spaces that face the outdoors.
Carbon dating suggests that the building was constructed between 4850-4250 BC in the first phase and 4450-4000 BC in the final period. Interestingly, some of the numerous patterns engraved on the walls of the passageways and entrances are similar to those found in the Gavrinis tomb in Brittany. Many objects and relics are discovered in the diggings at Barnenez, like pottery, axe heads, and archer’s heads.
Most of these sites can be situated in Britain and France, and some are located in South America. Humans have migrated to Africa. The first civilization was established in the northern regions and Indu zones. However, these locations have no construction structures, only the remnants of buildings and cities.
Tumulus Of Bougon , France – 4700 BCE
Tumulus of Bougon, The Tumulus of the Bougon, is the name of a group of five grave mounds that date from 4700 BC within the Bougon region of Western France. Necropolises dating to early in the New Stone Age period were discovered by archaeologists in 1840. They are also one of the oldest graveyards in Europe. Mounds similar to those of the Tumulus of Bougon were made of heavy stones, weighing upwards of 90 tons. It is believed that the Tumulus of Bougon offers a peek into human history during the Neolithic period, the development of agricultural societies, and new techniques including the stone polishing process, weaving pottery, and settlements for humans as per Memo Travel. It is so because, during the Neolithic period, the deceased were interred with offerings, and excavations have proven that the lifestyle described above was true.
Megalithic Temples of Malta
The Temples located on Malta’s island of Malta were deemed to be one of the oldest free-standing structures in this world. They were built during three distinct times, roughly between 3600 BC to 700 BC and more than five hundred years ago. Megalithic Temples in Malta were built for religious purposes, and they are the earliest of these in the world.
PYRAMID OF DJOSER, EGYPT
The Djoser pyramid Djoser is the fourth-oldest structure around the globe. It was constructed even before the one of Khufu. It was constructed during the year 27th century B.C. which was the year that Pharaoh Djoser was laid to rest, hence its name. The first pyramid was built using six mastabas.
It was initially 62m high, and the top was 110m, enlarged to 125m and made of white limestone. It’s situated in the Saqqara Necropolis in Egypt.
La Hougue Bie, Jersey
La Hougue Bie is a historical site with a museum in the Jersey municipality of Grouville. La Hougue Bie is depicted in the 2010 Jersey 1 one-pound note issue.
Hougue is a variant of Jerriais/Cotentin version of the popular Norman variant Hogue. The word means “heap,” “how,” mound” and is derived from the Old Norse word huge, meaning the same thing. Bie has no clear origins. The myth of the La Hougue Bie links it to its ancestor, the Seigneur of Hambye, within the Cotentin. The legend of the Seigneur of Hambye in the Cotentin Old Norse origin may connect it with -toponyms from Great Britain, or it might be related by the Jerriais word”bie” (variant spelling meaning of biz “leat”). There are a variety of hamlets known as La Bie in Normandy (Ex La Bie, or La By(e), Grumesnil) and are not misunderstood with Le Bie (Ex: Le Vieux-Bie, Les planters du Viez Bie 1263, Gournayen-Bray). La Hougue Bie refers probably to “a building on the earth mound.”
Sanchi Stupa, India
The site is located in the middle of the Indian State in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh; the Sanchi Stupa is located in the Madhya Pradesh state of central India. It is a Buddhist site that dates up to the 3rd century BCE. Emperor Ashoka built it and served as a significant place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. It is one of the most iconic stone structures in India and is believed to be built to store Relics belonging to the Buddha.
The Sanchi Stupa sits at an altitude of 40 feet. It is enclosed by four gates made out of Sandstone. The gates are decorated with intricate carvings depicting scenes taken from the lives of Buddha and mythological creatures such as garuda and Makara. Other smaller buildings surround the main shrine, such as monasteries and temples.
Sanchi Stupa has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its significance in terms of culture as well as historical significance. It’s a reminder of India’s rich past and vast spiritual legacy. Each year, the shrine attracts hundreds of people in awe of the Buddha and finds peace and tranquility.
Tumulus of Bougon, France
The Tumulus of Bougon is the third oldest structure anywhere in the world. It is situated in France. It is 5 distinct tumuli’ at the same location.
A tumulus consists of stones or pieces of the earth laid over graves in order to elevate the graves. Burial mounds are frequent throughout different cultures around the world. They were generally constructed with two major motives. First, they honor those who died. The more important the deceased was to the deceased, the bigger the monument was.
Two, for convenience. In many regions of the globe, digging was a process of digging into the earth, rocks, and even clay. Making the process easier and simpler. Like Barnenez’s Cairn of Barnenez, this was an area of burial.
Tumulus from Bougon was mostly used as a burial place to pay tribute to those who died in surrounding villages.
West Kennet Long Barrow, 3650 B.C, England
It is among the most extensive and well-preserved Neolithic tombs with chambers at Wiltshire, England. It’s the second-longest barrow in Britain, having a length of 332 feet. West Kennet long barrow was built in the year 3650 B.C. This was long before the building of Stonehenge’s first phase. Stonehenge. It has five chambers of stone. The site was a burial ground until 2500 B.C. The burial site was restored in 1859.
The excavations of the area revealed the remains of 46 burials. The discovery of the ancestors’ bones buried in the West Kennet long barrow also showed that each chamber was constructed for certain groups. The west chamber of the graveyard was a burial place for adult people, Southeast and Southeast for the old. Southwest for infants and Northwest as well as Northwest to accommodate mixed groups. The tombs also include grave goods, flint tools, animal bones, and pottery.
Monte d’Accoddi, Italy (4000-3650 BC)
Monte d’Accoddi is also one of the Neolithic archaeological sites in the Sassari region. It’s one of the most ancient stone platforms built by the Ozieri culture and some other rulers. However, the most ancient part can be traced back to approximately 4,000-3,650 BC. The area around the building was excavated in the early 1960s. The location has been accessible to the public and was a minor renovation in the decade of 1980.
Uruk:
The Uruk is a different structure in the world and is among the most ancient. The Uruk is one of the buildings discovered in an ancient city that is thought to be the very first ever built. It marked a turning moment in human history and was built in 4000 BC.
The principal material employed in the construction of the structure was adobe brick. The city is still in use today, bringing many tourists to Iraq to see the building.
Tarxien Temples, Malta
Tarxien Temples are an archeological location inside Tarxien, Malta. The site dates back to around 3150 BC. In 1980, the site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Tarxien is comprised of three distinct but interconnected temples. The gateway’s main structure was rebuilt in 1956 when the entire area was revamped. Additionally, some of the found painted slabs on the site were taken inside to be safe in the Valletta Museum of Archaeology. The first temple, constructed around 3150 BC, was the most lavishly embellished of the Malta temples.
MINOAN PALACE OF KNOSSOS
The palace is among the most ancient structures in Europe constructed during the Minoan period. However, the exact date when it was completed is a mystery. The palace was discovered and excavated in the late 20th century and has since been preserved and restored. There is a possibility that many events struck the city-state surrounding it and those who lived there, which caused them to abandon their city-state between 1380 and 1100 BC. Two different scripts used to inscribe the rock and tablets discovered near the palace strongly suggest that the palace was home to two different civilizations that lived close.
Ggantija Temples, Xaghra, Gozo, Malta
The temples are located in Gozo, Malta; these temples were believed to have been constructed between 3600-3200 BCE. These are the most ancient megalithic temples in Malta. Through their research, archaeologists have discovered evidence of sacrifices to animals at this site. This supports the idea that the site was used for rituals. The site is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. According to legend, the temples are named for an unknown race of giants (“ggant” literally means gigantic).