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CategoriesAncient cities
Capitals, ports and metropolises that rose, fell and were found again.
🇸🇾 Syria · Tell
Early Bronze III–IV (c.2600–2100 BCE) · Early Jezirah III Ebla-contact
9-m step-terrace temple at Tell Hazna overlooking Khabur–Sinjar pass, stair and altar with Ebla-style cylinder seals, Soviet-Joint campaign 1988–2010 (Munchaev) exposing three ritual phases.
🇮🇱 Israel · Ancient city
Iron IIB–C (c.700–600 BCE) · Edomite (with Judean/ Arabian influence)
Iron II Edomite open-air shrine (c.700–600 BCE) on a hilltop in the Negev, excavated by Itzhaq Beit-Arieh. Single-phase...
🇰🇪 Kenya · Ancient city
Swahili (12th–17th c. CE) · Swahili (Ozi)
Ungwana — Ozi / Tana Delta Ruins in Tana River County, Kenya is a Swahili (12th–17th c. CE) ancient-city attributed to Swahili (Ozi).
🇸🇾 Syria · Ancient city
Hellenistic to Byzantine (c.300 BCE–600 CE; Seleucid foundation 301 BCE) · Seleucid → Roman → Byzantine Euphrates
Seleucid gridded city (301 BCE) on Euphrates east bank — fossil Hellenistic plan at Jebel Khaled.
🇵🇪 Peru · Ancient city
Moche Middle (250–400 CE) · Moche (Sipán)
Sipán Royal Tombs — Huaca Rajada in Lambayeque Region, Peru is a Moche Middle (250–400 CE) ancient-city attributed to Moche (Sipán).
🇬🇷 Greece · Ancient city
Late Neolithic to Roman · Athenian
Thorikos Theatre and Laurion Mines in Attica, Greece is a Late Neolithic to Roman ancient-city attributed to Athenian. Earliest rectilinear theatre (525 BCE) above silver mines that financed Athens.
🇹🇳 Tunisia · Ancient city
Roman (1st c BCE – 7th c CE; colony under Hadrian) · Roman (Africa Proconsularis) / Early Christian
Road town on the fertile Medjerda floodplain, Thuburbo Minus became Hadrianic colonia with Capitol, baths, amphitheatre (56×46 m oval) destroyed 1680 for bridge stone, and olive pr...
🇬🇷 Greece · Ancient city
Late Bronze Age to Late Antique · Athenian
Kerameikos Cemetery and Dipylon Gate — Athens in Attica, Greece is a Late Bronze Age to Late Antique ancient-city attributed to Athenian.
🇮🇱 Israel · Tell
Canaanite to Iron Age (3500–500 BCE) · Canaanite
Tel Gezer — Shefela in Central District, Shefela, Israel is a Canaanite to Iron Age (3500–500 BCE) tell attributed to Canaanite culture.
🇮🇷 Iran · Tell
Late Neolithic to Early Chalcolithic (c.6000–4300 BCE) · Qazvin Plain Chalcolithic → Sialk I–II related
Chalcolithic painted-ware village (4 ha) on the Qazvin plain, excavated by Negahban and Malek Shahmirzadi. Late Neolithi...
🇵🇪 Peru · Ancient city
Middle Horizon (600–800 CE) · Wari
Azángaro — Wari Provincial Center in Ayacucho Region, Peru is a Middle Horizon (600–800 CE) ancient-city attributed to Wari.
🇪🇬 Egypt · Ancient city
Iron I–II (c.1200–600 BCE) · Israelite/Judahite → Assyrian Negev administration
Stratified Iron Age desert fortress (65 × 55 m) at the oasis spring Ain el-Qudeirat, identified with biblical Kadesh-Bar...
🇲🇽 Mexico · Pyramid
Classic (100–500 CE) · Capacha / Colima
La Campana — Colima Capital in Colima, Mexico is a Classic (100–500 CE) pyramid attributed to Capacha / Colima.
🇹🇳 Tunisia · Ancient city
Roman Imperial (Flavian–Byzantine, 1st–7th c. CE) · Roman (Africa Proconsularis)
Roman colonia with Flavius mausoleum, Severan arch and 2nd-c. dam.
🇹🇷 Turkey · Ancient city
Hellenistic (300 BCE–30 BCE) · Seleucid Hellenistic
Nysa — Gymnasium Annex Hill in Aydın Province, Turkey is a Hellenistic (300 BCE–30 BCE) ancient-city attributed to Seleucid Hellenistic.
🇰🇪 Kenya · Ancient city
Swahili (14th–15th c. CE) · Swahili
Jumba la Mtwana — Mtwapa Creek in Kilifi County, Kenya is a Swahili (14th–15th c. CE) ancient-city attributed to Swahili.
GR · Submerged site
Mycenaean to Late Roman (LH III – 5th c. CE harbour) · Mycenaean / Elean / Olympic
Olympia seaport — Homeric Pheia harbour basin and Pontikokastro islet now 4–6 m under Katakolo Bay.
🇮🇷 Iran · Tell
Late Chalcolithic to EBA (c.4000–2900 BCE) · Sialk III–IV → Uruk-related → Early Bronze Central Plateau
Chalcolithic double-mound (5 ha) on the Qazvin plain, excavated by E.O. Negahban and later Tehran University. Sequence L...
🇨🇳 China · Ancient city
Koguryo Kingdom 37 BCE–668 CE (Five Kingdoms period) – tombs 4th–7th c · Koguryo (proto-Korean in Manchuria)
Forty tombs of Koguryo Kingdom (37 BCE–668 CE) on Yalu, including General's Tomb (400 CE) – 31 m stepped pyramid of cut granite 12 layers recalling Mesoamerican form, and murals of lotus, hunting and…
🇸🇾 Syria · Tell
Bronze Age (2400–1200 BCE) · Mari-Ebla
Tell Hadidi — Azana in Aleppo Governorate, Euphrates, Syria is a Bronze Age (2400–1200 BCE) tell attributed to Mari-Ebla culture.
🇲🇽 Mexico · Ancient city
Postclassic Tarascan (1200–1528 CE) · Purépecha
Huandacareo — La Nopalera in Michoacán, Mexico is a Postclassic Tarascan (1200–1528 CE) ancient-city attributed to Purépecha.
🇱🇧 Lebanon · Tell
MB II (c.2000–1600 BCE) · Canaanite MB II coastal → Phoenician
Small Middle Bronze II fortified town (1.6 ha) on a coastal hill south of Sidon, Lebanese-German excavations by Uwe Fink...
🇮🇱 Israel · Ancient city
Middle Palaeolithic to Chalcolithic (c.250 ka–3500 BCE) · Mousterian → Aurignacian → Kebaran → Natufian → Chalcolithic
Multi-period cave (6 m deposits) above the Hayonim terrace, excavated by Tamar Noy and Anna Belfer-Cohen. Sequence Moust...
🇬🇹 Guatemala · Ancient city
Late Preclassic Mirador fluorescence 400 BCE–150 CE · Maya (Mirador Basin)
Mirador Basin satellite 10 km SE of El Mirador on 12 km raised sacbe to Nakbe. Structure 1 retains 6 m stucco sculpture of jaguar paw and Structure 2 has cranial caches.
