🇬🇷 Greece · Temple complex
Delos Archaeological Site
Archaeic to Hellenistic-Roman 9th c. BCE–69 BCE, sacred from Bronze Age · Greek (Ionian) to Hellenistic-Roman
Sacred island birthplace of Apollo - entire island is UNESCO open-air museum.
🇪🇬 Egypt · Pyramid
Pyramid of Queen Ankhesenpepi I
Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty, c.2332 BCE · Ancient Egyptian
Tiny queens pyramid south of Pepi I pyramid for Ankhesenpepi I — wife of Pepi I and mother of Merenre. 20.2 m base, limestone core, ancillary brick temple.
🇮🇶 Iraq · Ancient city
Ur
Ubaid to Persian (c.3800 BCE–300 BCE; Early Dynastic/Ur III peak 2600–2000 BCE) · Sumerian / Akkadian / Babylonian / Persian
Sumerian city-state of the moon god Nanna (Sîn), Ur famous for Woolley's excavations 1922–34: Ziggurat of Ur-Nammu (2112 BCE) best-preserved ziggurat, Royal Cemetery with Standard of Ur, Pu-abi's…
🇬🇷 Greece · Temple complex
Delphi Sanctuary
Geometric to Hellenistic-Roman 8th c. BCE–395 CE; temple 510 BCE · Ancient Greek (pan-Hellenic)
Apollo's oracle sanctuary on Parnassus - spiritual center of ancient Greek world.
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Konark Sun Temple
Eastern Ganga 1243–1255 CE · Odia / Kalinga Hindu (Surya)
13th-century (1243–1255 CE) Kalinga-style Sun temple built as colossal 30-m high chariot of Surya with 24 giant stone wheels (9.5 ft sundials) pulled by seven horses, originally 68 m shikhara…
🇮🇳 India · Temple complex
Khajuraho Group of Monuments
Chandela period 950–1050 CE · Chandela / Bundelkhand Hindu and Jain
Eighty-five (25 surviving) sandstone temples (950–1050 CE) of Chandela dynasty, celebrated for Nagara shikharas rising in clustered peaks and intricate sculptures.
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan · Temple complex
Shāh-i-Zinda Necropolis
Qarakhanid to Timurid 11th–15th century CE · Qarakhanid / Timurid Islamic
Eleven medieval mausolea (11th–15th c) lining narrow alley on Afrasiyab tell above Samarkand, enshrining Kusam ibn Abbas (cousin of Prophet) and Timurid royal women and generals.
🇸🇩 Sudan · Pyramid
El-Kurru Pyramid Ku.1 (King Piye / Piankhy)
Napatan founding, c.750 BCE · Kushite Napatan
Founder's pyramid Ku.1 at El-Kurru for King Piye/Piankhy (c.747–716 BCE, founder of 25th Dynasty who conquered Egypt).
🇺🇸 United States · Ancient village
Pueblo Bonito (Chaco Canyon)
Pueblo II–III · Ancestral Puebloan / Chacoan
Greatest great house of Chaco: D-shaped 800-room complex with 32 kivas, planned in stages 850–1150 CE, aligned to cardinal directions and Chacoan road system radiating 60 km.
🇲🇹 Malta · Megalith
Tarxien Temples
Chalcolithic (Tarxien phase) · Maltese Temple culture
Four interconnected temples with spiral reliefs, animal friezes and 2.7 m mother-goddess statue fragment. Most decorated of Maltese temples, adjacent to Hal Saflieni Hypogeum.
🇺🇸 United States · Earthwork
High Bank Works
Hopewell Middle Woodland 100–400 CE · Hopewell tradition
Circle-octagon pair 320 m circle, UNESCO 2023.
🇹🇷 Turkey · Temple complex
Pergamon Trajan Temple — Upper Acropolis Traianeum Sanctuary
Hellenistic Attalid to Roman Hadrianic (300 BCE – 130 CE) · Attalid Pergamene to Roman Asia provincial
Upper terrace Trajan–Hadrian Corinthian sanctuary behind Zeus altar.
🇬🇹 Guatemala · Pyramid
Tikal Temple IV
Late Classic Maya · Maya (Mutal polity)
Tallest temple-pyramid in Tikal, atop 7 m supporting platform, roof comb; from summit see canopy and other temples. Part of vast Classic Maya city (16 km²) with ~3000 structures.
🇪🇬 Egypt · Pyramid
Buried Pyramid of Sekhemkhet
Old Kingdom, 3rd Dynasty, c.2645 BCE · Ancient Egyptian
Unfinished step pyramid of Sekhemkhet (c.2645 BCE, 3rd Dynasty), southwest of Djoser. Henri Zakaria Goneim 1951-54 excavated alabaster sarcophagus (empty) and gold armlets.
🇸🇩 Sudan · Pyramid
Meroë North Cemetery — Pyramid Beg. N.9 (King Tabirqo)
Meroitic Kingdom, c.180–170 BCE · Kushite (Meroitic)
Royal pyramid Beg. N.9 in North Cemetery of Meroë belonging to King Tabirqo (Adikhalamani Tabirqo, c.180–170 BCE).
🇪🇬 Egypt · Pyramid
Pyramid of Userkaf
Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty · Ancient Egyptian
Founder's pyramid of 5th Dynasty at Saqqara, 49 m base, 18 m high (originally 49 m), badly ruined rubble mound east of Djoser enclosure.
🇪🇬 Egypt · Pyramid
Pyramid of Unas
Old Kingdom, late 5th Dynasty · Ancient Egyptian
Last king of 5th Dynasty's 43 m high pyramid at Saqqara South, notable for first Pyramid Texts — 283 spells carved in underground alabaster-lined chambers to guide king to afterlife.
🇸🇩 Sudan · Pyramid
Jebel Barkal Pyramid Bar.2 (King Amaninatakilebte)
Napatan, c.538–519 BCE · Kushite Napatan
Pyramid Bar.2 at Jebel Barkal north cemetery for King Amaninatakilebte (c.538–519 BCE, Napatan 27th Dynasty contemporaneous with Persian Egypt).
🇩🇰 Denmark · Hillfort
Fyrkat Viking Ringfort
Viking Age (c.980 CE) · Danish Viking Age
Viking ringfort 120 m diameter near Hobro, North Jutland, contemporary with Trelleborg (Harald Bluetooth), with identical four-gate geometry and 16 houses plus a cemetery of 30 graves including wagon…
🇲🇽 Mexico · Pyramid
Calakmul
Late Classic Maya · Maya (Kanul dynasty)
Powerful Classic Maya superpower (capital of Kanul Snake Kingdom, 6th–9th century) with 6,750 structures, twin reservoirs and stelae. Structure II is massive layered pyramid.
🇪🇬 Egypt · Pyramid
Step Pyramid of Djoser
Old Kingdom, 3rd Dynasty · Ancient Egyptian
Oldest large stone structure in Egypt: architect Imhotep's six-step pyramid for Djoser, 3rd Dynasty, evolving from mastaba. Inside complex with Heb-Sed court and serdab.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka · Archaeological wonder
Sigiriya (Lion Rock)
Moriyan Anuradhapura · Sinhala
5th-century rock fortress-palace of Kassapa I atop 180 m column, frescoed Mirror Wall, Lion Gate, with summit palace, hydraulic gardens and moat. Short-lived capital 477–495 CE.
🇪🇬 Egypt · Pyramid
Pyramid of Pepi I
Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty · Ancient Egyptian
Large 6th Dynasty pyramid at South Saqqara (78.75 × 78.75 m base, 52.5 m high), most intact Pyramid Texts ( >2,300 lines) giving royal afterlife spells.
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan · Rock art
Tamgaly Kungei Ridge Sanctuary — Aiyrtau Sun Shrine
Bronze Age to Turkic (1400 BCE – 800 CE) · Andronovo to Saka to Turkic
Ridgetop with shaman drum and deer-headdress plus Saka kurgans.