List of oldest known surviving buildings

This article lists the oldest known surviving free-standing buildings constructed in the world, including on each of the continents and within each country. "Building" is defined as any human-made structure used or interface for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy. In order to qualify for this list a structure must:

  • be a recognisable building;
  • incorporate features of building work from the claimed date to at least 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height;
  • be largely complete or include building work to this height for most of its perimeter.
  • contain an enclosed area with at least one entry point.

This consciously excludes ruins of limited height and statues. The list also excludes:

  • dolmens, a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of three or more upright stones supporting a large flat horizontal capstone. Dolmens were typically covered with earth or smaller stones to form a tumulus (which are included in the list). In many instances, that covering has weathered away, leaving only the stone "skeleton" of the burial mound intact. Neolithic dolmens are extremely numerous, with over 1,000 reported from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany alone.[1]
  • cairns, which are simply large piles of loose stones (as opposed to chambered cairns)
  • standing stone rings, such as Stonehenge, also do not count because they are not enclosed and do not have roofs.

Dates for many of the oldest structures have been arrived at by radiocarbon dating and should be considered approximate.

By age

The following are amongst the oldest buildings in the world that have maintained the requirements to be such. Occupation sites with older human made structures such as those in Göbekli Tepe do exist, but the structures are monuments and do not meet the definition of building (which can be seen above). Many of the buildings within the list contain primarily bricks, but most importantly maintain their walls and roof. There are numerous extant structures that survive in the Orkney islands of Scotland, some of the best known of which are part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.[2] The list also contains many large buildings from the Egyptian Age of the Pyramids.

Building Image Country Continent First Built Use Notes
Göbekli Tepe
Göbekli Tepe, Urfa
Turkey Asia 10000 - 7500 BC Unknown, likely temple Located in southern Turkey. The tell includes two phases of use, believed to be of a social or ritual nature by site discoverer and excavator Klaus Schmidt (archaelogist), dating back to the 10th–8th millennium BCE. The structure is 300 m in diameter and 15 m high.
Barnenez France Europe 4850 BC Passage grave Located in northern Finistère and partially restored. According to André Malraux it would have been better named 'The Prehistoric Parthenon'. The structure is 72 m (236 ft) long, 25 m (82 ft) wide and over 8 m (26 ft) high.[3][4]
Tumulus of Bougon France Europe 4700 BC Tumulus A complex of tombs with varying dates near Poitiers, the oldest being F0.[3]
Saint-Michel tumulus France Europe 4500 BC Tumulus The tumulus forms what is almost an artificial hillock of more than 30,000 m3 (1,100,000 cu ft) (60 m × 125 m × 10 m (197 ft × 410 ft × 33 ft)).[5][6]
Anu ziggurat of Uruk Iraq Asia 4000–3800 BC Ziggurat A massive White Temple was built atop of the ziggurat. Under the northwest edge of the ziggurat a Stone Temple has been discovered.
Monte d'Accoddi Italy (Sardinia) Europe 4000–3650 BC[7][8] Possibly an open-air temple, or a step pyramid. A trapezoidal platform on an artificial mound, reached by a sloped causeway. New radiocarbon dating (2011) allow us to date the building of the first monument to 4000–3650 BC, the second shrine dating to 3500–3000 BC."[9]
Knap of Howar United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3700 BC House Oldest preserved stone house in north west Europe.[10][11][12]
Ġgantija Malta Europe 3700 BC Temple Two structures on the island of Gozo. The second was built four centuries after the oldest.[13][14]
Dolmen of Menga Spain Europe 3700 BC Tomb A megalithic burial mound called a tumulus, a long barrow form of dolmen
West Kennet Long Barrow United Kingdom (England) Europe 3650 BC Tomb Located near Silbury Hill and Avebury stone circle.[15]
Listoghil Ireland Europe 3550 BC Passage Tomb At the centre of the Carrowmore passage tomb cluster, a simple box-shaped chamber is surrounded by a kerb c.34 m (112 ft) in diameter and partly covered by a cairn. It has been partly reconstructed.[16]
Stoney Littleton Long Barrow United Kingdom (England) Europe 3550 BC Tomb Neolithic chambered tomb with multiple burial chambers, belonging to the Severn-Cotswold group located near Wellow, Somerset, England.[17]
Sechin Bajo Peru South America 3500 BC Plaza The oldest known building in the Americas.[18]
La Hougue Bie Jersey Europe 3500 BC Passage grave An 18.6 m (61 ft) long passage chamber. The chapel above is medieval.[19]
Midhowe Chambered Cairn United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3500 BC Tomb A well-preserved example of the Orkney-Cromarty type on the island of Rousay.[20]
Gavrinis passage tomb France Europe 3500 BC Tomb On a small island, situated in the Gulf of Morbihan.[21]
Wayland's Smithy United Kingdom (England) Europe 3460 BC Chamber tomb A barrow constructed on top of an older burial chamber.[22]
Unstan Chambered Cairn United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3450 BC Tomb Excavated in 1884, when grave goods were found, giving their name to Unstan ware.[23][24][25]
Knowe of Yarso chambered cairn United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3350 BC Tomb One of several Rousay tombs. It contained numerous deer skeletons when excavated in the 1930s.[23][26][27]
Quanterness chambered cairn United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3250 BC Tomb The remains of 157 individuals were found inside when excavated in the 1970s.[23][28]
Loughcrew Ireland Europe 3400 BC Tomb It is the site of megalithic burial grounds dating back to approximately 3500 and 3300 BC
Tarxien Temples Malta Europe 3250 BC Temples Part of the Megalithic Temples of Malta World Heritage Site.[13][29]
Shahr-e Sukhteh Iran Asia 3200 BC Settlement A rich source of information regarding the emergence of complex societies and contacts between them in the third millennium[30]
Newgrange Ireland Europe 3200 BC[31] Burial Partially reconstructed around original passage grave.[32]
Knowth Ireland Europe c. 3200 BC Passage grave
Dowth Ireland Europe between 3200 and 2900 BC Tomb The cairn is about 85 metres (280 ft) in diameter and 15 metres (50 ft) high.
Skara Brae United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3180 BC Settlement Northern Europe's best preserved Neolithic village.[33]
Tomb of the Eagles United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3150 BC Tomb In use for 800 years or more. Numerous bird bones were found here, predominantly white-tailed sea eagle.[34][35]
Tepe Sialk ziggurat Iran Asia 3000 BC Ziggurat The oldest settlements in Sialk to date to around 6000–5500 BC.[36][37] The Sialk ziggurat was built around 3000 BC.
Dolmen de Bagneux France Europe 3000 BC Dolmen This is the largest dolmen in France, and perhaps the world, the overall length of the dolmen is 23 m (75 ft), with the internal chamber at over 18 m (59 ft) in length and at least 3 m (9.8 ft) high.[38][39][40]
Grey Cairns of Camster United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3000 BC or older Tomb Located near Upper Camster in Caithness.[41][42]
Hulbjerg Jættestue Denmark Europe 3000 BC Passage grave The grave is concealed by a round barrow on the southern tip of the island of Langeland. One of the skulls found there showed traces of the world's earliest dentistry work.[43][44][45]
Dolmens of North Caucasus Russia Europe 3000 BC Tomb There are numerous tombs, some perhaps originating in the Maikop culture, in the North Caucasus.[46][47]
Taversoe Tuick chambered cairn United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3000 BC Tomb Unusually, there is an upper and lower chamber.[48]
Holm of Papa chambered cairn United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3000 BC Tomb The central chamber is over 20 m (66 ft) long.[49][50]
Barpa Langass United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3000 BC Tomb The best preserved chambered cairn in the Hebrides.[51][52]
Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3000 BC Tomb Excavated in 1901, when it was found to contain the bones of men, dogs and oxen.[53][54]
Quoyness cairn United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 2900 BC Tomb An arc of Bronze Age mounds surrounds this cairn on the island of Sanday.[55]
Maeshowe United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 2800 BC Tomb The entrance passage is 36 feet (11 m) long and leads to the central chamber measuring about 15 feet (4.6 m) on each side.[56][57]
Shunet El Zebib Egypt Africa 2700 BC Mortuary temple Built as a funerary enclosure, a place where the deceased king was worshipped and memorized.
Pyramid of Djoser Egypt Africa 2667–2648 BC Burial Earliest large-scale cut stone construction.[58]
Harappa Pakistan Asia 2600 BC Settlement A Bronze Age fortified city with clay sculptured houses in west of Sahiwal.[59]

The civilization, with a possible writing system, urban centers, and diversified social and economic system.

Mohenjo Daro Pakistan Asia 2600 BC Settlement Archeological site near Lankana, Sindh.[60]

World's earliest settlement with one and two storied brick houses, public baths, assembly halls, central marketplace and covered drains.

Dholavira India Asia 2650 BC–2100 BC Settlement A complex of ruins with varying dates at Dholavira.[61][62][63]

Brick water reservoirs, with steps, circular graves & ruins of well planned town.

Caral Peru South America 2600 BC Pyramid Once thought to be the oldest building in South America.[64]
Pyramid of Meidum Egypt Africa c. 2580 BC Tomb Fourth Dynasty structure completed by Sneferu.
Bent Pyramid Egypt Africa c. 2580 BC Tomb A second structure completed by Sneferu.
Red Pyramid Egypt Africa c. 2580 BC Tomb Third large pyramid completed by Sneferu.[65]
Great Pyramid of Giza Egypt Africa 2560 BC Tomb Mausoleum for fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu.[66] World's tallest man-made structure for over 3800 years, until Lincoln Cathedral in 1311.
Megalithic Monuments of Alcalar Portugal Europe Between 3000–2000 BC Tomb A group of burial tombs that comprise a Calcolithic necropolis.
Capel Garmon United Kingdom (Wales) Europe c. 2500 BC Tomb Burial chamber dating from the 3rd millennium BC, belonging to the Severn-Cotswold group.[67]
Pyramid of Khafre Egypt Africa c. 2500 BC Tomb One of the Pyramids of Giza.[68]
Pyramid of Menkaure Egypt Africa c. 2500 BC Tomb Menkaure was probably Khafre's successor.
Pyramid of Userkaf Egypt Africa c. 2480 BC Tomb Located close to Pyramid of Djoser.[69]
Pyramid of Sahure Egypt Africa c. 2480 BC Tomb Built for Sahure.[70]
Pyramid of Neferirkare Kakai Egypt Africa c. 2460 BC Tomb Built for Neferirkare Kakai.[70]
Pyramid of Neferefre Egypt Africa c. 2455 BC Tomb Never completed but does contain a tomb.[70]
Pyramid of Niuserre Egypt Africa c. 2425 BC Tomb [71]
Royal Palace of Ebla Syria Asia 2400–2300 BC Palace
Pyramid of Djedkare-Isesi Egypt Africa c. 2370 BC Tomb
Pyramid of Unas Egypt Africa c. 2340 BC Tomb [72]
Pyramid of Teti Egypt Africa c. 2330 BC Tomb
Labbacallee Ireland Europe c. 2300 BC Tomb The largest wedge tomb in Ireland.
Shimao China (Shaanxi) Asia 2300–2000 BC Settlement Fortified Neolithic site, centered on a large stepped pyramid with a height of 70m. [73]
Pyramid of Merenre Egypt Africa c. 2275 BC Tomb Built for Merenre Nemtyemsaf I but not completed.
Pyramid of Pepi II Neferkare Egypt Africa c. 2180 BC Tomb
Crantit cairn United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 2130 BC Tomb Discovered in 1998 near Kirkwall.[74][75]
Ziggurat of Ur Iraq Asia 2100 BC Temple The Great Ziggurat of Ur was a temple built by Neo-Sumerians under king Ur-Nammu in honor of goddess Nanna. It was partially reconstructed in the 1980s under Saddam Hussein.
Dolmen de Viera Spain Europe 2000 BC Tomb The Dolmen de Viera or Dolmen de los Hermanos Viera is a dolmen—a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb[76]
Dolmen of Cava dei Servi Italy (Sicily) Europe 2000 BC Tomb The dolmen of Cava dei Servi is a semi-oval monument formed by four rectangular slabs fixed into the ground. Three slabs are on top, leaning in such a way they reduce the surface and form a false dome.[77]
Rubha an Dùnain passage grave United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 2000 BC or older Tomb [78][79][80]
Corrimony chambered cairn United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 2000 BC or older Tomb A Clava-type passage grave surrounded by a circle of 11 standing stones.[81][82]
Bryn Celli Ddu United Kingdom (Wales) Europe 2000 BC Tomb Located on the island of Anglesey.[83]
Balnuaran of Clava United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 2000 BC Tomb The largest of three is the north-east cairn, which was partially reconstructed in the 19th century. The central cairn may have been used as a funeral pyre.[80][84][85]
Vinquoy cairn, Eday United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 2000 BC Tomb [86]
Pyramid of Amenemhat I Egypt Africa c. 1960 BC Tomb
Pyramid of Senusret I Egypt Africa c. 1920 BC Tomb
Pyramid of Senusret II Egypt Africa c. 1875 BC Tomb
Knossos Greece Europe 1850–1750 BC Palace Minoan structure on a Neolithic site.[87]
Pyramid of Senusret III Egypt Africa c. 1835 BC Tomb Built for Senusret III
Black Pyramid Egypt Africa c. 1820 BC Tomb Built for Amenemhat III, it has multiple structural deficits.
Hawara Egypt Africa c. 1810 BC Tomb Also built for Amenemhat III.
Pyramid of Khendjer Egypt Africa c. 1760 BC Tomb Built for pharaoh Khendjer
Nuraghe Santu Antine Italy (Sardinia) Europe 1600 BC Possibly a fort The second tallest of these megalithic edifices found in Sardinia and tallest still standing.[88]
Su Nuraxi di Barumini Italy (Sardinia) Europe 1500 BC Possibly a fort or a palace The palace of Barumini is formed by a huge quatrefoiled nuraghe, whose central tower is its oldest construction. Originally it was almost 20 m (66 ft) high and divided into three floors.[89][90]
Nuraghe La Prisciona Italy (Sardinia) Europe 1400 BC Possibly a fort The monument has a central tower and 2 side towers, the former with an entrance defined by a massive lintel of 3.20 m (10.5 ft). The central chamber has a false dome, which is more than 6 m (20 ft) high.[91]
The King's Grave Sweden Europe 1400 BC Tomb Near Kivik is the remains of an unusually grand Nordic Bronze Age double burial.[92]
The Ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu Iraq Asia 14th century BC Probably religious rituals Built for the Kassite King Kurigalzu I.[93]
Treasury of Atreus Greece Europe 1250 BC Tomb The tallest and widest dome in the world for over a thousand years.[94]
Chogha Zanbil Iran Asia 1250 BC Temple One of the few extant ziggurats outside of Mesopotamia.[95]
Naveta d'Es Tudons Spain Europe 1200–750 BC Ossuary The most famous megalithic chamber tomb in Menorca.[96]
Dún Aonghasa Ireland Europe 1100 BC Fort Dún Aonghasa, also called Dun Aengus, has been described as one of the most spectacular prehistoric monuments in western Europe. The drystone walled hillfort is made up of 4 widely spaced concentric ramparts.[97][98]
Cuicuilco Circular Pyramid Mexico North America 800–600 BC Ceremonial center One of the oldest standing structures of the Mesoamerican cultures. First steps in the creation of a sun based calendar.[99]
Van Fortress Turkey Asia 750 BC Fortress Massive Urartean stone fortification overlooking Tushpa.
Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia Italy Europe 700 BC Tombs These Etruscan necropolises contain thousands of tombs, some organized in a city-like plan.[100]
Temple of Cyrene Libya Africa c. 630 BC Temple The temple was destroyed and rebuilt around 115 AD and was damaged in the 4th century AD.
Temple of Hera Italy Europe 550 BC Temple Part of a complex of three great temples in Doric style.[101]
Tomb of Cyrus Iran Asia 530 BC Tomb Tomb of Cyrus the Great, located in Pasargadae
Persepolis Iran Asia 522 BC Ceremonial capital Ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire
Yeha Temple Ethiopia Africa 500 BC Temple Temple of the sun and moon.
Parthenon Greece Europe 432–447 BC Temple In the Acropolis of Athens
Tomb of Seuthes III Bulgaria Europe 450–400 BC Tomb The tomb was originally a monumental temple at Golyama Kosmatka Mound, built in the second half of the 5th century BC. After extended use as a temple, at the later part of the 3rd century BC the Thracian king Seuthes III was buried inside.
Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak Bulgaria Europe 300–400 BC Tomb Located near Seutopolis, the capital city of the Thracian king Seuthes III, and part of a large necropolis.[102]

It is one of the most elaborate tombs in the Valley of the Thracian Rulers.

Sanchi Stupa India Asia 300 BC Buddhist temple In the village of Sanchi
Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari Bulgaria Europe 300–200 BC Tomb Discovered in 1982 in a mound, this 3rd century BC Getic tomb reflects the fundamental structural principles of Thracian cult buildings. The tomb's architectural decor is considered to be unique, with polychrome half-human, half-plant caryatids and painted murals.
Dhamek Stupa India Asia 249 BC rebuilt c. 500 AD Buddhist Temple In Sarnath, Varanasi
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor China Asia Began construction 246 BC, finished 208 BC Tomb Commonly known as the Terracotta Army, this is one of the largest tombs ever built. It does not only contain the entire stone army, but a complex of halls and of course the resting place of Qin Shi Huang.
Ruwanwelisaya Sri Lanka Asia 140 BC Stupa In Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Broch of Mousa United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 100 BC Broch Located in Shetland it is among the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe.[103][104]
Dun Carloway United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 100 BC Broch Built in the first century BC[105]
Maison Carrée France Europe 4–7 AD Temple one of the best preserved Roman temples, in Nîmes
Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum Hong Kong Asia 25 AD Tomb
Temple of Garni Armenia Asia c. 77 AD Temple
Colosseum Italy Europe 70–80 AD Amphitheatre

By continent

The following are amongst the oldest known surviving extant buildings on each of the major continents.

Building Image Country Continent First Built Use Notes
Shahr-e Sukhteh Iran Asia 3200 BC Settlement A rich source of information regarding the emergence of complex societies and contacts between them in the third millennium[30]
Barnenez France Europe 4850 BC Passage grave Located in northern Finistère and partially restored. According to André Malraux it would have been better named 'The Prehistoric Parthenon'. The structure is 72 m (236 ft) long, 25 m (82 ft) wide and over 8 m (26 ft) high.[3][4]
Sechin Bajo Peru South America 3500 BC Plaza The oldest known building in the Americas.[18][106]
Pyramid of Djoser Egypt Africa 2667–2648 BC Burial Earliest large-scale cut stone construction[58]
Cuicuilco Circular Pyramid Mexico North America 800–600 BC Ceremonial center One of the oldest standing structures of the Mesoamerican cultures.[99]
Wiebbe Hayes Stone Fort Australia Australia 1629 AD Defensive fort Oldest known building in Australia, a defensive fort used by the survivors of the Batavia shipwreck on West Wallabi Island.[107]
Cape Adare huts Ross Dependency Antarctica 1899 AD Explorers' huts Wooden buildings constructed by Carsten Borchgrevink in Victoria Land.[108]

By country

The following are among the oldest buildings in their respective countries.

Building Image Country Continent First Built Use Notes
Weibbe Hayes Stone Fort Australia Australia 1629 AD Stone Fort Old stone fort built by the survivors of the Batavia shipwreck.
Tomb of Seuthes III Bulgaria Europe 450–400 BC Tomb The tomb was originally a monumental temple at Golyama Kosmatka Mound, built in the second half of the 5th century BC. After extended use as a temple, at the later part of the 3rd century BC the Thracian king Seuthes III was buried inside.
L'Anse aux Meadows Canada North America c. 1000 AD Settlement Located on the northernmost tip of the island of Newfoundland, the Norse settlement is widely accepted as evidence of pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact.
Hulbjerg Jættestue Denmark Europe 3000 BC Passage grave The Hulbjerg passage grave is concealed by a round barrow on the southern tip of the island of Langeland. One of the skulls found there showed traces of the world's earliest dentistry work.[43]
West Kennet Long Barrow United Kingdom (England) Europe 3650 BC Tomb Located near Silbury Hill and Avebury stone circle.[15]
Yeha Temple Ethiopia Africa 500 BC Temple Oldest standing structure in Ethiopia
Barnenez France Europe 4850 BC Passage grave Located in northern Finistère and partially restored. The structure is 72 m long, 25 m wide and over 8 m high.[3][4] The oldest known building in Eurasia.
Porta Nigra Germany Europe 180 AD Roman city gate It is today the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps.[109]
Knossos Greece Europe 2000–1300 BC Palace Minoan structure on a Neolithic site.[87]
Dholavira India Asia 2600–2100 BC Reservoir A planned urban settlement comprising reservoirs, pottery artifacts, seals, ornaments, vessels, etc.
Chogha Zanbil Iran Asia 1250 BC Temple One of the few extant ziggurats outside of Mesopotamia.[95]
The Ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu Iraq Asia 14th century BC Probably religious rituals Built by the Kassite King Kurigalzu I.[93]
Newgrange Ireland Europe 3200–2900 BC Burial Partially reconstructed around original passage grave.[32]
Monte d'Accoddi Italy (Sardinia) Europe 4000–3600 BC Possibly an open-air temple, a ziggurat, or a step pyramid, mastaba. "A trapezoidal platform on an artificial mound, reached by a sloped causeway."[9]
Ġgantija Malta Europe 3700 BC Temple Two structures on the island of Gozo. The second was built four centuries after the oldest.[13][14]
Cuicuilco Circular Pyramid Mexico North America 800–600 BC Ceremonial center One of the oldest standing structures of the Mesoamerican cultures.[99]
Hunebed (Dolmen) Netherlands Europe 4000–3000 BC Burial Commen theory states Hunebedden of dolmen are prehistoric burial chambers.
Mission House New Zealand 1822 AD Religious Built by Māori and missionary carpenters.[110]
Mehrgarh Pakistan Asia c. 2600 BC Mud brick storage structures A complex of ruins with varying dates near Bolan Pass.[111][112]
Sechin Bajo Peru South America 3500 BC Plaza The oldest known building in the Americas.[18]
Dolmens of North Caucasus Russia Europe 3000 BC Tomb There are numerous tombs, some perhaps originating in the Maikop culture, in the North Caucasus.[113][114]
Knap of Howar United Kingdom (Scotland) Europe 3700 BC House Oldest preserved stone house in north west Europe.[10][11][12]
Naveta d'Es Tudons Spain Europe 1200–750 BC Ossuary The most famous megalithic chamber tomb in Menorca.[96]
The King's Grave Sweden Europe 1000 BC Tomb Near Kivik is the remains of an unusually grand Nordic Bronze Age double burial.[115]
Hattusa Turkey Asia c. 1600 BC Ramparts and ruined buildings Capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age located near modern Boğazkale.[116]
Ancestral Puebloan communities United States North America 750 AD Villages Pueblo construction began in 750 AD and continues to the present day. These buildings have been within the U.S. since 1848, when New Mexico was annexed.
Bryn Celli Ddu United Kingdom (Wales) Europe 2000 BC Tomb Located on the island of Anglesey.[83]
Great Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Africa 1000 AD Palace Capital of the medieval kingdom

Miscellaneous

Oldest of their type

The following are probably the oldest buildings of their type.

Building Image Location First built Use Notes
Hōryū-ji Nara, Japan 670 AD Temple Oldest wooden building still standing.[117]
Pyramid of Djoser Saqqara, Egypt 2667–2648 BC Tomb Oldest large-scale cut stone construction[58]
Luxor Temple Luxor, Egypt 1400 BC Religious The oldest standing building partly in use. There is an active mosque within the main structure, visible in the picture, that stands on the ancient pillars of the Egyptian temple.
Jokhang Lhasa, China c. 639 AD Buddhist temple Perhaps the world's oldest timber frame building.[118]
Nanchan Temple Wutai, China 782 AD Buddhist Temple Its Great Buddha Hall is currently China's oldest extant timber building.
Ditherington Flax Mill United Kingdom (England, Shrewsbury) 1797 AD Industrial The oldest iron framed building in the world.[119]
Maison Carrée France 16 BC Temple The only completely preserved temple of the ancient world.[120]
Pantheon, Rome Italy 125 AD Religious Oldest standing building still in regular use.[121]
Aula Palatina Germany 306 AD Palace basilica Contains the largest extant hall from antiquity.[109]
Greensted Church United Kingdom (England) c. 1053 AD Church May be the oldest, extant wooden church in the world and the oldest, extant wooden building in Europe.[122][123]
Roykstovan in Kirkjubø Faroe Islands No clear date, middle of 11th century AD Farmhouse May be the oldest continuously inhabited wooden building in the world[124]
Mundeshwari Temple Bihar, India conflicting accounts; between 105–320 AD Hindu Temple May be the oldest surviving (non rebuilt) Hindu temple in the world[125][126]

Other structures

The following are very old human constructions that do not fit the above criteria for a building, typically because they are ruins that no longer fit the height requirement specified above or for which the only significant above-ground elements are single large stones.

Building Image Location First Built Use Notes
Theopetra cave Greece 21000 BC Stone wall The oldest known human-made structure.

The structure is a stone wall that blocked two-thirds of the entrance to the Theopetra cave near Kalambaka on the north edge of the Thessalian plain. It was constructed 23,000 years ago, probably as a barrier to cold winds.[127][128]

Tell Qaramel Syria 11000–9670 BC Towers/Village The oldest known tower structure.[129]
Göbekli Tepe Turkey 9500–8400 BC Ceremonial The oldest known human-made religious structure.[130][131]
Tower of Jericho Palestinian territories 8000 BC Defensive/agricultural See also Wall of Jericho.[132]
Çatalhöyük Turkey 7400–6200 BC Village ruins [133]
Khirokitia Cyprus 5800–3000 BC Houses Site has reconstructions of round houses.[134]
Durankulak Bulgaria 5500–5000 BC Neolithic settlement The excavations of the Paleolithic and Neolithic settlement on the Big Island in Bulgaria's Durankulak Lake first started in 1974. They discovered Paleolithic finds dating back to around 10,000 BC; and a Neolithic settlement dating back to between 5500–5400 BC and 5100–5000 BC. The settlement, which created what is said to be Europe's first stone city.[135][136]
Perperikon Bulgaria 5000 BC Ancient architectural complex Perperikon is the largest megalith ensemble in the Balkans. Human activity in the area dates back to 5000 B.C. The first traces of civilization on the hill date from the Bronze Age, while the ceramics found on the place date from the Early Iron Age, as well as the impressive round altar, almost 2 m in diameter, hewn out of the rocks. At Perperikon, a twelve days' journey from the sea, Medokos called himself king of Thrace after Sitalces's death in 424 BC, but failed to hold a throne.[137][138]
Les Fouaillages Guernsey 4500 BC[139] Tomb Burial mound and associated building, in use from 4500–4000 and 3000–2000 BC. Findings include pottery sherds, stone tools, jewelry, flint, and arrowheads. Originally covered by a turf mound 35m long.[140]
Tumulus de Dissignac France 4500–4000 BC[141] Tumulus Two Dolmenic chambers are covered by 15 metre diameter tumulus with corridors 11 metres in length. Substantially rebuilt.[142]
Table des Marchand France 4000 BC Dolmen A modern cairn has been rebuilt over the capstone and supporting pillars.[143]
Temple of Ba`alat Gebal Lebanon c. 2700 BC Temple Located in the Phoenician city of Byblos, the nearby Temple of the Obelisks dates to c.1900–1600 BC.[144][145]
Pyramid of Sekhemkhet aka the Buried Pyramid Egypt c. 2630 BC Burial An unfinished Third Dynasty structure largely hidden under sand. Only the lowest step of the pyramid was constructed at the time of his death.[146]
Great Sphinx of Giza Egypt 2558–2532 BC Statue The largest monolith statue in the world, possibly completed during the reign of Khafre, although the subject is controversial.[147][148]
Arkadiko Bridge Greece 1300–1190 BC Bridge
King David's Palace Israel 1000 BC Palace Most Likely the ruins of King David's palace.[149]
Theatre of Dionysus Greece c. 580 BC Theatre [150]
Panathenaic Stadium Greece c. 144 AD Race Course
Falkland Palace United Kingdom c. 1539 AD Tennis Court
Broad Green railway station United Kingdom 1830 AD Railway platform
Cragside United Kingdom 1870 AD Hydro-electric power station

See also

Lists

Sites

References

  1. "Megaliths in Mecklenburg–Vorpommern". University of Toronto. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  2. "Heart of Neolithic Orkney". UNESCO. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  3. Chris Scarre, Roy Switsur, Jean-Pierre Mohen (1993) "New radiocarbon dates from Bougon and the chronology of French passage-graves". Antiquity/The Free Library. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  4. Gibson, Marion; Trower, Shelley; Tregidga, Garry (2013) Mysticism, Myth and Celtic Identity. Routledge. Abingdon. p. 133
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