10 Oldest Buildings In The World

From Neolithic stone tombs to ancient temples that have stood for thousands of years, humanity’s oldest surviving buildings are extraordinary windows into our distant past. These structures, some older than the pyramids of Egypt, reveal how early civilisations built to last. Here are ten of the oldest buildings in the world still standing today.

The following list contains the 10 oldest freestanding recognizable buildings in the world. Most of the dates are approximations that have been concluded by radiocarbon dating. 1. Barnenez, France – around 4800 BC. The Cairn of Barnenez is considered to be a Passage grave. It is a Neolithic monument located in northern Finistère, Brittany, France. The structure is 72 m long, 25 m wide and over 8 m high

2. Tumulus of Bougon, France – around 4800 BC. A group of five Neolithic barrows located in Bougon, France. The oldest structures of this prehistoric monument date to 4800 BC 3. Tumulus Saint-Michel, France – about 4500 BC. The Tumulus of St. Michel is a megalithic grave mound, located east of Carnac in Brittany, France. It is the largest grave mound in continental Europe. The tumulus is 125 m long, 60 m wide and 10 m high 4. Wayland’s Smithy, England – around 3700 BC. A Neolithic long barrow and chamber tomb site located near Ashbury. Human remains found on the site indicate that 14 people were laid to ground there between 3590 and 3550 BC 5. Knap of Howar, Scotland – around 3700 BC. It is the oldest preserved stone house in north west Europe, located on the island of Papa Westray, Scotland 6. Ġgantija, Malta – around 3700 BC. A Neolithic, megalithic temple complex on the Mediterranean island of Gozo. The Ġgantija temples are the earliest of a series of megalithic temples in Malta and they are older than the pyramids of Egypt. Together with other similar structures, these have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site 7. West Kennet Long Barrow, England – around 3650 BC. A Neolithic tomb, situated on a prominent chalk ridge, near Silbury Hill, England. The site was recorded in the 17th century and then again in the 18th century 8. Listoghil, Ireland – around 3550 BC. Listoghil is the large central monument in the Carrowmore group of prehistoric tombs in County Sligo. Listoghil stands at the highest point in the complex, about 50 meters above sea level and it is about 34 meters in diameter 9. Sechin Bajo, Peru – around 3500 BC. An ancient stone plaza in the Andes foothills, 330 kilometers (210 mi) northwest of Lima. The structure is one of the oldest surviving man-made buildings dating to about 3500 BC based on carbon dating. The plaza was excavated in 2008 10. La Hougue Bie, Jersey – around 3500 BC. An 18.6 metre long passage chamber in the island of Jersey, off the shores of Normandy, France. The chapel above is medieval

Explore more history: the most notable pyramids in the world, the most amazing medieval cathedrals in Europe, and the most historic prisons around the world.

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