In today’s world we are accustomed to the impressive features of engineering. Structures like suspension bridges and skyscrapers are modern marvels but some of the world’s most impressive constructions are thousands of years behind us. For instance, the Roman Colosseum is one such wonder of ancient architecture, marking a crucial transition point between vastly different ages, cultures, and constructions. The list of the oldest man-made structures always includes buildings belonging to the seven wonders of the world and the wonders of the ancient world for their overwhelming grandeur that intrigues the spectator.
Man-made structures: categories and classification
In order to qualify for the consideration of the oldest man-made structure, the feature must:
- be a recognizable building
- incorporate features of building work of a height of at least 1.5 metres (4.9 ft)
- be largely complete or include building work for most of its perimeter
- contain an enclosed area with at least one entry point.
This deliberately excludes ruins of limited height and statues. For this particular classification, the list excludes: dolmens, cairns, standing stones rings such as Stonehenge. The following list presents the structures considered to be amongst the oldest buildings in the world.
Göbekli Tepe
Located in the south-eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, the mysterious Gobekli Tepe (‘Potbelly Hill’ in Turkish) boasts of an archaeological mound that is 15 m (49 ft) in height and over 300 m (984 ft) in diameter. First identified in a survey conducted way back in the 1960s, this tell (or mound) flaunted a series of limestone slabs and T-shaped pillars, some of which were over 30 ft tall. Intrigued by these imposing finds, the researchers had conducted their detailed stratigraphy tests to reveal that the site is at least 11,000 years old (or 6,000 years older than Stonehenge!). The entire arrangement of the massive stones was seemingly ceremonial in nature which had led to the touting of the Gobekli Tepe as the ‘oldest human-built temple in the world’ (or even the oldest human construction). However, arguably more fascinating is the presence of numerous animals remains in the area. This suggests that over hundreds of workers laboring in the site subsisted on just foraging and hunting, as opposed to agriculture.
Tel Es-Sultan
Proto-cities are settlements containing many dwellings. They prove that people congregated in one location. Tel es-Sultan is one of the earliest examples of such a city. It literally means the Sultan’s Hill. Tel es-Sultan, also called Tel Jericho or Ancient Jericho, is located in the West Bank of the state of Palestine is among the oldest and lowest towns in the world. The first humans to use the site were Natufians from 12,000 years ago. These hunter-gatherers developed this site over time since it’s located near a natural spring. The brick-made houses at this site sit in a circle. The sun-dried bricks contained straw, clay, and the mortar used was mud. The Wall of Jericho and the Tower of Jericho are two important features of this settlement that still exist today.
Mehrgarh
Located in Pakistan by the Bolan Pass, near the cities of Sibi, Kalat, and Quetta, Mehgarh is a Neolithic archeological site that is up to 9,000 years old. The site represents the earlier evidence of farming and herding that took place at this location by the time humans built Mehgarh. Residents made buildings out of sun-dried mud bricks. Interestingly, some of the artifacts in the dwellings suggest established long-distance trade. Additionally, this site is home to the first evidence of primitive dentistry. There were granaries for storing cultivated cereals, like barley and einkorn. Because of this, archaeologists say this settlement was probably the first agricultural hub in Southern Asia. It is a direct precursor to the Indus Valley Civilization.
Mohenjo-Daro
Located in the Indian subcontinent in the province of Sindh, Pakistan, the settlement is believed to be founded in circa 2500 BC, measuring 300 hectares in total area, is considered as the epitome of an exceptional ancient architectural feat not because of its imposing palaces and temples but rather because of its advanced urban character. In that regard, the settlement displayed effective levels of planning, as opposed to disparate dwellings and urban sprawl for an increasing population. The township, almost as old as the Great Pyramid, boasted a grid pattern crisscrossing an arrangement of rectilinear structures. Many of these residences, constructed from fired and mortared bricks, were two-storied with adequate spatial scopes for both living and storage. Complementing the neatly arranged dwellings was the provision of public buildings and facilities. One pertinent example relates to the fascinating ancient structure of the (so-called) Citadel section of Mohenjo-Daro that was built atop an elevated mud-brick mound almost 40 ft in height.
Hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni
Often claimed as being the world’s only known prehistoric underground temple, the branching subterranean complex of Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni in Paola, Malta, is more than 5,000 years old. The expanse of the temple was found to be entirely carved from solid limestone – thus making it unique among the exceptional ancient structures. As a matter of fact, the very term hypogeum translates to ‘underground’ in Greek, and as such Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni goes down to a depth of more than 30 ft below ground. In terms of its sheer scope, the Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni comprises a labyrinth of cavities (both natural and man-made) that are structurally complemented by architectural elements like pillars, lintels (above door openings) and niches. All of these spatial zones are distributed over three levels, with the upper level being the earliest excavation project achieved by the Stone Age dwellers of Malta.
Stone Wall at Theopetra Cave
Located near Kalambaka, Thessaly, Greece, the original purpose of the structure might have to create a barrier against cold winds. The stone wall at the entrance of Theopetra Cave. Archaeologists think that the wall may have been built as a barrier to protect the cave’s residents from the cold winds at the height of the last ice age. Theopetra Cave was first excavated in 1987 and several artifacts have been found at the site such as flint and quartz tools, animal bones, and jewelry from deer teeth. Additionally, there is radio carbon evidence that people inhabited the cave for nearly 50,000 years, covering the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, the Mesolithic, the Neolithic, the Pleistocene, the Holocene periods and beyond.
Ohalo II
This site is on the Sea of Galilee in Israel and it’s one of the best examples of Upper Paleolithic homes. Ohalo II is about 23,000 years old and it’s the first evidence of a fully constructed home. The definition of a home is a place that has a sleeping area, a hearth, and a functional indoor workspace. While other evidence of hearths existed previously, the positioning of bedding versus the fire in a structure was unknown. This site is located along the Sea of Galilee in Israel and it’s one of the best examples of Upper Paleolithic homes. Luckily, these six brushwood-built homes are effectively preserved. One of the huts contained a grinding stone that had traces of wild grains on it. This shows that humans processed cereal at the site. It may also provide evidence that grain cultivation happened much earlier than previously thought.
Terra Amata
Italian for Beloved Land, Terra Amata provides some of the first evidence of purposefully built and contained fires by humanoids. The ancient remnants of huts found at the Terra Amata site provide the earliest evidence of a purposefully made structure. This is an open air Lower Paleolithic archeological site located in Nice, France, that’s between 200,000 and 400,000 years old. It housed Homo erectus, a precursor to Homo sapiens. These natives most likely constructed huts on an ancient beach that was contemporaneous with the inhabitants of Terra Amata. Skins supported by animal bones made up these huts, which protected around 25 individuals. Additionally, the natives burned a fire inside. Terra Amata provides some of the first evidence of purposefully built and contained fires by humanoids. This provides a unique snapshot of one of the most pivotal points in human evolution. By domesticating fire, humanoids were able to avoid predators, cook food, see at night, and create new tools. The huts contained both hearths and workspaces. The locals processed many different animals at this site, as evidenced by tools and bones. Some of the animals that the Terra Amata users ate included auroch, goat, rhinoceros, red deer, and brown bear.
