List of oldest extant buildings explained

This is a list of oldest extant buildings.

Criteria

A 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:

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

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.

By continent

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

By country

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

By function, structure and building material

The following are probably the oldest buildings of their type.

See also

Lists

Sites

Notes and References

  1. https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/citd/holtorf/1.1.html "Megaliths in Mecklenburg–Vorpommern"
  2. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/514/ "Heart of Neolithic Orkney"
  3. Gibson, Marion; Trower, Shelley; Tregidga, Garry (2013) Mysticism, Myth and Celtic Identity. Routledge. Abingdon. p. 133
  4. 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.
  5. http://www.culture.gouv.fr/fr/arcnat/megalithes/en/mega/megacartum_en.htm "The Saint-Michel Tumulus"
  6. http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=9172 "Saint-Michel tumulus"
  7. Web site: Archived copy . 2014-06-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001503/http://arheologija.ff.uni-lj.si/documenta/pdf38/38_16.pdf . 2016-03-04 . dead.
  8. Delfino, Carlo (ed) (2000) "The Prehistoric Altar of Monte d'Accoddi" . (pdf) Archaeological Sardinia. 29. Retrieved 14 October 2013. p. 45.
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  10. Web site: La Hougue Bie. Wondermondo. 12 July 2012. 2011-03-31.
  11. Web site: Heritage Asset - La Hougue Bie, La Route de la Hougue Bie . 2022-01-08.
  12. Le Conte, David (2008). Orientations of Channel Islands Megalithic Tombs - Further observations, La Société Guernesiaise Report and Transactions, Vol XXVI, Part III, pp414-417
  13. http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_190 "Knap of Howar"
  14. http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/knaphowar.htm "The Knap o' Howar, Papay"
  15. Wickham-Jones, Caroline (2007) Orkney: A Historical Guide. Edinburgh. Birlinn. p. 40.
  16. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/132 "Megalithic Temples of Malta"
  17. Book: Mcintosh, Jane. 2009. Handbook of Life in Prehistoric Europe. Oxford University Press. 261–62. 2012-08-12. 9780195384765.
  18. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/west-kennet-long-barrow/ "West Kennet Long Barrow, Avebury"
  19. Alastair Whittle, Frances Healy & Alex Bayliss. Gathering Time: Dating the Early Neolithic Enclosures of Southern Britain and Ireland. 2 volumes. 2011. Oxford: Oxbow; 978-1-84217-425-8
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  21. McDonnell, Patrick J. (February 26, 2008) "A new find is the Americas' oldest known urban site". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  22. http://www.gogeometry.com/incas/sechin_bajo_circular_structure_oldest.htm "Senchin Bajo – Plaza in Peru may be the America's oldest urban site"
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  29. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/waylands-smithy/ "Wayland's Smithy"
  30. http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_296&PropName=Unstan%20Chambered%20Cairn "Unstan Chambered Cairn"
  31. Wickham-Jones, Caroline (2007) Orkney: A Historical Guide. Edinburgh. Birlinn. p. 48
  32. Fraser, David (1980) Investigations in Neolithic Orkney. Glasgow Archaeological Journal. 7 p. 13. ISSN 1471-5767
  33. http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/2623/details/rousay+knowe+of+yarso/ "Rousay, Knowe of Yarso"
  34. Wickham-Jones, Caroline (2007) Orkney: A Historical Guide. Edinburgh. Birlinn. pp. 56–57
  35. Wickham-Jones, Caroline (2007) Orkney: A Historical Guide. Edinburgh. Birlinn. p. 50
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  39. Web site: Newgrange Stone Age Passage Tomb – Boyne Valley, Ireland. www.newgrange.com. 2017-12-12.
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  41. Clarke, David (2000) Skara Brae; World Heritage Site. Historic Scotland.
  42. Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF), National Framework. Neolithic: Places to live and ways of living. Accessed May 2022.
  43. http://www.tomboftheeagles.co.uk/ "Tomb of the Eagles"
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  47. Web site: The Loire Dolmens, France . 2012-09-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130501035342/http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/franceloire.htm . 2013-05-01 . dead.
  48. Web site: Le Grand Dolmen de Bagneux.
  49. Web site: The Modern Antiquarian: Le Grand Dolmen de Bagneux.
  50. http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=10839 "Grey Cairns of Camster"
  51. http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_146&PropName=Grey%20Cairns%20Of%20Camster "Grey Cairns of Camster"
  52. http://www.natmus.dk/sw45608.asp Danish National Museum
  53. Gron, Ole "The World's Oldest Root-canal Work" . Kulturarv.dk. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  54. http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=24420 "Hulbjerg Jættestue"
  55. Web site: Карта объектов исследования. 2012-08-12. 2017-07-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170703173118/http://lah.ru/fotoarh/megalit/rus/kavkaz.htm. dead.
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  57. http://www.orkneyjar.com/tombs/tav "The Taversoe Tuick, Rousay"
  58. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Info_Board,_Holm_of_Papa_Westray_Cairn_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1364557.jpg "Info Board, Holm of Papa Westray Cairn"
  59. Wickham-Jones, Caroline (2007) Orkney: A Historical Guide. Edinburgh. Birlinn pp. 62–63
  60. http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/10236/details/north+uist+barpa+langass/ "North Uist, Barpa Langass"
  61. Armit, Ian (1996) The archaeology of Skye and the Western Isles. Edinburgh University Press/Historic Scotland. p. 71
  62. http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/tombs/cuween/index.html "The Cuween Hill Cairn, Firth"
  63. http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_084&PropName=Cuween "Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn"
  64. http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/tombs/quoyness/index.html "The Quoyness Cairn, Sanday"
  65. Book: Childe, V. Gordon . W. Douglas Simpson . Illustrated History of Ancient Monuments: Vol. VI Scotland . Her Majesty's Stationery Office . 1952 . Edinburgh. pp.18–19
  66. Book: Ritchie, Graham & Anna . Scotland: Archaeology and Early History . Thames and Hudson . 1981 . New York . 978-0-500-27365-4. p. 29
  67. Shaw, Ian, ed (2000). The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press. p. 480. .
  68. [Harappa|"Archaeological Site of Harappa"]
  69. [Mohenjo-daro|"Archaeological Site of Mohen-Jo-Daro"]
  70. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-04/AAft-Oeoc-2604101.php "Oldest evidence of city life in the Americas reported in Science, early urban planners emerge as power players"
  71. http://www.fathom.com/feature/190171/index.html "King Snefru: The First Great Pyramid Builder"
  72. http://www.cadw.gov.wales/daysout/capel-garmon-burial-chamber/?lang=en/ "Capel Garmon Burial Chamber"
  73. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=1007 "Pyramid of Chefren"
  74. Winston, Alan "The Pyramid Complex of Userkaf at Saqqara". Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  75. Book: Shaw . Ian . The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt . 2000 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-815034-3 . 480 .
  76. Lehner, Mark (1997) The Complete Pyramids London: Thames and Hudson pp. 148–49
  77. Jaromir Malek, "The Old Kingdom (c. 2160–2055 BCE)" in Ian Shaw (editor) (2000) The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford: University Press. p. 112
  78. Web site: Visit Labbacallee Wedge Tomb with Discover Ireland.
  79. Web site: Mysterious carvings and evidence of human sacrifice uncovered in Shimao. https://web.archive.org/web/20200807020340/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/08/mysterious-carvings-evidence-human-sacrifice-uncovered-ancient-city-china/. dead. August 7, 2020. National Geographic Society. 6 August 2020.
  80. https://archive.today/20121223214326/http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/c14/?numlink=141720&nmrsname=Crantit&sample_id= "C14 Radiocarbon dating for Crantit"
  81. http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/141720/details/crantit/ "Crantit"
  82. Web site: Dolmenes de Antequera.
  83. Salvatore Piccolo, Ancient Stones: the Prehistoric Dolmens in Sicily, Brazen Head Publishing, Thornam/Norfolk (UK) 2013.
  84. Armit, Ian (1996) The archaeology of Skye and the Western Isles. Edinburgh University Press/Historic Scotland. p. 73
  85. http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/11028/details/skye+rubh+an+dunain+viking+canal// "Skye, Rubh' An Dunain, 'Viking Canal' "
  86. http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/early%20ages/clava_cairns.htm "The Cairns of Clava, Scottish Highlands"
  87. http://www.glenaffric.org/corrimony.html "Corrimony Chambered Cairn & RSPB Nature Reserve"
  88. http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_073&PropName=Corrimony%20Chambered%20Cairn "Corrimony Chambered Cairn"
  89. http://www.pegasusarchive.org/ancientbritain/bryn_celli_ddu.htm "Bryn Celli Ddu"
  90. "A Visitors' Guide to Balnuaran of Clava: A prehistoric cemetery." (2012) Historic Scotland.
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  94. http://www.nuraghesantuantine.it "Nuraghe Santu Antine e Museo della Valle dei Nuraghi"
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  113. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/44 "Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak"
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