12 Forgotten Ancient Cities That Have Been Rediscovered
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Are you a history enthusiast looking for your next adventure? Go down the rabbit hole of the rise, peak, and fall of these ancient cities that are now rediscovered. Although abandoned and forgotten for centuries, these cities still stand intact, showcasing the way of life of different ancient civilizations.
Appearing frozen in time, these cities are windows into the past that any adventurer would love to peek into. This list rounds up some of the world’s most sought-after rediscovered ruins, which held so much power in the past but now hold so much glory in the world of tourism.
Pompeii, Italy
Pompeii, located near the coast of Naples, is an archaeological marvel that transports tourists back into a critical time of Roman sophistication before a tragedy struck.
In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted, covering the entire city of Pompeii. The catastrophe buried many of the city’s residents and their animals alive. Many residents of the nearby town of Herculaneum were successfully rescued, but their buildings and possessions were buried deeper in the ash.
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Today, visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum feels like stepping into a time machine; many buried items remained intact and rediscovered over 17 centuries later. From ancient mosaics to wall art, wooden doors, and human bodies and animals, there is so much to explore at Pompeii.
One unmissable highlight while visiting Pompeii is the Pompeii Archaeological Park, which is known to have some of the best-preserved archaeological ruins. Other highlights include the House of The Vettii, The Roman Forum, Casa del Fauno, and Teatro Grande.
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Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and once voted one of the world’s new seven wonders, is a sufficient reason to add Peru to your list of countries to visit.
Machu Picchu was built around 1450, at the peak of the Inca civilization, but was abandoned a few decades later, allegedly due to Spanish invasions. The ancient city was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, and its heritage seems to have frozen despite the numerous years that went by.
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Today, Machu Picchu is a popular tourist destination, and it is pretty obvious why. While visiting, some highlights to pay attention to include the Inca Trail, The Sun Gate, Wayna Picchu Mountain, the Temple of The Sun, Paucarcancha Ruins, the Temple of Condor, and the Temple of the Three Windows.
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Petra, Jordan
Petra, established in the 4th century, was meticulously carved into vibrant sandstone cliffs, and the attention to detail, especially at “Al-Khazneh,” otherwise known as the Treasury, is nothing but spell-binding. At its peak, Petra played a critical role in the silk and spice trade between Asia and the Western world. A few centuries later, the Romans captured the city, which was the beginning of its decline.
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When you visit Petra today, you will see a blend of the Nabataean (the original inhabitants of Petra) and Greco-Roman architectural styles. Your trip to Petra is never complete without experiencing the charm and histories of the Treasury, Al-Siq, Monastery, Great Temple, Royal Tombs, and Byzantine Chapel.
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Tikal, Guatemala
Centuries have passed since the rise, fall, and rediscovery of Tikal. However, the ancient Mayan city still has some majestic structures standing high above the jungle’s thick canopy.
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Today, some of Tikal’s showstoppers include The Great Jaguar Tikal, North Acropolis, The Gran Plaza, and The Palace of The Grooves. While the oldest monument in Tikal dates back to 4 B.C., its heyday is said to have been between 200 A.D. and 900 AD, when it served as the economic, religious, and military capital of the Mayan civilization.
While the cause of its collapse is not clear, it is said that the city’s fall came due to its overpopulation after a long, thriving period.
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Angkor, Cambodia
Angkor receives millions of tourists yearly because the site has unsurpassed feats that continue to attract history, nature, and engineering enthusiasts. For starters, Angkor is home to the largest religious structure in the world, the Angkor Wat temple complex.
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Looking at Angkor Wat makes tourists admire the ancient engineering techniques and feats. The stylishly designed temple, which features fir-cone peaks and tastefully sculpted human faces, is now the symbol of Cambodia.
While Angkor Wat was never entirely abandoned, it gradually regained its lost glory in 1859 when a French explorer, Henri Mouhout, rediscovered it while exploring the tributaries of the Mekong River.
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Knossos, Crete, Greece
On the outskirts of Heraklion, Crete’s capital, lies Knossos, a Bronze Age archaeological site that peaked during the Minoan Civilization. Archaeologists concluded that this site was destroyed in 1350 BC after centuries of thriving.
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Rediscovered and excavated in the early 1900s, Knossos is now open for all to explore. If you want to explore Greece’s rich heritage and history, Knossos is a must-visit destination, as it is recognized as one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. Some unmissable highlights include the iconic Northern Entrance and The Palace of Minos.
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Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe was once a thriving hub for the gold, cattle, and ivory trade. It is now a majestic archaeological site that stands as a testament to the Gokomere people’s past activities.
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Located approximately 95 miles (150 kilometers) from Harare, this medieval city peaked economically in the 11th century. Archaeological evidence suggests that the city’s fall could have come after the dispersal of the gold trade, which meant that revenue was no longer centralized within Great Zimbabwe.
Rediscovered in 1867, Great Zimbabwe is now a top tourist destination, thanks to the rich history and scenery the sturdy ruins offer. When visiting Zimbabwe or southern Africa, spare a day to study and marvel at the Great Zimbabwe Hill Complex, the Great Enclosure, and the 5-meter-high wall surrounding the once-lost city.
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Babylon, Iraq
The Rivers of Babylon, The Tower of Babel, The imaginary Hanging Gardens of Babylon – we have heard it all. But is it all myths and fiction? Well, there is a factual part of it: The actual ancient city of Babylon is located just 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. Dating back to around 2,000 BCE, only a few cities in the world can compare to Babylon in terms of age and history. At its peak, it was one of the most thriving in Mesopotamia.
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Although severely destroyed and reconstructed in Iraq’s turbulent atmosphere, Babylon still stands and was even designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. If you decide to visit Babylon’s ruins today, be sure to catch a glimpse of the ruins of the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar II and the ancient temple of Etemenanki Ziggurat.
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Mesa Verde, Colorado, USA
Today, Mesa Verde is a UNESCO World Heritage Site but was once a trading empire that peaked in the 12th century before collapsing a century later. Visiting Mesa Verde is an opportunity to marvel at the intricate cliff dwellings carved from the sandstone and hanging by the cliffs.
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The early settlements offer a window into the past and are a thrilling destination for people who like exploring caves or are into rock climbing. Take a keen interest in Cliff Palace, which houses approximately 100 people and can only be accessed via ladders. Other highlights include the multi-story dwellings like Balcony House and Spruce Tree House.
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Troy, Turkey
You’ve probably heard about Troy from Homer’s epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey. Out of poetry, Troy rose to prominence in the third millennium B.C. It was a strategic trade center controlling major trade routes, including the Black Sea and Dardanelles.
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The city was prosperous until the infamous Trojan War hit it in the 13th century. The war lasted for ten years, and the once-thriving city was abandoned. Rediscovered in the 19th century, Troy is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts tourists, especially history enthusiasts, worldwide.
Take a trip to explore the mighty defensive walls, ancient ruins, and houses, all of which hold a story of prosperity.
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Thonis–Heracleion, Alexandria, Egypt
700 anchors, 64 ships, gold coins, ruins of a temple, and a 16-foot tall statue, fully submerged? Thonis-Heracleion is located just 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) off the coast of Alexandria. Archaeologists reveal that Thonis-Heracleion was founded in the 8th century B.C. and rose to serve as a significant port city between the Nile Delta and The Mediterranean Sea, the bridge between the Egyptian and Greek civilizations.
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At its peak, Thonis-Heracleion was dotted with massive temples and ceremonial statues, all in honor of different Greek and Egyptian gods. Rising sea levels gradually swallowed the city.
For ages, the location of Thonis-Heracleion remained unknown. It was rediscovered thanks to excavations led by Franck Goddio and the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) in 2000. It is now a window into ancient Egyptian maritime culture, religious practices, and international trade networks.
The ancient city’s submerged ruins are inaccessible to divers for exploration. However, artifacts from Thonis-Heracleion are displayed at several museums, such as the Greco-Roman Museum of Alexandria and the National Museum of Alexandria, allowing a glimpse into its past.
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Calakmul, Mexico
Visiting Calakmul is an opportunity to dive further into the Mayan Civilization. It was one of the major city-states during the peak of the Mayan Civilization. At its prominence, Calakmul was graced with monumental architecture, including towering pyramids, palaces, and temples.
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Calakamul was abandoned with the collapse of the Mayan civilization. The massive and elaborate structures were swallowed up by thick jungles, only to be rediscovered by archaeologists in the 1930s.
Today, you can still marvel at the grandeur and sophistication of the ancient Maya civilization by visiting the massive monuments surrounded by thick tropical rainforests.
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Rachel is a content writer interested in creating engaging narratives on travel, home management, personal finance, and parenting. When free, you can catch her writing for her personal blog, flawlesshorizon.com, watching TikToks, or exploring hidden gems in her city.
