Heritage with Related Tags
Byblos
Byblos is one of the oldest Phoenician cities, the site of several civilizations. Inhabited since the Neolithic Age, it has been linked to the legends and history of the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. Byblos is also directly linked to the history and spread of the Phoenician alphabet.
Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps
This collection of 111 small, individual sites includes remains of prehistoric pile dwellings (or stilt dwellings) in and around the Alps, built around 5000-500 BC, on the edges of lakes, rivers or wetlands. Excavations at only some of the sites have provided evidence that provides insights into life and how communities interacted with their environment during the Neolithic and Bronze Age prehistory of Alpine Europe. 56 of the sites are located in Switzerland. These settlements are a unique group of archaeological sites, well-preserved and culturally rich, and are one of the most important sources for studying early agricultural societies in the region.
Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural Landscape
The Al-Ahsa Oasis, located in the eastern Arabian Peninsula, is a continuous heritage of gardens, canals, springs, wells and drainage lakes, as well as historic buildings, urban structures and archaeological sites. They represent traces of continuous human settlement in the Gulf region from the Neolithic period to the present day, as evidenced by the remnants of historic fortresses, mosques, wells, canals and other water management systems. With 2.5 million date palms, it is the largest oasis in the world. Al-Ahsa is also a unique geo-cultural landscape and an outstanding example of human interaction with the environment.
Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley
Located in the lush Longung Valley, the site includes four archaeological sites in two communities spanning nearly 2 million years, one of the earliest records of early humans from a single area and the oldest outside the African continent. It features open-air and cave sites with Paleolithic tool workshops, evidence of early technology. The number of sites found in this relatively closed area suggests the presence of a sizeable semi-sedentary population with remains of Paleolithic, Neolithic and Metal Age cultures.
Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük
The site on the Southern Anatolian Plateau covers an area of 37 hectares and consists of two hills. The higher, eastern mound contains 18 layers of Neolithic remains dating between 7400 and 6200 BC, including murals, reliefs, sculptures and other symbolic and artistic features. Together, they bear witness to the evolution of civilization. As humans adapted to settled life, social organization and cultural practices changed. The western mound shows the evolution of cultural practices during the Chalcolithic period, between 6200 and 5200 BC. Çatalhöyük provides important evidence of the transition from a settled village to an urban agglomeration, which remained in the same location for more than 2,000 years. It is characterized by a unique street-less settlement, where houses are clustered back-to-back with rooftops leading to the buildings.
Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes (Mons)
The Neolithic flint mines of Spiennes, covering more than 100 hectares, are the largest and oldest concentration of ancient mines in Europe. They are also remarkable for the diversity of their mining techniques and for their direct relationship to settlements of the same period.
Paphos
Paphos has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. It was the centre of the worship of Aphrodite and the pre-Greek fertility gods. Legend has it that Aphrodite was born on this island and her temple was built here by the Mycenaeans in the 12th century BC. The remains of villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses and mausoleums mean that the site is of extraordinary architectural and historical value. The mosaics of Nea Paphos are among the most beautiful in the world.
Antequera Dolmens Site
Located in the heart of Andalusia in southern Spain, the site includes three megalithic monuments: the Dolmens of Monga and Vieira and the Dome of El Romeral, and two natural monuments: the Cueva de los Inamorados and the Cueva de El Torcal, which are landmarks within the site. The monuments were built during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages with large blocks of stone that formed chambers with pediments or false domes. The three tombs, buried beneath the original mound, are among the most remarkable works of architecture of European prehistory and are among the most important examples of European megalithic architecture.
Ancient Jericho/Sultan Trapezium
Located in the Jordan Valley, the site is an oval mound containing remains of prehistoric human activities, including the adjacent "Sultan Spring" (Ain es-Sultan), which never runs dry. Due to the fertile soil and convenient water sources of the oasis, permanent human settlements appeared here as early as 9-8 millennia BC. Skulls and statues found on the site show the religious worship customs of the Neolithic residents; archaeological data from the early Bronze Age show signs of urban planning; and remains from the Middle Bronze Age indicate that there was a large Canaanite city-state here, inhabited by a complex social group.
Choirokoitia
The Neolithic site of Choirocotia dates from 7,000 to 4,000 BC and is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the Eastern Mediterranean. The remains and artifacts found at the site provide many clues to the evolution of human societies in this key region. As the site has only been partially excavated, it is an excellent archaeological reserve for future research.
Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas)
The Al Ain cultural sites (Hafit, Hili, Bidda bint Saud and the oasis area) are a group of properties that testify to the human settlement of the desert area since the Neolithic period, leaving behind many remains of prehistoric cultures. Notable remains of the property include circular stone tombs (circa 2500 BC), wells and various adobe buildings: residential buildings, towers, palaces and administrative buildings. In addition, Hili also has the oldest Aflaj irrigation system, which dates back to the Iron Age. These properties provide important testimony to the cultural transformation of the region from a hunter-gatherer society to a settled society.
Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City
The Liangzhu archaeological site (c. 3,300-2,300 BC), located in the Yangtze River basin on the southeastern coast of China, reveals an early regional state in China's Late Neolithic period, with a belief system based on rice cultivation. The site consists of four areas - the Yaoshan Site Area, the Gukou High Dam Area, the Plain Low Dam Area, and the Urban Site Area. The sites are outstanding examples of early urban civilization, as reflected in earthen monuments, urban planning, water conservation systems, and social hierarchies, as well as differentiated burials in the site's cemeteries.
Trang An Landscape Complex
Located on the southern edge of the Red River Delta, the Trang An Group of Landforms is a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks interspersed with valleys, many of which are partially flooded and surrounded by steep, near-vertical cliffs. Explorations of caves at different altitudes have revealed archaeological traces of continuous human activity for more than 30,000 years. They show the occupation of these mountains by seasonal hunter-gatherers and how they adapted to major climatic and environmental changes, especially the repeated inundation of the land by seawater after the last Ice Age. The history of human occupation extends from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages to historical times. The ancient Vietnamese capital of Hoa Lu was strategically established here in the 10th and 11th centuries AD. The site also includes temples, pagodas, rice fields and small villages.
Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea
The site contains 4,500 rock carvings from the Neolithic period (6-7 thousand years ago) and is located in the Republic of Karelia, Russian Federation. It is one of the largest rock art sites in Europe and documents the Neolithic culture of Fennoscandia. The property group includes 33 sites in two parts 300 km apart: 22 rock art sites on Lake Onega in the Podolsky District with more than 1,200 figures and 11 rock art sites on the White Sea in the White Sea District with 3,411 figures. The rock art figures on Lake Onega are mostly birds, animals, half-human and half-animal figures, and geometric shapes that may be symbols of the moon and the sun. The rock art on the White Sea mostly consists of carvings depicting hunting and sailing scenes, including related equipment and animal and human footprints. They show important artistic qualities and testify to the creativity of the Stone Age. The rock paintings are associated with sites such as settlements and cemeteries.
Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes
Twyfelfontein is home to one of the largest concentrations of rock art in Africa. Most of the well-preserved rock art depicts rhinos, ostriches and giraffes. The site also includes six paintings of human and animal footprints, and rock shelters with figures carved in red ochre. Objects from two areas date back to the Late Stone Age. The site documents the ritual practices of hunter-gatherer communities in this part of southern Africa over a period of at least 2,000 years, with extensive and high-quality documentation, and eloquently illustrates the connection between ritual and economic practices of hunter-gatherers.
Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde
The two prehistoric rock art sites of Fozcoa Valley, Portugal, and Sierra Verde, Spain, on the banks of the Douro River’s tributaries, the Águeda and Coa rivers, document continuous human habitation from the end of the Paleolithic period. Hundreds of panels with thousands of animal figures (5,000 at Fozcoa and about 440 at Sierra Verde) were carved over thousands of years and represent the most striking Paleolithic open-air art complex on the Iberian Peninsula.
Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley
Located in the lush Longung Valley, the site includes four archaeological sites in two communities spanning nearly 2 million years, one of the earliest records of early humans from a single area and the oldest outside the African continent. It features open-air and cave sites with Paleolithic tool workshops, evidence of early technology. The number of sites found in this relatively closed area suggests the presence of a sizeable semi-sedentary population with remains of Paleolithic, Neolithic and Metal Age cultures.
Zhoukoudian Site
The Zhoukoudian Site Museum is located at the foot of Dragon Bone Hill in Zhoukoudian, Fangshan District, southwest of Beijing. It is an ancient human site museum and was built in 1953. In 1929, Chinese paleoanthropologist Fei Wenzhong discovered the first complete skull fossil of "Peking Man" in Dragon Bone Hill, which shocked the world. It is a world cultural heritage, a national AAAA-level scenic spot, a national key cultural relic protection unit, and one of the 100 national patriotism education demonstration bases. It is about 48 kilometers away from downtown Beijing. It is a world-famous archaeological site of ancient humans and ancient vertebrates and the birthplace of "Peking Man". The Zhoukoudian Site is a national key cultural relic protection unit. It is located in the north of Dragon Bone Hill in Zhoukoudian Town, Fangshan District, southwest of Beijing. It is the world's most abundant, systematic and valuable human site in the early Paleolithic period. From 1921 to 1927, archaeologists discovered three human tooth fossils outside the "Peking Man" cave site three times. In 1929, the skull fossil of the Peking Man was discovered, as well as artificial tools and fire remains, which became a major archaeological discovery that shocked the world. In 1930, fossils and cultural relics of the Upper Cave Man dating back about 20,000 years ago were discovered at the Zhoukoudian site. However, the ensuing wars and chaos have lost all the fossil specimens of the Peking Man and Upper Cave Man discovered since 1927, and their whereabouts are still unknown. This event has become a world mystery in the history of archaeology in the 20th century. After the founding of New China, the excavation and research of the Zhoukoudian site was resumed, and a large amount of valuable data was obtained. So far, archaeologists have excavated fossils such as skulls, mandibles, teeth representing more than 40 corpses, as well as abundant stone tools, bone tools, horn tools and fire remains. The Zhoukoudian Site Museum systematically introduces to us the living environment and living conditions of the "Peking Man" 600,000 years ago, the "New Cave Man" 100,000 years ago, and the "Upper Cave Man" 18,000 years ago. The front of the prologue hall is a three-dimensional model of Longgu Mountain, and the display cabinets are filled with various rock specimens from 400 million to 100 million years ago in the Zhoukoudian area, reflecting the geological changes of the artillery area.
Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley
The Vézère Valley has 147 prehistoric sites dating back to the Paleolithic period and 25 richly decorated caves. Particularly interesting from an ethnological and anthropological point of view, the cave paintings are particularly interesting from an aesthetic point of view, especially those of the Lascaux cave, which was discovered in 1940 and is of great significance for the history of prehistoric art. The hunting scenes show around 100 animal figures, which are amazing in their detail, richness of colour and lifelike quality.
Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain
total of 17 Paleolithic Decorated Caves have been inscribed as an extension of the Altamira Caves, inscribed in 1985. The property will now be inscribed as the Altamira Caves and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain. The property represents the culmination of Paleolithic cave art, which developed throughout Europe, from the Ural Mountains to the Iberian Peninsula, from 35,000 BC to 11,000 BC. The caves are exceptionally well preserved due to their deep depths, which are protected from external climatic influences. The caves are listed as masterpieces of creative genius and the earliest artistic masterpieces of humanity. They are also listed as outstanding testimonies of a cultural tradition and outstanding examples of an important stage in human history.
Matobo Hills
The area displays a number of unique rock formations that tower above the granite shield that covers much of Zimbabwe. These large stones provide a wealth of natural shelter and have been associated with human habitation from the Early Stone Age through to the Early Historic period, and intermittently since. It also features an outstanding series of rock paintings. The Matobo Hills remain a focal point for local communities, who still use shrines and sacred sites that are closely linked to traditional, social and economic activities.
ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape
The ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape is located on the northern border of Botswana and Namibia, coinciding with the Kalahari Gazelle National Park (KGNP). This vast sandy area preserves evidence of human habitation from the Stone Age to the present day and is associated with the culture of the pre-nomadic ǂKhomani San people and their strategies for adapting to the harsh desert conditions. They developed specific ethnobotanical knowledge, cultural practices and a worldview related to the geographical features of their environment. The ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape bears witness to the way of life that prevailed in the area and shaped the site over thousands of years.
Göbekli Tepe
Located in the Görmüş Mountains in southeastern Anatolia, the site displays large circular, oval and rectangular megalithic structures built by hunter-gatherers during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period between 9,600 and 8,200 BC. The monuments were probably ritual-related and were likely funerary objects. The distinctive T-shaped columns, carved with images of wild animals, provide insight into the lifestyle and beliefs of people living in Upper Mesopotamia around 11,500 years ago.
Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites
Stonehenge and Avebury in Wiltshire are among the most famous megalithic sites in the world. These two sacred sites consist of circles of huge stones arranged in a pattern whose astronomical significance is still being explored. These sacred sites and nearby Neolithic sites are unparalleled testaments to prehistory.
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
The Bhimobetka rock shelters are located in the foothills of the Vindhya mountain range on the southern edge of the central plateau of India. Amidst a huge sandstone outcrop, above relatively dense forest, there are five groups of natural rock shelters that display paintings that appear to date from the Mesolithic period to the historic period. The cultural traditions of the inhabitants of the 21 villages near the site are very similar to those depicted in the rock paintings.
Fuxi Terrace
Fuxi Terrace, an ancient site from the Neolithic period, is a national key cultural relic protection unit. It is located in the east of Hejiazhuang Village, Changshou Sub-district Office, Xinle City, with a total area of 151,875 square meters. It is a patriotic education base and a moral practice education base for minors in Shijiazhuang City. Fuxi Terrace is composed of three layers of terraces, 9.3 meters high, and the third layer is an octagonal shape with irregular sides, named Bagua Terrace. Its main buildings are arranged on a central axis from south to north, including the mountain gate, the Six Auxiliary Hall, the Dragon Master Hall, and the Sleeping Palace. On both sides of the central axis are the Huaxu Temple and the bell and drum pavilions. The main buildings, the Dragon Master Hall, the Sleeping Palace, and the Six Auxiliary Hall, were built in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. There are stone inscriptions from various dynasties, locust trees embracing Chinese toon trees, locust trees embracing locust trees, and Yin-Yang cypresses on the terrace. Xinle has been known as the "Sacred Village of Emperor Xi" since ancient times. Fuxi Terrace (commonly known as the Temple of the Ancestor of Humanity) is the place where Fuxi, the first of the Three Sovereigns, lived, multiplied, and grew stronger. Fuxi created great achievements here that benefited the world for generations to come. His achievements have a far-reaching impact on future generations, and he is revered as the "ancestor of humanity". Chinese civilization emerged from here!
Nihewan National Archaeological Site Park
Nihewan National Archaeological Site Park (Nihewan for short) is located in Datianwa, Yangyuan County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, in the Yangyuan Basin in the upper reaches of the Sanggan River. It is built according to the national 5A scenic spot standards and is an internationally calibrated representative site of the Quaternary strata. Investigations and discoveries have proved that the Nihewan site is an important area for finding early human fossils. Archaeologists in Hebei Province call the Nihewan site "the holy land of Paleolithic archaeology." At the same time, the Nihewan National Archaeological Site Park was approved by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage as the fourth batch of national archaeological site park scenic spots, a national key cultural relic protection unit, and the State Council approved it as a national nature reserve. It is worth mentioning that on the eve of the opening of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the Nihewan National Archaeological Site Park once again became the focus of the world. The first stop of the torch relay in the Zhangjiakou competition area is here. Through the lens, Nihewan showed its charm to the global audience.