June 1, 2020
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The Pyramids of Giza and Machu Picchu in Peru are on every history lover's travel bucket list. But have you ever heard of Caral, the oldest civilization in the Americas, or the necropolis of Abydos in Egypt? These and other lesser-known ancient ruins will give you a big dose of history without the big crowds and long waits, and are sometimes better preserved or older than more popular sites. Check out our list of off-the-beaten-path archaeological sites and tours and plan your next trip.
Most fans of ancient history have read about Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its temples carved into the face of cliffs. The ancient city of Jerash is “a close second” to Petra and “boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years,” writes the Jordan Tourism Board.
The area was conquered by General Pompey in 63 BC and came under Roman rule. Jerash is now one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Visit the Jerash Archaeological Museum, located inside a vault within the Artemis Temple. Check out the Jordan Tourism Board list of sites within Jerash.
Like Pompei, Herculaneum was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. But this former small seaside town isn't as well-known an archaeological site as Pompei, an example of a large Roman center of commerce.
Though smaller, Herculaneum is actually better preserved than Pompei because it was buried in volcanic flow that hardened, forming somewhat of a protective seal around the city's structures. You will be amazed by brightly colored frescoes and other miraculously preserved features. Many visitors also write that the views of Vesuvius seen from Herculaneum rival those from Pompei.
Located in the north of Cusco, Sacsayhuaman is remarkable marvel of pre-Columbian engineering. The revered site was home to a temple dedicated to the Sun God, Inti, and was one of the most spiritually significant temples in the Incan empire. Construction began in the 15th Century and continued for 77 years under a series of rulers.
More than 20,000 laborers built the temple using the mita system of teamwork, which “divided their tasks among stone extraction, transport, and foundation preparation, combining their forces to build the House of the Sun,” writes Experience Peru. Following the invasion of the Spanish, Sacsayhuaman also served as a stronghold against the invaders.
“The remains of this vast ancient city are as extensive as those of Olympia and Epidavros, yet Ancient Messini receives only a fraction of their visitors,” writes Lonely Planet. The city was founded in 371 BC following the defeat of the Spartans by Theban general Epaminondas at the Battle of Leuctra.
The defeat freed the Messinians after nearly 350 years of Spartan rule. According to regional mythology, Zeus was born in Messini, not Crete, and was raised by the nymphs Neda and Ithomi. Messini is home to well-preserved sites, including the Fountain of Arsinoe building, which supplied the city with water, a stadium, treasury, bathhouse, a Doric temple and more.
“There’s a saying in Orkney that if you stick a spade into the ground, you’ll probably find an archaeological site,” writes Orkney.com. That is no exxageration! The Orkney archipelago is most known for multiple sites that are part of the UNESCO Hearth of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, including Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness, and the Maeshowe chambered tomb. The island is also well-known for it's Viking heritage sites.
But Orkney is home to incredible, lesser-known historical sites that span ages. Check out the Iron Age sites at Gurness, Midhowe and Burroughston. Tour the Neolithic cairns Cuween, Unstan and Wideford, or a Stone Age settlement even more ancient than Skara Brae. Visit Kirkbuster Farm and Skaill House for more recent examples of island living from the 19th Century.
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