Archaeological sites draw people from around the world to marvel at the architectural creations of bygone eras. While most archaeological sites are comprised of ruins, these building remnants offer invaluable insight into the building techniques, religious or spiritual practices, and the rulers of lost civilisations. In today’s times, constructing impressive buildings that will stand the test of time is easier thanks to modern materials, power tools, and building advancements. Ensure your building is built to last with the superb mixing performance and speed of cement mixers from B&S Commercial Power.
Famous Archaeological Sites from Around the World:
Some of these archaeological sites consist of towering buildings still held together by stone and mortar centuries after construction, while others are dwindled dwarfs in comparison to their previous prestige. No matter the state of the archaeological site, you are sure to feel in awe of the history embedded in the stone ruins. Have your trowel and dusting brush at the ready, we are about to unearth some of the most famous archaeological sites from around the world.
1) Machu Picchu:
Nestled high in the mountains of the Urubamba River Valley, Peru lies the glorious archaeological site of Machu Picchu. Built by the Incans in the 1400s, theories abound that the construction of Machu Picchu was a fortress, a religious centre, a royal estate, or an administrative centre. While we may never understand the true intent behind the construction of Machu Picchu, these buildings are an exact example of skilful construction.
If you have had the privilege of visiting Machu Picchu, you would have experienced a very different site to those who initially discovered the Incan fortress. In 1911, Hiram Bingham encountered partial archaeological ruins that were overrun with vegetation. The lack of cement or mortar in the construction of the stone buildings allowed for tree and plant roots to embed themselves into the walls and ceilings. Careful digging allowed for the unearthing of the magical Machu Picchu that you see today.
The ability to still visit this archaeological site is a wonder in itself. Machu Picchu was abandoned when a smallpox epidemic broke out, and the homes, farms, sacred buildings, and royal district were left unkept. The lack of concrete or mortar in the stone buildings paired with the extreme climate should have left this space as a mere few collections of stones, but today the walls and homes still proudly stand against the dramatic mountain backdrop.
2) Hadrian’s Wall:
If you find yourself in the mood to visit an archaeological site in England, then Hadrian’s Wall is a must-see. Hadrian’s Wall spans 117 kilometres across England from the River Tyne to the coastline of the Irish Sea. While today it stands as a crumbling and patchy waist-high stone wall, in its heyday it was an impressive wall to behold.
Hadrian’s Wall was erected in 122 AD under the orders of Roman Emperor Hadrian. The Romans had previously conquered vast swathes of English land, and Emperor Hadrian built the wall to protect their territory from rival Caledonians, or the people they referred to as the “barbarians”.
After six years of construction, Hadrian’s Wall consisted of 17 large forts, 40 smaller forts called “milecastles”, and various observation towers spread along the long stone wall. In certain areas, the wall stood over 6 metres high and offered an exceptional barrier to anyone beyond the wall. The wall fell to ruin at the beginning of the 5th century after the Romans left and the nearby people used the stones to construct homes, farms, and churches.
3) Colosseum:
Entertainment has been an important aspect of nearly every civilisation for centuries, and the Colosseum is an excellent archaeological example of Ancient Roman’s taste in entertainment. While today the Colosseum would be horrifying, it was a highly popular attraction for Romans who would go to watch the brutal fights in the amphitheatre below. Today the Colosseum is as scarred and damaged as the men who walked out of the fighting arena, but in 80 AD it was a magnificent building to behold.
The Colosseum was designed to be a gift to the Roman people by Emperor Vespasian, later completed by his son Titus. In the 49-metre-high building constructed from travertine limestone, volcanic rock, and concrete, up to 87 000 Roman people of all classes could attend and watch the entertainment on the oval centre stage below.
Changes in Roman rule resulted in the abandonment of the Colosseum. The people who once flooded through the 80 arched entrances stopped attending the Colosseum and it fell into ruin. Parts of the Colosseum were used for the construction of other buildings and an earthquake lead to further destruction of the Colosseum. Despite only a third of it still existing, the Colosseum is still one of the largest ancient amphitheatres ever built and stands as a strong participant in Roman history.
4) The Great Pyramid of Giza:
No collection of famous archaeological sites would be complete without The Great Pyramid of Giza. The Great Pyramid of Giza was created for Pharoah Khufu during ancient Egyptian civilisation. As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, The Great Pyramid of Giza is a spectacular symbol of both ancient and modern Egypt.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is a gargantuan creation constructed out of 9 000 tons of granite, 550 000 tons of mortar, and 6 000 000 tons of limestone. While the surface of the pyramid is rough and jagged today, it originally featured a white surface made from polished limestone. The top of the pyramid was adorned with a cap made of gold to further accentuate this gleaming creation.
While many archaeological sites have conspiracy theories around how they could have been created in the period that they were, none have more than The Great Pyramid of Giza. The Great Pyramid of Giza was actually built by slaves, who would travel to quarries across the Nile River and split large blocks of granite. These blocks would then be ferried back to Giza, pulled on sleds, pulled up the side of the pyramid with ramps and pully systems, positioned in place, and then carved into shape.
5) Parthenon:
Atop the Acropolis in Athens, Greece stands the remains of the Parthenon, a Greek temple. The battered Parthenon has a wild history and stands as a true record of the effects of war on prestigious buildings throughout the civilisations. 2450 years later after the completion of the build, the Parthenon triumphed.
True to Greek architecture, the Parthenon featured 65 enormous marble columns that flanked the perimeter of the temple dedicated to praying to the Greek Gods. Above the entrances to the temple were extravagant painted and sculpted friezes. Inside the temple, an enormous gold statue dedicated to Athena could be prayed to.
The Parthenon became a tumultuous ground under different religious rules. The Eastern Roman Empire conquered Greece and converted the Parthenon into a Catholic church. The Eastern Roman Empire then fell to the Muslim Ottoman Empire and the Parthenon was again converted, this time into Mosque.
The deluge that remains of the Parthenon is also a result of the different religious rules. A Christian attack returned to regain the Parthenon from the Muslim Ottoman Empire by firing cannonballs at the structure. Unbeknown to them, stored inside the walls of the Parthenon was gun powder, and mass explosions occurred that damaged the majority of the amazing structure. The remaining friezes were stolen and taken to London, where they are still displayed.
6) Domus Aurea (Golden House):
One archaeological site that is a shell of its once luxurious past is the Domus Aurea, or Golden House. Completed in 68 AD in the heart of Ancient Rome stood a palace commissioned by Roman Emperor Nero. This palace would soon fall into destructive hands and become the location for many other archaeological sites, but in its glory days, it was a spectacle.
The Golden House was a monolith made of stone and marble with over 150 rooms. Every room in Domus Aurea was decorated from the ceiling to the floor in an array of gold, ivory, paintings, pearls, shells, and precious stones. Despite the dripping luxury of all the rooms, no room in the Domus Aurea competed with the grandeur and architectural brilliance of the Octagonal Hall.
The Octagonal Hall was a richly decorated banquet hall with five dining rooms that branched off of the centre. Cascading down the walls of the hall would be flowing water, perfume would be spritzed into the air, and flower petals would gently drop from the ceiling. None of these extravagant factors compared to the Octagonal Hall’s ability to revolve, with the revolving mechanisms being powered by the falling water.
The decadence of the Domus Aurea was hard to ignore by the Roman people. After Emperor Nero’s death, the Golden House was stripped and parts of the structure were removed or built over. The Octagonal Hall still stands today, although you will not smell the sweet scent of perfume and flower petals.
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About B&S Commercial Power:
B&S Commercial Power is a Cape Town-based supplier of power tools. You will find everything you need for your construction, agricultural, forestry, or residential needs at our physical store in Okavango Park or on our online store. We strive to make accessing our power tools as effortless as possible so that we can be your first-choice power tool supplier for your commercial or household projects.
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