Up from their Ruins- Forgotten Cities
Whether due to war, climate change or natural disaster, these cities were forgotten for centuries until being rediscovered.
Cuidad Perdida ‘Lost City’: Colombia- was discovered in 1972. This city was founded in 800 AD and was abandoned at the time of the Spanish Conquest. It consists of series of terraces carved into the mountainside and several plazas all connected by tiled roads. You can reach the top by climbing 1200 steps of a mountain in dense jungle.
Cahokia ‘America’s Lost City’:USA- was a major city between 600-1400 AD. Located on the east bank of Mississippi directly across St Louis. The people built earthen pyramids, designed solar observatories and practiced human sacrifice. It is likely that the civilization suffered from deforestation of its surrounding areas damaging farmland needed to support the population. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Skare Brae: Scotland-has been compared to Pompeli due to its high degree of preservation. it is one of the best preserved Neolithic sites in Europe. Habitation ended in 2500 BC for unknown reasons. It was rediscovered in 1850. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Memphis: Egypt- was founded by the legendary King Menes who united the Lower and Upper part of Egypt. It served as Egypt’s capital during the Old Kingdom. It was abandoned after the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 640 AD. After it ceased to be inhabited, much of the stone that made up Memphis was used in the early construction of Cairo.
Great Zimbabwe’s stone ruins are the remains of the largest settlement of its age in Southern Africa. It was discovered by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Modern excavation began in 1905. Artifacts found indicate that the ‘Shona’ people traded with the civilizations as far as India and China. In legend it is said to have been the home of the Queen of Sheba.
Machu Picchu: Peru- is the best known site of the Incan Empire. It suffered no damage meted to other Inca cities during the Spanish conquest of the 16th century. What is missing and puzzling to archaeologist is that there was no presence of marketplace. Locals knew of the city’s existence much before Hiram Bingham rediscovered it in 1911.
Catalhoyuk: Turkey- is one of the oldest cities discovered dating to about 7500 BC. People lived in mud brick and clay houses with adjoining walls built in honey comb fashion. In 1961 British archaeologist James Mellaart began excavation in 1961. But in 1965 the Turkish government expelled him alleging that he had involved in antiquities smuggling.
Mohenjo-Daro: Pakistan- was one of the largest cities during the Bronze Age Indus Valley civilization. It was well laid out in efficient patterns. It existed until the Indus civilization disappeared in about 1700 BC. It was discovered in 1922 by R D Banerji from The Archaeological Survey of India.