List of oldest extant buildings

This is a list of oldest extant buildings.

Criteria

A building is defined as any human-made structure used or interface for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy. In order to qualify for this list, a structure must:

• be a recognisable building;
• incorporate features of building work from the claimed date to at least 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height;
• be largely complete or include building work to this height for most of its perimeter.
• contain an enclosed area with at least one entry point.

This deliberately excludes ruins of limited height and statues. The list also excludes:

• dolmens, a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of three or more upright stones supporting a large flat horizontal capstone. Dolmens were typically covered with earth or smaller stones to form a tumulus (which are included in the list). In many instances, that covering has weathered away, leaving only the stone "skeleton" of the burial mound intact. Neolithic dolmens are extremely numerous, with over 1,000 reported from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany alone.^[1]
• cairns, which are simply large piles of loose stones (as opposed to chambered cairns)
• standing stone rings, such as Stonehenge, also do not count because they are not enclosed and do not have roofs.

Dates for many of the oldest structures have been arrived at by radiocarbon dating and should be considered approximate.

By age

The following are amongst the oldest buildings in the world that have maintained the requirements to be such. Occupation sites with older human made structures such as those in Göbekli Tepe do exist, but the structures are monuments and do not meet the definition of building (which can be seen above). Many of the buildings within the list contain primarily bricks, but most importantly maintain their walls and roof. There are numerous extant structures that survive in the Orkney islands of Scotland, some of the best known of which are part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.^[2] The list also contains many large buildings from the Egyptian Age of the Pyramids.

Building	Image	Country	Continent	First built	Use	Note
Göbekli Tepe		Turkey	Asia	9500–7500 BCE	Place of worship	Located in southern Turkey. The tell includes two phases of use, believed to be of a social or ritual nature by site discoverer and excavator Klaus Schmidt, dating back to the 10th–8th millennium BCE. The structure is 300 m in diameter and 15 m high.
Tower of Jericho		West Bank, Palestine	Asia	8000 BC	Tower	A 8.5-metre-tall (28 ft) stone structure, constructed of undressed stones, with an internal staircase of twenty-two steps.
Çatalhöyük		Turkey	Asia	7500–5700 BCE	Settlement	A very large Neolithic and Chalcolithic proto-city settlement in southern Anatolia
Mehrgarh		Pakistan	Asia	7000 BCE	Settlement	A Neolithic archaeological site situated on the Kacchi Plain of Balochistan in Pakistan. It is located near the Bolan Pass, to the west of the Indus River and between the modern-day Pakistani cities of Quetta, Kalat and Sibi.
Aquae Calidae		Bulgaria	Europe	6000-5000 BCE	Ancient town	Located in the Bulgarian port city Burgas on the Black Sea coast. Aquae Calidae was also known as Therma and Thermopolis in the Middle Ages and it was an ancient town in Thrace.
Barnenez		France	Europe	4800 BC	Passage grave	Located in northern Finistère and partially restored. According to André Malraux it would have been better named 'The Prehistoric Parthenon'. The structure is 72 m (236 ft) long, 25 m (82 ft) wide and over 8 m (26 ft) high.[3][4]
Tumulus of Bougon		France	Europe	4800 BC	Tumulus	A necropolis, complex of tombs with varying dates in Deux-Sèvres near Niort and Poitiers, the oldests being E and F0 .[3]
Saint-Michel tumulus		France	Europe	4500 BC	Tumulus	The tumulus forms what is almost an artificial hillock of more than 30,000 m3 (1,100,000 cu ft) (60 m × 125 m × 10 m (197 ft × 410 ft × 33 ft)).[5][6]
Anu ziggurat of Uruk		Iraq	Asia	4000–3800 BC	Ziggurat	A massive White Temple was built atop of the ziggurat. Under the northwest edge of the ziggurat a Stone Temple has been discovered.
Monte d'Accoddi		Italy (Sardinia)	Europe	4000–3650 BC[7][8]	Possibly an open-air temple, or a step pyramid.	A trapezoidal platform on an artificial mound, reached by a sloped causeway. New radiocarbon dating (2011) allow us to date the building of the first monument to 4000–3650 BC, the second shrine dating to 3500–3000 BC."[9]
La Hougue Bie		Jersey	Europe	4000–3500 BC	Passage grave	An 18.6 m (61 ft) long Neolithic passage grave with 12th century (medieval) chapel above [10] and World War II structures.[11][12]
Knap of Howar		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3700 BC	House	Oldest preserved stone house in north west Europe.[13][14][15]
Ġgantija		Malta	Europe	3700 BC	Temple	Two structures on the island of Gozo. The second was built four centuries after the oldest.[16][17]
Dolmen of Menga		Spain	Europe	3700 BC	Tomb	A megalithic burial mound called a tumulus, a long barrow form of dolmen
West Kennet Long Barrow		United Kingdom (England)	Europe	3650 BC	Tomb	Located near Silbury Hill and Avebury stone circle.[18]
Listoghil		Ireland	Europe	3550 BC	Passage Tomb	At the centre of the Carrowmore passage tomb cluster, a simple box-shaped chamber is surrounded by a kerb c.34 m (112 ft) in diameter and partly covered by a cairn. It has been partly reconstructed.[19]
Stoney Littleton Long Barrow		United Kingdom (England)	Europe	3550 BC	Tomb	Neolithic chambered tomb with multiple burial chambers, belonging to the Severn-Cotswold group located near Wellow, Somerset, England.[20]
Sechin Bajo		Peru	South America	3500 BC	Plaza	The oldest known building in the Americas.[21][22]
Dholavira		India	Asia	3500 BC	Settlement	A complex of ruins with varying dates at Dholavira.[23][24][25] It has brick water reservoirs, with steps, circular graves and the ruins of a well planned town. Recent research suggests the beginning of occupation around 3500 BCE (pre-Harappan) and continuity until around 1800 BCE (early part of Late Harappan period).[26]
Midhowe Chambered Cairn		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3500 BC	Tomb	A well-preserved chambered cairn of the Orkney-Cromarty type on the island of Rousay.[27]
Gavrinis passage tomb		France	Europe	3500 BC	Tomb	On a small island, situated in the Gulf of Morbihan.[28]
Wayland's Smithy		United Kingdom (England)	Europe	3460 BC	Chamber tomb	A barrow constructed on top of an older burial chamber.[29]
Unstan Chambered Cairn		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3450 BC	Tomb	Excavated in 1884, when grave goods were found, giving their name to Unstan ware.[30][31][32]
Loughcrew		Ireland	Europe	3400 BC	Tomb	It is the site of megalithic burial grounds dating back to approximately 3500 and 3300 BC
Knowe of Yarso chambered cairn		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3350 BC	Tomb	One of several Rousay tombs. It contained numerous deer skeletons when excavated in the 1930s.[30][33][34]
Quanterness chambered cairn		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3250 BC	Tomb	The remains of 157 individuals were found inside when excavated in the 1970s.[30][35][36]
Tarxien Temples		Malta	Europe	3250 BC	Temples	Part of the Megalithic Temples of Malta World Heritage Site.[16][37]
Shahr-e Sukhteh		Iran	Asia	3200 BC	Settlement	A rich source of information regarding the emergence of complex societies and contacts between them in the third millennium[38]
Newgrange		Ireland	Europe	3200 BC[39]	Burial	Partially reconstructed around original passage grave.[40]
Knowth		Ireland	Europe	c. 3200 BC	Passage grave	A Neolithic passage grave and an ancient monument of the World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne
Dowth		Ireland	Europe	between 3200 and 2900 BC	Tomb	The cairn is about 85 metres (280 ft) in diameter and 15 metres (50 ft) high.
Skara Brae		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3180 BC	Settlement	Northern Europe's best preserved Neolithic village.[41][42]
Tomb of the Eagles		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3150 BC	Tomb	In use for 800 years or more. Numerous bird bones were found here, predominantly white-tailed sea eagle.[43][44]
Tepe Sialk ziggurat		Iran	Asia	3000 BC	Ziggurat	The oldest settlements in Sialk to date to around 6000–5500 BC.[45][46] The Sialk ziggurat was built around 3000 BC.
Dolmen de Bagneux		France	Europe	3000 BC	Dolmen	This is the largest dolmen in France, and perhaps the world; the overall length of the dolmen is 23 m (75 ft), with the internal chamber at over 18 m (59 ft) in length and at least 3 m (9.8 ft) high.[47][48][49]
Grey Cairns of Camster		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3000 BC or older	Tomb	Located near Upper Camster in Caithness.[50][51]
Hulbjerg Jættestue		Denmark	Europe	3000 BC	Passage grave	The grave is concealed by a round barrow on the southern tip of the island of Langeland. One of the skulls found there showed traces of the world's earliest dentistry work.[52][53][54]
Dolmens of North Caucasus		Russia	Europe	3000 BC	Tomb	There are numerous tombs, some perhaps originating in the Maikop culture, in the North Caucasus.[55][56]
Taversoe Tuick chambered cairn		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3000 BC	Tomb	Unusually, there is an upper and lower chamber.[57]
Holm of Papa chambered cairn		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3000 BC	Tomb	The central chamber is over 20 m (66 ft) long.[58][59]
Barpa Langass		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3000 BC	Tomb	The best preserved chambered cairn in the Hebrides.[60][61]
Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3000 BC	Tomb	Excavated in 1901, when it was found to contain the bones of men, dogs and oxen.[62][63]
Quoyness cairn		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	2900 BC	Tomb	An arc of Bronze Age mounds surrounds this cairn on the island of Sanday.[64]
Maeshowe		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	2800 BC	Tomb	The entrance passage is 36 feet (11 m) long and leads to the central chamber measuring about 15 feet (4.6 m) on each side.[65][66]
Shunet El Zebib		Egypt	Africa	2700 BC	Mortuary temple	Built as a funerary enclosure, a place where the deceased king was worshipped and memorialised.
Pyramid of Djoser		Egypt	Africa	2667–2648 BC	Burial	Earliest large-scale cut stone construction.[67]
Harappa		Pakistan	Asia	2600 BC	Settlement	A Bronze Age fortified city with clay sculptured houses located west of Sahiwal.[68] The Indus Valley civilization had a possible writing system, urban centers, and diversified social and economic system.
Mohenjo Daro		Pakistan	Asia	2600 BC	Settlement	An archeological site near Larkana.[69] The world's earliest settlement with one and two storied brick houses, public baths, assembly halls, central marketplace and covered drains.
Caral		Peru	South America	2600 BC	Pyramid	Once thought to be the oldest building in South America.[70]
Pyramid of Meidum		Egypt	Africa	c. 2580 BC	Tomb	Fourth Dynasty structure completed by Sneferu.
Bent Pyramid		Egypt	Africa	c. 2580 BC	Tomb	A second structure completed by Sneferu.
Red Pyramid		Egypt	Africa	c. 2580 BC	Tomb	Third large pyramid completed by Sneferu.[71]
Great Pyramid of Giza		Egypt	Africa	2560 BC	Tomb	Mausoleum for fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu.[citation needed] World's tallest man-made structure for over 3800 years, until Lincoln Cathedral in 1311.
Megalithic Monuments of Alcalar		Portugal	Europe	Between 3000 and 2000 BC	Tomb	A group of burial tombs that comprise a Calcolithic necropolis.
Capel Garmon		United Kingdom (Wales)	Europe	c. 2500 BC	Tomb	Burial chamber dating from the 3rd millennium BC that belongs to the Severn-Cotswold Group.[72]
Pyramid of Khafre		Egypt	Africa	c. 2500 BC	Tomb	One of the Pyramids of Giza.[73]
Pyramid of Menkaure		Egypt	Africa	c. 2500 BC	Tomb	Menkaure was probably Khafre's successor.
Pyramid of Userkaf		Egypt	Africa	c. 2480 BC	Tomb	Located close to Pyramid of Djoser.[74]
Pyramid of Sahure		Egypt	Africa	c. 2480 BC	Tomb	Built for Sahure.[75]
Pyramid of Neferirkare Kakai		Egypt	Africa	c. 2460 BC	Tomb	Built for Neferirkare Kakai.[75]
Pyramid of Neferefre		Egypt	Africa	c. 2455 BC	Tomb	Never completed but does contain a tomb.[75]
Pyramid of Nyuserre		Egypt	Africa	c. 2425 BC	Tomb	[76]
Royal Palace of Ebla		Syria	Asia	2400–2300 BC	Palace
Pyramid of Djedkare-Isesi		Egypt	Africa	c. 2370 BC	Tomb
Pyramid of Unas		Egypt	Africa	c. 2340 BC	Tomb	[77]
Pyramid of Teti		Egypt	Africa	c. 2330 BC	Tomb
Labbacallee		Ireland	Europe	c. 2300 BC	Tomb	The largest wedge tomb in Ireland.[78]
Shimao		China (Shaanxi)	Asia	2300–2000 BC	Settlement	Fortified Neolithic site, centered on a large stepped pyramid with a height of 70m.[79]
Pyramid of Merenre		Egypt	Africa	c. 2275 BC	Tomb	Built for Merenre Nemtyemsaf I but not completed.
Pyramid of Pepi II		Egypt	Africa	c. 2180 BC	Tomb
Crantit cairn		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	2130 BC	Tomb	Discovered in 1998 near Kirkwall.[80][81]
Ziggurat of Ur		Iraq	Asia	2100 BC	Temple	The Great Ziggurat of Ur was a temple built under King Ur-Nammu in honor of the goddess Nanna. It was partially reconstructed in the 1980s under Saddam Hussein.
Dolmen de Viera		Spain	Europe	2000 BC	Tomb	The Dolmen de Viera or Dolmen de los Hermanos Viera is a dolmen—a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb[82]
Dolmen of Cava dei Servi		Italy (Sicily)	Europe	2000 BC	Tomb	The dolmen of Cava dei Servi is a semi-oval monument formed by four rectangular slabs fixed into the ground. Three slabs are on top, leaning in such a way they reduce the surface and form a false dome.[83]
Rubha an Dùnain passage grave		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	2000 BC or older	Tomb	[84][85][86]
Corrimony chambered cairn		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	2000 BC or older	Tomb	A Clava-type passage grave surrounded by a circle of 11 standing stones.[87][88]
Bryn Celli Ddu		United Kingdom (Wales)	Europe	2000 BC	Tomb	Located on the island of Anglesey.[89]
Balnuaran of Clava		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	2000 BC	Tomb	The largest of three is the north-east cairn, which was partially reconstructed in the 19th century. The central cairn may have been used as a funeral pyre.[86][90][91]
Vinquoy chambered cairn, Eday		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	2000 BC	Tomb	[92]
Pyramid of Amenemhat I		Egypt	Africa	c. 1960 BC	Tomb
Karnak		Egypt	Africa	1971–1926 BC	Temple	Actually a temple complex.
Pyramid of Senusret I		Egypt	Africa	c. 1920 BC	Tomb
Pyramid of Senusret II		Egypt	Africa	c. 1875 BC	Tomb
Knossos		Greece	Europe	1850–1750 BC	Palace	Minoan structure on a Neolithic site.[93]
Pyramid of Senusret III		Egypt	Africa	c. 1835 BC	Tomb	Built for Senusret III.
Black Pyramid		Egypt	Africa	c. 1820 BC	Tomb	Built for Amenemhat III, it has multiple structural deficits.
Hawara		Egypt	Africa	c. 1810 BC	Tomb	Also built for Amenemhat III.
Pyramid of Khendjer		Egypt	Africa	c. 1760 BC	Tomb	Built for pharaoh Khendjer.
Daorson		Bosnia and Herzegovina	Europe	17–16th century BC	City and citadel	Illyrian settlement and capital of Daorsi tribe.
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut		Egypt	Africa	15th century BC	Temple
Nuraghe Santu Antine		Italy (Sardinia)	Europe	1600 BC	Possibly a fort	The second tallest of these megalithic edifices found in Sardinia and tallest still standing.[94]
Sinauli		India	Asia	1800 BC	Settlement	The Sinauli excavation site is located in Sinauli, western Uttar Pradesh, India, at the Ganga-Yamuna Doab.[95][96] Major findings from 2018 trial excavations are dated to c. 2000 - 1800 BCE, and ascribed to the Ochre Coloured Pottery culture (OCP)/Copper Hoard Culture. The rituals relating to the Sanauli burials shows close affinity with Vedic rituals.[97]
Adichanallur		India	Asia	1500 BC	Settlement	In 2004, a number of skeletons were found buried in earthenware urns. Some of these urns contained writing in Tamil Brahmi script. While some of the burial urns contained skeletons.[98] In 2018, research on skeletons remains were dated at Manipur University to around 1500 BC.[99]
Su Nuraxi di Barumini		Italy (Sardinia)	Europe	1500 BC	Possibly a fort or a palace	The palace of Barumini is formed by a huge quatrefoiled nuraghe, whose central tower is its oldest construction. Originally it was almost 20 m (66 ft) high and divided into three floors.[100][101]
Luxor Temple		Egypt	Africa	c.1400 BC	Temple	Actually a temple complex.
Nuraghe La Prisciona		Italy (Sardinia)	Europe	1400 BC	Possibly a fort	The monument has a central tower and 2 side towers, the former with an entrance defined by a massive lintel of 3.20 m (10.5 ft). The central chamber has a false dome, which is more than 6 m (20 ft) high.[102]
The King's Grave		Sweden	Europe	1400 BC	Tomb	Near Kivik is the remains of an unusually grand Nordic Bronze Age double burial.[103]
The Ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu		Iraq	Asia	14th century BC	Probably religious rituals	Built for the Kassite King Kurigalzu I.[104]
Treasury of Atreus		Greece	Europe	1250 BC	Tomb	The tallest and widest dome in the world for over a thousand years.[105]
Chogha Zanbil		Iran	Asia	1250 BC	Temple	One of the few extant ziggurats outside of Mesopotamia.[106]
Mortuary Temple of Seti I		Egypt	Africa	13th century BC	Temple
Ramesseum		Egypt	Africa	13th century BC	Temple	Mortuary temple of Ramses II.
Naveta d'Es Tudons		Spain	Europe	1200–750 BC	Ossuary	The most famous megalithic chamber tomb in Menorca.[107]
Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III		Egypt	Africa	1186–1155 BC	Temple
Dún Aonghasa		Ireland	Europe	1100 BC	Fort	Dún Aonghasa, also called Dun Aengus, has been described as one of the most spectacular prehistoric monuments in western Europe. The drystone walled hillfort is made up of 4 widely spaced concentric ramparts.[108][109]
Cuicuilco Circular Pyramid		Mexico	North America	800–600 BC	Ceremonial center	One of the oldest standing structures of the Mesoamerican cultures. First steps in the creation of a sun based calendar.[110]
Van Fortress		Turkey	Asia	750 BC	Fortress	Massive Urartean stone fortification overlooking Tushpa.
Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia		Italy	Europe	700 BC	Tombs	These Etruscan necropolises contain thousands of tombs, some organized in a city-like plan.[111]
Temple of Cyrene		Libya	Africa	c. 630 BC	Temple	The temple was destroyed and rebuilt around 115 AD and was damaged in the 4th century AD.
Keezhadi excavation site		India	Asia	580 BC	Settlement	Keezhadi (also as Keeladi) excavation site is a Sangam period settlement that is being excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department.
Temple of Hera		Italy	Europe	550 BC	Temple	Part of a complex of three great temples in Doric style.[112]
Tomb of Cyrus		Iran	Asia	530 BC	Tomb	Tomb of Cyrus the Great, located in Pasargadae
Persepolis		Iran	Asia	522 BC	Ceremonial capital	Ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire
Yeha Temple		Ethiopia	Africa	500 BC	Temple	Temple of the sun and moon.
Parthenon		Greece	Europe	432–447 BC	Temple	In the Acropolis of Athens
Tomb of Seuthes III		Bulgaria	Europe	450–400 BC	Tomb	The tomb was originally a monumental temple at Golyama Kosmatka Mound, built in the second half of the 5th century BC. After extended use as a temple, at the later part of the 3rd century BC the Thracian king Seuthes III was buried inside.
Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak		Bulgaria	Europe	300–400 BC	Tomb	Located near Seutopolis, the capital city of the Thracian king Seuthes III, and part of a large necropolis.[113] It is one of the most elaborate tombs in the Valley of the Thracian Rulers where the first use of brickwork in Europe was established.
Sanchi Stupa		India	Asia	300 BC	Buddhist temple	In the village of Sanchi
Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari		Bulgaria	Europe	300–280 BC	Tomb	Discovered in 1982 in a mound, this 3rd century BC Getic tomb reflects the fundamental structural principles of Thracian cult buildings. The tomb's architectural decor is considered to be unique, with polychrome half-human, half-plant caryatids and painted murals.
Dhamek Stupa		India	Asia	249 BC rebuilt c. 500 AD	Buddhist Temple	In Sarnath, Varanasi
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor		China	Asia	Began construction 246 BC, finished 208 BC	Tomb	Commonly known as the Terracotta Army, this is one of the largest tombs ever built. It does not only contain the entire stone army, but a complex of halls and of the resting place of Qin Shi Huang.
Ruwanwelisaya		Sri Lanka	Asia	140 BC	Stupa	In Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Broch of Mousa		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	100 BC	Broch	Located in Shetland it is among the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe.[114][115]
Dun Carloway		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	100 BC	Broch	Built in the first century BC[116]
Masada		Israel	Asia	37 BC	Fortress	Herod the Great built two palaces for himself on the mountain and fortified Masada between 37 and 31 BCE.
Maison Carrée		France	Europe	4–7 AD	Temple	one of the best preserved Roman temples, in Nîmes
Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum		China (Hong Kong)	Asia	25 AD	Tomb
Temple of Garni		Armenia	Asia	c. 77 AD	Temple
Colosseum		Italy	Europe	70–80 AD	Amphitheatre

By continent

The following are amongst the oldest known extant buildings on each of the major continents.

Building	Image	Country	Continent	First built	Use	Notes
Göbekli Tepe		Turkey	Asia	9500 – 7500 BC	Unknown, likely temple	Located in southern Turkey. The tell includes two phases of use, believed to be of a social or ritual nature by site discoverer and excavator Klaus Schmidt, dating back to the 10th–8th millennium BCE. The structure is 300 m in diameter and 15 m high.
Durankulak (archaeological site)		Bulgaria	Europe	5500—4100 BC	Settlement	The Durankulak Archaeological Complex unites three sites: Tell Golemija ostrov - the Big Island, Durankulak - the necropolis and Durankulak - the fields. On the Tell Golemija ostrov (Big Island) there are settlements from the Early Eneolithic - Hamandjia III-IV culture, the Late Eneolithic - Varna culture, ritual pits and sacrificial pylons from the Proto-Bronze and Bronze Ages - Chernavoda I and III cultures, fortified Late Bronze Age settlement - Koslogeni culture (Sabatinovka-Noua-Coslogeni "cultural complex"), ancient buildings with a cave temple of the goddess Cybele and an early medieval proto-Bulgarian settlement with several rotundas, which existed from the 9th to the beginning of the 11th century AD. The total thickness of the cultural strata is 3.20 - 3.50 m. The settlement mound has seven stratigraphic horizons.
Solnitsata		Bulgaria	Europe	5500 BC [117]	Settlement	Believed to be the oldest town in Europe, Solnitsata was the site of a prehistoric fortified (walled) stone settlement (prehistoric city) and salt production facility approximately from the 6th – 5th millennia BC;[118] it flourished ca 4700–4200 BC.[119][120][121] A large collection of the oldest gold objects in the world was found nearby, in the Varna Necropolis[118]
Shunet El Zebib		Egypt	Africa	2700 BC	Mortuary temple	Built as a funerary enclosure, a place where the deceased king was worshipped and memorialised.
Los Naranjos		Honduras	North America	2000 BC	Temples	Oldest extant buildings in Honduras, constructed by ancestors of the Lenca people.[122]
Nan Madol		Federated States of Micronesia	Oceania	700s AD	City	City constructed by the Pohnpeians in the 700s AD on human-made islands (also created by the Pohnpeians). Nan Madol contains the oldest known extant buildings in Oceania.
Cape Adare huts		Ross Dependency	Antarctica	1899 AD	Explorers' huts	Wooden buildings constructed by Carsten Borchgrevink in Victoria Land.[123]

By country

The following are among the oldest buildings in their respective countries.

Building	Image	Country	Continent	First Built	Use	Notes
Göbeklitepe		Turkey	Asia	9500-7500 BC	Unknown/likely temple	Oldest temple and oldest structure in the world.
Durankulak		Bulgaria	Europe	5500—4100 BC	Settlement	The Durankulak Archaeological Complex unites three sites: Tell Golemija ostrov - the Big Island, Durankulak - the necropolis and Durankulak - the fields. On the Tell Golemija ostrov (Big Island) there are settlements from the Early Eneolithic - Hamandjia III-IV culture, the Late Eneolithic - Varna culture, ritual pits and sacrificial pylons from the Proto-Bronze and Bronze Ages - Chernavoda I and III cultures, fortified Late Bronze Age settlement - Koslogeni culture (Sabatinovka-Noua-Coslogeni "cultural complex"), ancient buildings with a cave temple of the goddess Cybele and an early medieval proto-Bulgarian settlement with several rotundas, which existed from the 9th to the beginning of the 11th century AD. The total thickness of the cultural strata is 3.20 - 3.50 m. The settlement mound has seven stratigraphic horizons.
Solnitsata		Bulgaria	Europe	5500 BC [117]	Settlement	Believed to be the oldest town in Europe, Solnitsata was the site of a prehistoric fortified stone settlement and salt production facility approximately six millennia ago;[118] it flourished ca 4700–4200 BC.[119] The settlement was walled to protect the salt, a crucial commodity in antiquity.[120] Although its population has been estimated at only 350,[120] archaeologist Vassil Nikolov argues that it meets established criteria as a prehistoric city.[124] A large collection of the oldest gold objects in the world find nearby, on the site of the Varna Necropolis, has led archaeologists to speculate that this trade resulted in considerable wealth for the town's residents.[118]
L'Anse aux Meadows		Canada	North America	c. 1000 AD	Settlement	Located on the northernmost tip of the island of Newfoundland, the Norse settlement is widely accepted as evidence of pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact.
Shimao		China	Asia	2300–2000 BC	Settlement	Fortified Neolithic site, centered on a large stepped pyramid with a height of 70m.[79]
St. George's Basilica, Prague		Czech Republic	Europe	c. 920 AD	Church	Located within Prague Castle in the Czech Republic capital Prague. The building now houses the 19th century Bohemian Art Collection of National Gallery in Prague.
Hulbjerg Jættestue		Denmark	Europe	3000 BC	Passage grave	The Hulbjerg passage grave is concealed by a round barrow on the southern tip of the island of Langeland. One of the skulls found there showed traces of the world's earliest dentistry work.[52]
West Kennet Long Barrow		United Kingdom (England)	Europe	3650 BC	Tomb	Located near Silbury Hill and Avebury stone circle.[18]
Yeha Temple		Ethiopia	Africa	500 BC	Temple	Oldest standing structure in Ethiopia
Barnenez		France	Europe	4850 BC	Passage grave	Located in northern Finistère and partially restored. The structure is 72 m long, 25 m wide and over 8 m high.[3][4] The oldest known building in Eurasia.
Porta Nigra		Germany	Europe	180 AD	Roman city gate	It is today the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps.[125]
Knossos		Greece	Europe	2000–1300 BC	Palace	Minoan structure on a Neolithic site.[93]
Dholavira		India	Asia	3500 BC	Reservoir	A planned urban settlement comprising reservoirs, pottery artifacts, seals, ornaments, vessels, etc.
Chogha Zanbil		Iran	Asia	1250 BC	Temple	One of the few extant ziggurats outside of Mesopotamia.[106]
The Ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu		Iraq	Asia	14th century BC	Probably religious rituals	Built by the Kassite King Kurigalzu I.[104]
Newgrange		Ireland	Europe	3200–2900 BC	Burial	Partially reconstructed around original passage grave.[40]
Monte d'Accoddi		Italy (Sardinia)	Europe	4000–3600 BC	Possibly an open-air temple, a ziggurat, or a step pyramid, mastaba.	"A trapezoidal platform on an artificial mound, reached by a sloped causeway."[9]
Ġgantija		Malta	Europe	3700 BC	Temple	Two structures on the island of Gozo. The second was built four centuries after the oldest.[16][17]
Cuicuilco Circular Pyramid		Mexico	North America	800–600 BC	Ceremonial center	One of the oldest standing structures of the Mesoamerican cultures.[110]
Hunebed (Dolmen)		Netherlands	Europe	4000–3000 BC	Burial	Common theory states Hunebedden of dolmen are prehistoric burial chambers.
Mission House		New Zealand		1822 AD	Religious	Built by Māori and missionary carpenters.[126]
Mehrgarh		Pakistan	Asia	c. 2600 BC	Mud brick storage structures	A complex of ruins with varying dates near Bolan Pass.[127][128]
Sechin Bajo		Peru	South America	3500 BC	Plaza	The oldest known building in the Americas.[21]
Dolmens of North Caucasus		Russia	Europe	3000 BC	Tomb	There are numerous tombs, some perhaps originating in the Maikop culture, in the North Caucasus.[55][56]
Knap of Howar		United Kingdom (Scotland)	Europe	3700 BC	House	Oldest preserved stone house in north west Europe.[13][14][15]
Naveta d'Es Tudons		Spain	Europe	1200–750 BC	Ossuary	The most famous megalithic chamber tomb in Menorca.[107]
The King's Grave		Sweden	Europe	1000 BC	Tomb	Near Kivik is the remains of an unusually grand Nordic Bronze Age double burial.[129]
Hattusa		Turkey	Asia	c. 1600 BC	Ramparts and ruined buildings	Capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age located near modern Boğazkale.[130]
Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv		Ukraine	Europe	1037 AD	Cathedral	Orthodox cathedral, partially rebuilt
Ancestral Puebloan communities		United States	North America	750 AD	Villages	Pueblo construction began in 750 AD and continues to the present day. These buildings have been within the United States since 1848.
Bryn Celli Ddu		United Kingdom (Wales)	Europe	2000 BC	Tomb	Located on the island of Anglesey.[89]
Great Zimbabwe		Zimbabwe	Africa	1000 AD	Palace	Capital of the medieval kingdom

By function, structure and building material

The following are probably the oldest buildings of their type.

Building	Image	Location	First built	Use	Notes
Göbekli Tepe		Turkey	9500–7500 BC	Unknown, likely temple	Located in southern Turkey. The tell includes two phases of use, believed to be of a social or ritual nature by site discoverer and excavator Klaus Schmidt, dating back to the 10th–8th millennium BCE. The structure is 300 m in diameter and 15 m high.
Mehrgarh		Pakistan	7000 BC	Settlement	A Neolithic archaeological site situated on the Kacchi Plain of Balochistan in Pakistan. It is located near the Bolan Pass, to the west of the Indus River and between the modern-day Pakistani cities of Quetta, Kalat and Sibi.
Durankulak (archaeological site)		Bulgarian	4800–4100 BC	Settlement	Durankulak is located in Bulgaria, on the west coast of the Black Sea, Dbruja district. The earliest stone architecture in continental Europe was discovered here.
Pyramid of Djoser		Saqqara, Egypt	2667–2648 BC	Tomb	Oldest large-scale cut stone construction[67]
Luxor Temple		Luxor, Egypt	1400 BC	Religious	The oldest standing building partly in use. There is an active mosque within the main structure, visible in the picture, that stands on the ancient pillars of the Egyptian temple.
Sanchi Stupa		India	300 BC	Buddhist temple	Oldest extant Buddhist temple.
Temple of Concordia		Italy	440 BC	Temple	Oldest fully preserved temple from Antiquity.
Mundeshwari Temple		Bihar, India	105–320 AD	Hindu Temple	May be the oldest extant (not rebuilt) Hindu temple in the world[131][132] An information plaque at the site indicates the dating of the temple at least to 625 CE and Hindu inscriptions dated 635 CE were found in the temple.[133]
Pantheon, Rome		Italy	125 AD	Religious	Oldest standing building still in regular use.[134]
Aula Palatina		Germany	306 AD	Palace basilica	Contains the largest extant hall from antiquity.[125]
Jokhang		Lhasa, Tibet, China	c. 639 AD	Buddhist temple	Perhaps the world's oldest timber-frame building.[135]
Hōryū-ji		Nara, Japan	670 AD	Buddhist Temple	Oldest wooden building still standing.[136]
Nanchan Temple		Wutai, China	782 AD	Buddhist Temple	Its Great Buddha Hall is currently China's oldest extant timber building.
Greensted Church		United Kingdom (England)	c. 1053 AD	Church	May be the oldest, extant wooden church in the world and the oldest, extant wooden building in Europe.[137][138]
Roykstovan in Kirkjubø		Faroe Islands	No clear date, middle of 11th century AD	Farmhouse	May be the oldest continuously inhabited wooden building in the world[139]
Ditherington Flax Mill		United Kingdom (England, Shrewsbury)	1797 AD	Industrial	The oldest iron framed building in the world.[140]
Manhattan Building		Chicago, United States	1888 AD	Skyscraper	Oldest skyscraper still standing.

See also

Lists

• List of oldest buildings in Scotland
• List of oldest buildings in the Americas
• List of oldest buildings in the United Kingdom
• List of oldest church buildings
• List of oldest continuously inhabited cities
• List of oldest synagogues
• List of the oldest buildings in the United States
• List of the oldest mosques

Sites

• Los Millares, a Chalcolithic site in Almería, Spain including both ruins and reconstructions
• Antequera Dolmens Site, Antequera Málaga Spain, a cultural heritage ensemble comprising 3 cultural monuments.

References