Top 10 archaeological Sites - By travel authority Howard Hillman

World's Top 10
archaeological sites

rankings you can trust

Definition: An archaeological site is where archaeologists have, haved, are, or plan to conduct research.

Ranking criteria: I rank the sites based on their appeal to sophisticated travelers (you) rather than to archeologists. The latter - being scientists - has different priorities than yours.

Click the blue links below to read my informative web pages on the world's top 10 archaeological sites:

Pyramids of Egypt
Great Wall of China
Machu Picchu
Angkor Wat
Bagan Temples & Pagodas
Karnak Temple
Teotihuacan
Acropolis
Qin TerraCotta Warriors
Chichen Itza

My brief descriptions of the
top 10 archaeological sites

Great Pyramids of Egypt

This site has three giant pyramids - each was constructed around 4500 years ago. The most famous pyramid - Khufu's - is one of the Ancient Seven Wonders. Gaza, near Cairo.

Pyramids of Egypt

Great Wall of China

In its heyday, it stretched 5,400 miles across northern China. Today, the best preserved sections lie north of Beijing.

Great Wall of China

Machu Picchu

This Pre-Columbian archaeological site sits spectacularly on a mountain saddle - and bears the nickname "Lost City of the Incas. Peru.

Machu Picchu

Angkor Wat

It was constructed in the 12th century and was was mysteriously abandoned - and was eventually hidden by jungle growth. Today the ruins are majestically exposed.. Cambodia.

Angkor Wat

Bagan Temples & Pagodas

This extensve religious complex was constructed in the 11th to 13th centuries and boasted more than 10,000 Buddhist structures. Myanmar.

Bagan Temples & Pagodas

Karnak Temple

This colossal temple was built along the Nile River. Several thousand years ago it was the Egyptian's religious epicenter.

Karnak Temple

Teotihuacan

This ancient religious aracheological site is best known for its Pyramid of the Sun, which is as tall as a 27-story building. North of Mexico City.

Teotihuacan

Acropolis

It's the symbol of the ancient Greek civilization. Today, Greece's ancient literature, art, and zeal for democracy still influence our world today. Athens.

Acropolis

Qin TerraCotta Warriors

These life-sized pottery warriors and horses had been buried for over 2,200 years. The site is the most important archaeological discovery of the 20th century.

Qin TerraCotta Warriors

Chichen Itza

This archelogical site is the best preserved and most interesting of the many Mayan ruins in Mexico and Central America.

Chichen Itza

Runners up include

Abu Simbel Baalbeck Borobudor Carthage Colosseum of Rome Dazu Rock Carvings Delphi Easter Island Ephesus Epidaurus Khajuraho Leptis Magna Luxor Meenakshi Monte Alban Nazca Lines Nemrut Dagi Olympia Paestum Palenque Palmyra Persepolis Petra Pompeii Roman Forum Stonehenge Step Pyramid Djoser Tikal Uxmal Valley of the Kings Yungang Grottoes and many more.