Archaeological sites

An archaeological site is any place with physical evidence of past human activity. Such sites might be from pre-history as well as history; even remnants from modern times can count as archaeological sites.

Some archaeological sites give opportunities for tourists to take part in excavations. Other sites have developed into tourist traps, where commerce is dominant above the genuine experience.

For places that are both archaeological sites and currently occupied, we have a separate list at Old towns.

About Archaeological sites

Note: And on the pedestal these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, king of kings;
Look on my works, ye Mighty and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Monastiraki Archeology - Archeology in a metro station

There is no commonly accepted age limit for when a remnant of human activity becomes an archaeological site. Also, it is difficult to define its geographic borders. New sites are fairly often discovered during modern excavations with some other purpose; China's Terracotta Warriors were found by farmers and people building roads or digging foundation have turned up others. In some countries any major construction project and even fairly minor ones in historic Old Towns is planned with time allocated for archeological exploration from the get-go.

Most countries have some legal protection of archaeological sites. Legal consequences for trespassing in closed areas, damaging remnants, or removing artifacts, are often harsh. In particular, countries with a colonial history may resent loss of relics to places like the British Museum and may therefore be inclined not to be at all gentle with modern relic exporters.

With or without laws and the leave-no-trace principle is recommended for these places.

Shopping in Archaeological sites

See also: Art and antiques shopping

There are several kinds of archaeological souvenirs: Permits required|There are export restrictions or total prohibition against the export of archaeological and other cultural artifacts in many countries. Penalties can be anything from just seizure of the article to long prison sentences, though hefty fines are the most common punishment.
Even in countries that allow export of artifacts, permits are generally required; there will be paperwork and fees. Depending on the nation, getting the permits may be anywhere from a minor hassle to expensive and time-consuming, if it is feasible at all.

Genuine artifacts: Possession or export of these is illegal. Trying to collect some at an archaeological site is illegal in most countries since it destroys valuable historical information. Trying to buy them from most vendors is far more likely to get you a forgery than a real item.

If you really want a genuine artifact, be prepared to deal with a reputable vendor, to pay a premium price since in effect you are bidding against museums and to get the necessary permits. One way to recognize good vendors is that they are prepared to help with the permit process and the information they give you on that agrees with what you find from government sources.

Forged artifacts: These are claimed to be genuine, so they might cost as much and cause as much legal trouble as a genuine artifact. They are not worth either the price or the trouble.
Cheap imitations: Often available from vendors near the sites or in tourist shops nearby. These can be a good buy, but you will often have to bargain hard to get a reasonable price. Quality ranges from absolute junk to excellent.
Official replicas: These are generally sold by museums, copies of items in their collection. They are probably the safest choice for a traveller, very good quality and sold at fixed prices. Not all are sold at the sites themselves; the nation's national museum may offer replicas and major museums like the Smithsonian or the British Museum have fine replicas based on finds from all over the world.

Nearly all travellers should restrict themselves to the last two categories.

How to work legally in Archaeological sites

Archaeology involves a great deal of work and helping out on a site might be both fascinating to a participant and valuable to a project. Unfortunately the field is generally not well funded and most projects cannot afford to pay anyone except professionals and perhaps some graduate students or, in some places, affordable local labor.

There are programs in various countries that involve volunteer work on archaeological digs:

hvol.htm US National Parks Service
/cba-volunteering/ Council for British Archaeology
Parks Canada

Sometimes even local groups have volunteer opportunities. For example in the Ottawa area and the NCC (National Capital Commission) runs an annual a-gatineau-archaeology-1.4236812?cmp=rss archaeology month, in August.

Famous archaeological sites

Europe

See also: Prehistoric Europe, Ancient Greece, Roman Empire, Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Athen Baustelle Akropolis 20020809-262 - Restoration work at the Acropolis

Alpine countries: Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps
France: Nîmes, Remoulins|Le Pont du Gard
Greece: Athens/Acropolis, Delos, Delphi, Kos, Knossos, Mycenae, Olympia (Greece) | Olympia, Rhodes, Samos, Samothrace, Philippi
Italy: Capri, Cerveteri, Gela, Herculaneum, Ostia, Paestum, Pompeii, Rome/Colosseo, Syracuse_(Italy) | Syracuse
United Kingdom: Stonehenge

Middle East

Al khazneh - Petra

Egypt: Abydos, Abu Simbel, Amarna, Dendera, Edfu, Karnak, Kom Ombo, Giza, Saqqara, Philae, Valley of the Kings
Turkey: Aphrodisias, Bergama, Bodrum, Bogazkale, Çatalhöyük, Çavdarhisar, Dalyan, Ephesus, Troy (Turkey) | Troy
Iraq: Babylon
Israel: Akko, Fruit Juices Sheva, Caesarea, Shfela|Gezer, Hazor, Masada, Megiddo
Jordan: Petra
Palestinian Territories: Jericho
Saudi Arabia: Madain Saleh

Africa

All of them together! - The pyramids of Giza

Egypt: Abydos, Abu Simbel, Amarna, Dendera, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Giza, Saqqara, Philae
Libya: Leptis Magna
Morocco: Volubilis
Tunisia: Carthage, Dougga, El Jem, Kerkouane, Sufetula
Zimbabwe: Great Zimbabwe

Asia

Buddhist monks in front of the Angkor Wat - Angkor Wat

Cambodia: Angkor Wat
China: caves outside Dunhuang, Anyang, Great Wall of China, Xian
India: Fatehpur Sikri, Hampi, Nalanda, Patna|Pataliputra
Indonesia: Borobudur, Prambanan
Myanmar: Bagan, Mrauk U
Pakistan: Sahiwal|Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Taxila
Thailand: Ayutthaya, Sukhothai
Turkmenistan, Gonur Depe
Vietnam: My Son

See also Sacred sites of the Indian sub-continent, Chinese Empire, Persian Empire and Mongol Empire.

Americas

15-07-13-Teotihuacan-RalfR-WMA 0212 - Teotihuacan Serpent Mound (aerial view) - Serpent Mound

Belize: Xunantunich
Bolivia: Isla del Sol, Tiwanaku
Brazil: Serra da Capivara National Park
Canada: Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows, Red Bay Whaling Station (Newfoundland)
Colombia: Ciudad Perdida de Teyuna
Guatemala: Tikal, Piedras Negras, El Mirador
Honduras: Copan Ruinas#See|Copan Ruinas
Mexico: Chichen Itza, Cacaxtla, Coba, Monte Alban, Palenque, El Tajin, Mexico City/Centro#See|Templo Mayor, Mexico City/Centro#See|Plaza de Tres Culturas (Tlatelolco), Teotihuacan, Tula de Allende|Tula, Tulum|Tulum, Uxmal, Xcaret
Nicaragua: ruins of old León, Huellas de Acahualinca (pre-historic footprints in Managua)
Peru: Choquequirao, Machu Picchu, Nazca, Ollantaytambo, Pisac
United States: Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, La Brea Tar Pits at Hancock Park inside Los_Angeles/Wilshire|Los Angeles, Moundsville, Ohio prehistoric sites, Taos#See|Taos Pueblos.

See also Indigenous cultures of North America and Indigenous cultures of South America.