Entire cities have been buried, swallowed or abandoned, then rediscovered centuries later. An eruption, a conquest or a shift in trade routes is enough to empty a capital, which jungle or sand then covers over. The ten cities gathered here were all found again by archaeology.
1. Pompeii (Italy)
A prosperous Roman city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii was buried by the eruption of AD 79. The ash froze the entire city: streets, houses, frescoes and inhabitants. It was rediscovered in the 18th century, with systematic excavations starting in 1748.
2. Machu Picchu (Peru)
Machu Picchu is an Inca citadel built in the 15th century at 2,430 metres in the Andes. It was abandoned during the Spanish conquest and the conquistadors never found it. Hiram Bingham revealed it to the world in 1911.
3. Angkor (Cambodia)
Capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor had around one million inhabitants at its peak around 1200, which made it one of the largest cities in the world. The site declined from the 15th century onwards and the forest covered much of its temples. Angkor Wat, which remained a place of worship, is the largest religious monument in the world.
4. Petra (Jordan)
Capital of the Nabataeans, carved directly into rose-coloured sandstone, Petra thrived on caravan trade in the 1st century. Earthquakes and shifting trade routes led to its decline. The West forgot it until Johann Ludwig Burckhardt’s visit in 1812.
5. Troy (Turkey)
Long considered a mere Homeric legend, Troy was identified on the hill of Hisarlik, near the Dardanelles. Heinrich Schliemann excavated there in the 1870s. The site reveals nine superimposed cities, built on top of each other over more than 3,000 years.
6. Mohenjo-daro (Pakistan)
Mohenjo-daro was a major city of the Indus Valley civilisation around 2500 BC. It had sewers, public baths and a grid street plan. The city declined around 1900 BC, for reasons still debated. Excavations began in the 1920s.
7. Babylon (Iraq)
Capital of Hammurabi in the 18th century BC, then of Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BC, Babylon was one of the largest cities of antiquity. It is the supposed site of the Hanging Gardens, whose exact location is still debated. Scientific excavations began in 1899 under Robert Koldewey.
8. Tikal (Guatemala)
One of the most powerful Maya cities, Tikal dominated the region between the 3rd and 9th centuries. It was abandoned around the 10th century, then swallowed by the Petén jungle. A Guatemalan expedition documented it in 1848.
9. Great Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Great Zimbabwe is a dry-stone city built between the 11th and 15th centuries, capital of a kingdom that traded gold as far as the Indian Ocean. Its walls, built without mortar, reach 11 metres high. Abandoned in the 15th century, it gave its name to the present-day country.
10. Skara Brae (Scotland)
Skara Brae is a Neolithic village in the Orkney Islands, occupied around 3100 BC, older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. It was buried under sand after its abandonment. A storm uncovered it in 1850.
Lost cities at a glance
| City | Country | Abandoned/lost | Rediscovered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pompeii | Italy | AD 79 (Vesuvius eruption) | 1748 (excavations) |
| Machu Picchu | Peru | 16th century | 1911 |
| Angkor | Cambodia | 15th century | 19th century |
| Petra | Jordan | Early Middle Ages | 1812 |
| Troy | Turkey | Antiquity | 1870s |
| Mohenjo-daro | Pakistan | Around 1900 BC | 1920s |
| Babylon | Iraq | After the 4th century BC | 1899 (excavations) |
| Tikal | Guatemala | Around the 10th century | 1848 |
| Great Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 15th century | 19th century |
| Skara Brae | Scotland | Around 2500 BC | 1850 |
Several of these cities also count among the ancient monuments and the UNESCO World Heritage sites, alongside the seven wonders of the world.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous lost city?
Machu Picchu and Pompeii are the two most famous lost cities. The Inca citadel draws more than a million visitors a year, and Pompeii is the best-preserved Roman site in the world thanks to the ash that froze it in AD 79.
Why did Pompeii disappear?
Pompeii was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, under several metres of ash and pumice. The city remained buried for nearly 1,700 years, which preserved its streets, frescoes and everyday objects.
Who discovered Machu Picchu?
Hiram Bingham revealed Machu Picchu to the world in 1911, guided by local farmers who knew the site. The citadel was therefore not entirely unknown: families were still farming its terraces when he arrived.
Are there still lost cities to discover?
Yes. Airborne lidar regularly reveals Maya and Khmer cities under the jungle, such as Valeriana in Mexico in 2024. Large areas of the Amazon, Southeast Asia and Africa remain little explored by archaeology.
