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Four of the Oldest Buildings in the World
Knap of Howar
One of the oldest buildings in the world is the Knap of Howar, which dates back to 3700-3500 BCE. The farmhouse is one of the oldest, still-standing stone houses in Europe. It includes two stone homes linked through a hidden passage and joint walls. Archaeologists say Irish or Scottish monks could be the first builders and residents of the Knap of Howar. Although the house is still standing, these abandoned places around the world are better candidates for restoration.
Ggantija Temples
The Megalithic Temples of Malta, or the Ggantija Temples, date back to 3600 to 3200 BCE. The two temples on the island of Malta are UNESCO World Heritage sites. It’s one of the oldest free-standing monuments in the world. Archaeologists think the temple was used for ritual animal sacrifices.
Shunet el-Zebib
Shunet el-Zebib is partially standing, but mostly in ruins. It’s still, however, one of the oldest buildings in the world. The Egyptian temple built in 2750 BCE is of mud and brick. It has an underground tomb as well as an above-ground complex. Architecturally, it’s a nod to the Egyptian pyramids soon to come.
Tomb of Cyrus
Built in 530 BCE, the Tomb of Cyrus is one of Iran’s World Heritage Sites and one of the oldest buildings on the planet. It’s also believed to be one of the first earthquake-protected structures in the world, according to Atlas Obscura. The base isolating used on the tomb protects the main structure from moving apart from the foundation.
1. What do the four buildings have in common?
A. All of them are located in Europe.
B. All of them are made of stone and mud.
C. All of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
D. All of them were built before the birth of Christ.
2. Which of the four buildings may be the strongest?
A. Knap of Howar. B. Ggantija Temples. C. Shunet el-Zebib. D. Tomb of Cyrus.
3. Which of the following is True according to the passage?
A. Shunet el-Zebib is earthquake protected.
B. Tomb of Cyrus has an underground tomb.
C. Ggantija Temples are built by Irish monks.
D. Knap of Howar may be the oldest building among the four.
