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Quiz about Up From The Ruins  Ten Forgotten Cities
Quiz about Up From The Ruins  Ten Forgotten Cities

Up From The Ruins - Ten Forgotten Cities Quiz


Whether due to war, climate change or natural disaster, these cities were forgotten for centuries until being rediscovered. Now they're giving up their lost knowledge and adding to our history.

A multiple-choice quiz by wilbill. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
wilbill
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
370,734
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1067
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
-
Question 1 of 10
1. Ciudad Perdida in Colombia was "discovered" by the outside world in 1972. The city was founded about 800 AD and abandoned at the time of the Spanish conquest. Ciudad Perdida consists of a series of terraces carved into the mountainside and several plazas all connected by tiled roads. What does "Ciudad Perdida" translate to in English? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Cahokia has been called "America's Lost City" and "America's First City". With a peak population of about 15,000, Cahokia grew up in southern Illinois on the east bank of the Mississippi between about 600 and 1400 AD. It was the largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico. The people of Cahokia built earthen pyramids, designed solar observatories and practiced human sacrifice. Cahokia is directly across the Mississippi from what major city? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Skara Brae in the Orkney Islands off Scotland has been compared to Pompeii due to its high degree of preservation. It's one of the best preserved Neolithic sites in Europe. Habitation of Skara Brae ended in about 2500 BCE for unknown reasons and it wasn't discovered in modern times until 1850 AD. What kept Skara Brae so well preserved during all the intervening years? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. The legendary city of King Menes who united Lower and Upper Egypt was founded about 3100 BCE and served as Egypt's capital during the Old Kingdom. The city was captured over the years by Nubia, Assyria, Persia, and Alexander the Great and was abandoned after the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 640 AD. Although no avenue named Beale Street has been found in the ruins, the name of this ancient city is familiar to music fans. What was it called? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Undersea explorations frequently turn up rock formations appearing to be remains of "Atlantis-like" civilizations. Which of these countries is NOT the site of an undersea "civilization" which has yet to be verified as a genuine archaeological site? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This ruined city gave its name to the modern African nation where it stands. It was a major trade center of the late Iron Age Bantu/Shona civilization, populated between 1100 and 1450 AD. In legend it is said to have been the home of the Queen of Sheba. What is the name of this city of 18,000 located in the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Some of the best hidden lost cities are those that are underwater. Frequently submerged due to earthquakes, tsunamis or climate changes, cities lost underwater can be among the most difficult for archaeologists to locate. Which of these sites was NOT located underwater? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Peru's Machu Picchu Is the best known site of the Incan Empire. It suffered none of the damage meted out to other Inca cities during the Spanish Conquest of the 16th century. One thing about Machu Picchu and other Inca cities is a puzzle to scientists. What is missing from Inca ruins that is present in the cities and towns of virtually every other civilization? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Catalhoyuk in south central Turkey is one of the oldest city ruins discovered, dating to about 7500 BCE. An estimated five to seven thousand people lived in mud brick and clay houses with adjoining walls built in honeycomb fashion. In 1961 British archaeologist James Mellaart began excavation but in 1965 the Turkish government expelled him from the country alleging that he had been involved in what sort of improper activity? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Mohenjo-daro was one of the largest cities of the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization. Founded about 2600 BCE, Mohenjo-daro existed until the Indus civilization disappeared in about 1700 BCE. The ruins are located north of Karachi in the present nation of ________.

Answer: (One Word, eight letters)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Ciudad Perdida in Colombia was "discovered" by the outside world in 1972. The city was founded about 800 AD and abandoned at the time of the Spanish conquest. Ciudad Perdida consists of a series of terraces carved into the mountainside and several plazas all connected by tiled roads. What does "Ciudad Perdida" translate to in English?

Answer: Lost City

The indigenous tribes say they've long known of the city and visited it regularly. Their name for it is Teyuna and they believe it was inhabited by their ancestors whom they call the Tairona. Ciudad Perdida is reached by climbing 1,200 stone steps up the side of a mountain in dense jungle. Since 2009 tourists have been able to visit the ruins.
2. Cahokia has been called "America's Lost City" and "America's First City". With a peak population of about 15,000, Cahokia grew up in southern Illinois on the east bank of the Mississippi between about 600 and 1400 AD. It was the largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico. The people of Cahokia built earthen pyramids, designed solar observatories and practiced human sacrifice. Cahokia is directly across the Mississippi from what major city?

Answer: St. Louis

Cahokia was by far the largest settlement of the Mississippian culture which covered most of the central and southeastern parts of what is now the US. Being based on wooden construction and the use of wood for fires, it's likely that the Cahokia civilization suffered from deforestation of its surrounding areas damaging farmland needed to support the population. Cahokia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Skara Brae in the Orkney Islands off Scotland has been compared to Pompeii due to its high degree of preservation. It's one of the best preserved Neolithic sites in Europe. Habitation of Skara Brae ended in about 2500 BCE for unknown reasons and it wasn't discovered in modern times until 1850 AD. What kept Skara Brae so well preserved during all the intervening years?

Answer: It was covered by sand dunes.

Because no trees grew on the island, not only the houses, but beds, tables and other furnishings at Skara Brae were made of stone. About 50 people lived there at any given time. Soon after the last inhabitants left, sand drifted over the village and the dunes remained there until a storm stripped the earth off, revealing buildings. Skara Brae, along with three other Neolithic sites in the Orkneys, make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site, "The Heart of Neolithic Orkney".
4. The legendary city of King Menes who united Lower and Upper Egypt was founded about 3100 BCE and served as Egypt's capital during the Old Kingdom. The city was captured over the years by Nubia, Assyria, Persia, and Alexander the Great and was abandoned after the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 640 AD. Although no avenue named Beale Street has been found in the ruins, the name of this ancient city is familiar to music fans. What was it called?

Answer: Memphis

Ruins at Memphis include the great temple of Ptah, royal palaces, and an enormous statue of Rameses II. Nearby are the pyramids of Saqqara which served as necropolis for Memphis. After it ceased to be inhabited, much of the stone that made up Memphis was used in the early construction of Cairo.
5. Undersea explorations frequently turn up rock formations appearing to be remains of "Atlantis-like" civilizations. Which of these countries is NOT the site of an undersea "civilization" which has yet to be verified as a genuine archaeological site?

Answer: Paraguay

Paraguay, being landlocked, isn't likely to be a potential site for undersea civilizations. In 2001, sonar reflections indicated symmetrical structures off the Pinar del Rio Province off the western tip of Cuba. No research yet verifies if it is or is not man made.

The Azores Pyramid "discovered" off Portugal has, in fact been identified as a previously mapped volcanic hill. Japan's underwater mystery, Yonaguni, is controversial with some explorers claiming the rock formations are steps and terraces while others see nothing other than natural formations.
6. This ruined city gave its name to the modern African nation where it stands. It was a major trade center of the late Iron Age Bantu/Shona civilization, populated between 1100 and 1450 AD. In legend it is said to have been the home of the Queen of Sheba. What is the name of this city of 18,000 located in the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia?

Answer: Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe's stone ruins are the remains of the largest settlement of its age in southern Africa. "Discovered" by the Portuguese in the 16th century, modern excavations were begun in 1905. Artifacts found indicate that the Shona people traded with civilizations as far as India and China.

The studies of Great Zimbabwe have frequently been caught up in social and political conflict in the area. White colonial influences refused to publicize evidence that the city could have been built by black Africans. Black nationals have attempted to portray the civilization in ways supportive of their particular form of rule.
7. Some of the best hidden lost cities are those that are underwater. Frequently submerged due to earthquakes, tsunamis or climate changes, cities lost underwater can be among the most difficult for archaeologists to locate. Which of these sites was NOT located underwater?

Answer: Mesa Verde, Colorado

Mesa Verde, in southwestern Colorado are the cliff dwellings of the ancient Anasazi people. Phanagoria was a Greek city on the northern coast of the Black Sea, founded about 500 BC. Thonis (also called Heracleion) was a major port of the later Egyptian Empire. Olous can be viewed by tourists scuba diving or snorkeling in Poros Bay.

The high points of its city walls rise out of the water at low tide.
8. Peru's Machu Picchu Is the best known site of the Incan Empire. It suffered none of the damage meted out to other Inca cities during the Spanish Conquest of the 16th century. One thing about Machu Picchu and other Inca cities is a puzzle to scientists. What is missing from Inca ruins that is present in the cities and towns of virtually every other civilization?

Answer: Marketplace

Archaeologists often find city ruins built around a central marketplace. Inca cities had none. And since we still can't read the tapestries and quipu (knotted ropes) that constitute their written records, there is no indication of how they conducted an economy. Locals knew of the city's existence but Machu Picchu was unknown to the wider world until "discovered" by Hiram Bingham in 1911.
9. Catalhoyuk in south central Turkey is one of the oldest city ruins discovered, dating to about 7500 BCE. An estimated five to seven thousand people lived in mud brick and clay houses with adjoining walls built in honeycomb fashion. In 1961 British archaeologist James Mellaart began excavation but in 1965 the Turkish government expelled him from the country alleging that he had been involved in what sort of improper activity?

Answer: Antiquities smuggling.

The "Dorak Affair" which cost Mellaart his position in Turkish archaeology sounds like the plot of 1950s adventure movie. Mellaart told of meeting a young woman on a train who was wearing very old gold jewelry. She wouldn't allow him to take pictures but he did make drawings of the items.

The woman could never be located, but authorities accused Mellaart of smuggling antiquities and expelled him from Turkey.
10. Mohenjo-daro was one of the largest cities of the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization. Founded about 2600 BCE, Mohenjo-daro existed until the Indus civilization disappeared in about 1700 BCE. The ruins are located north of Karachi in the present nation of ________.

Answer: Pakistan

Mohenjo-daro (which translates as "Mound of the Dead") was very well laid out in efficient patterns. Its population is thought to have peaked at 40,000. Sadly, the ruins are deteriorating rapidly due to erosion and improper excavation since its modern discovery in 1922. Some estimates are that Meheno-daro could disappear by 2030 without improved conservation efforts.
Source: Author wilbill

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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