Archaeological Sites & Ruins Trivia

1. One of the most fascinating sites in Italy is Ostia Antica. What was its main use in Roman times? Alas, the function has gone to the dogs.

From Quiz Gone to the Dogs

Answer: Seaport

Whilst Ostia, as a suburb of Rome, was equipped with a theatre, several temples and a casern for the fire brigade, it served as the main port to supply Rome with goods transported from far countries: corn (mainly from Egypt), olive oil, tin (from Great-Britain or even more to the north). The harbour of Ostia was looted by pirates in 68 BC, and soon rebuilt. At the end of the Roman Empire, Ostia decayed, and "went to the dogs" during the Ninth Century. During the Twentieth Century, archaeologists have excavated and reconstructed most of Ostia. You can nowadays visit the reconstructed Ostia every Tuesday till Sunday (except on Christmas Day and May 1st), at a fairly moderate fee.

From Quiz Completely Lost and in Ruins

Answer: Petra

Petra has been poetically called "a rose-red city, half as old as time". It is now a famous tourist destination.

From Quiz A Tomb Raider's World Tour

Answer: The Valley of the Kings

The world-famous Valley of the Kings is the site of King Tut's tomb, along with another 60 or so other tombs. The Valley is located on the western bank of the Nile, near Thebes, and is home to dozens of royal and private tombs. Surrounded by mountains, the pharaohs believed this would keep their tombs safe from robbers. But alas, real life tomb raiders would not let this stop them and sadly a lot of the tombs in the valley were pillaged long ago. Still, you might be lucky enough to find some hidden treasure if you look hard enough!

From Quiz Archaeological Finds

Answer: Machu Picchu

Hiram Bingham was a professor from Yale University.

From Quiz Dig It: Diary of an Archaeological Tourist

Answer: Lascaux Caves

Dear Diary, My research tells me that this system was discovered in September 1940 by four teenagers and one dog. The caves contain wall paintings that show animals that would have lived in the region at the time they were done, some 17,000 years ago. After World War II the caves were opened to the public, but the vast number of visitors meant that the paintings were suffering damage. To protect them access has been strictly limited to scientists only and even then only for short time periods. Visitors to the caves can see perfect reproductions of the paintings from two of the caves at a nearby complex, and more images can be seen at the Centre of Prehistoric Art.

From Quiz Completely Lost and in Ruins

Answer: Atlantis

We still do not know if Atlantis was an actual place, or where it may have been located. Speculation about possible sites includes islands of the Mediterranean, Spain, Bermuda, and even South America!

From Quiz A Tomb Raider's World Tour

Answer: Axum

If it's the Ark of the Covenant you wish to seek, Axum is one place you might wish to try. Although no one is certain if this is the resting place of the Ark, the ancient city of Axum is one of the most likely locations according to several academics and to the Ethiopian people. Axum can be found close to the border with Eritra in the north of Ethiopia and is Ethiopia's oldest city and ancient capital. Although the Ark was originally kept in the church of St. Mary of Zion, it was moved to a sanctuary next to it in the 1960s by order of Haile Selassie. So you're not likely to find it within the actual church. But don't count on waltzing into the sanctuary either as no one except the guardian of the Ark may see it!

From Quiz A Ruinous Quiz

Answer: Cahokia

This site, located near east St. Louis, has been proven to have been inhabited from AD 700 to 1400. Cahokia, named for the subtribe of the Illini, is the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization found north of Mexico. The ruins, located within a 2,200-acre tract, were designated a World Heritage Site in 1982.

From Quiz Archaeological Finds

Answer: Carter

Howard Carter worked under the auspices Lord Carnarvon, who financed his archaeological work.

From Quiz Gone to the Dogs

Answer: Marcus Porcius Cato Major

Carthage was a major city in what is now the country Tunisia. Founded by Phoenicians, the city had a predominant position in the Mediterranean trade. When Rome subdued the rest of the Italian mainland, a clash with Carthage became inevitable. Rome went to war with Carthage on two occasions (264 - 241 BC and 218 - 201 BC). Then came along Marcus Porcius Cato Major (234 - 149 BC), whom we'll call Cato hereafter. Cato's military career took place during the Second Punic War. In 184 he retired from all public offices but the Senate, where he is reported by various historians to have concluded each and every speech with the words "Ceterum censeo delendam esse Carthaginem" - translated as "Furthermore, I believe Carthage should be destroyed". In the year that Cato died, Carthage was accused of having violated some petty restriction. Roman legions were sent to Africa to besiege Carthage, and their generals remembered Cato's famous words. After three years, Carthage went completely to the dogs. Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (236 - 183 BC) defeated Carthaginian troops at the end of the Second Punic War. Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator (280 - 203 BC) cut the supply lines to Carthaginian troops in Italy, thus defeating the famous general Hannibal. Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus (229 - 160 BC) was another Roman general, who conquered Macedonia. The ancient city of Carthage was excavated and is nowadays a tourist destination as a suburb of Tunis.

From Quiz Dig It: Diary of an Archaeological Tourist

Answer: Fishbourne Roman Palace

Dear Diary, I am surprised to find that this is another site discovered by accident. Although the presence of Roman remains in the area was well known, as it is in much of Britain, it was not until 1960, when workmen laying a water pipe stumbled across the site, that Fishbourne was fully excavated. The site is vast and is thought to cover an area around the size of Buckingham Palace. This, plus the quality of the mosaics found, indicate that this was the home of someone very important. The mosaics have been left in situ and are protected by a purpose-built building so they can be viewed easily without any damage being done to them.

From Quiz Completely Lost and in Ruins

Answer: By well-fed work crews of Egyptians

A large workers' encampment has been excavated. It had facilities for baking bread, brewing beer, and sleeping dormitory style.

From Quiz A Tomb Raider's World Tour

Answer: Jordan

The ancient city of Petra can be found in Jordan. Located a few hours' drive away from Amman and about 80 kilometres south of the Dead Sea, Petra was the principal city of the Nabataeans and was famous for its trade and its hydraulic engineering systems. Petra had been occupied by the Edomites, who called the city "Edom" (or "red") until around 312BC, when the Nabataeans forced them out and made Edom/Petra their capital. More information about Petra can be found at this link : http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Anthropology/Petra/excavations/history.html

From Quiz A Ruinous Quiz

Answer: Camelot

Of the many reputed sites believed to be Camelot, home of the legendary King Arthur, Cadbury is the most well-known. The ruins consist of a hill-fort of limestone and sandstone rising 500 feet above sea level. The first author known to refer to Cadbury as Camelot was John Leland, in 1542: "At the very south end of the church of South-Cadbyri standeth Camallate, sometime a famous town or castle... The people can tell nothing there but that they have heard Arthur much resorted to Camalat." According to legend, every seventh year on either Midsummer's Eve or Christmas Eve, you can hear the spectral hoofbeats of the ghosts of King Arthur and his knights riding over the hilltop of Cadbury.

From Quiz Archaeological Finds

Answer: Lord Carnarvon

Lord Carnarvon died only a few months after opening the tomb of Tutankhamun, becoming the first victim of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh's 'curse'.

From Quiz Completely Lost and in Ruins

Answer: Pakistan

Mohenjo Daro is puzzling to scholars. It has no large government or religious buildings, but has a grid of very orderly streets. Nothing is known about the culture of the builders.

From Quiz A Ruinous Quiz

Answer: Hadrian

This large house, the country villa of the Emperor, was built between 125 and 138 AD. Although now in ruins, it's obvious from such details as the reflecting pool and intricate tiled floor that this was once a spectacular residence. Hadrian, born in 76, ruled as Emperor from 117 to 138. He is remembered as one of the "good", if somewhat insignificant, of the emperors.

From Quiz Archaeological Finds

Answer: Schliemann

Heinrich Schliemann was a German archaeologist and businessman...he retired from business in 1863 in order to pursue his passion for Greek antiquity.

From Quiz Dig It: Diary of an Archaeological Tourist

Answer: Turkey

Dear Diary, Neither completely Asian or completely European, Ephesus is the largest Roman site in the Eastern Mediterranean, but habitation here predates Roman times. Bronze Age remains have been found and there appears to be a continuous history of occupation from prehistoric through to Roman times. It was famous for the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and some believe that the Gospel of John may have been written here. It was also one of the seven churches of Asia referred to in the Book of Revelation.

From Quiz Completely Lost and in Ruins

Answer: It was a major regional cultural center nearly 1500 years ago

At the nearby Caves of Balankanche you can see a chamber once hidden by a false wall. It has a tree-like limestone pillar surrounded by carved stone incense burners and other artifacts.

From Quiz A Ruinous Quiz

Answer: Herculaneum

The seaside town of Herculaneum suffered less damage than its neighbor, which may account for its lack of recognition. Historians believe that the eruption of Vesuvius, which was the first to be recorded in detail, destroyed Herculaneum by means of a pyroclastic flow. A pyroclastic flow is defined by the US Geological Survey as "a ground-hugging avalanche of hot ash, pumice, rock fragments, and volcanic gas that rushes down the side of a volcano as fast as 100 km/hour or more. The temperature within a pyroclastic flow may be greater than 500° C, sufficient to burn and carbonize wood. Once deposited, the ash, pumice, and rock fragments may deform (flatten) and weld together because of the intense heat and the weight of the overlying material".

From Quiz Archaeological Finds

Answer: Minoan

Evans discovered the ancient palace of Knossos on Crete.

From Quiz Dig It: Diary of an Archaeological Tourist

Answer: Stone figures

Dear Diary, This place is spooky. Rather like the Easter Island figures no one knows who created the stone figures at San Agustin, or why. They are beautifully carved and show people and animals, such as jaguars, birds and snakes. Some reach around fifteen feet high. All the human ones have individual faces. Studying similar figures around the world the best belief is that they are talismans of some sort, and possibly their creators believed them to be endowed with magical powers. There is no local folklore about either the figures or the people who created them, and no archaeological clues either.

From Quiz A Ruinous Quiz

Answer: Alexandria, Egypt

The port city of Alexandria in Egypt was founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. The pillar, a 25-meter tall monument of red Aswan granite, is the tallest ancient monument in Alexandria. It was constructed in memory of the Roman Emperor Diocletian at the end of the fourth century. There's also a rock formation known as Pompey's Pillar near Billings, Montana, USA.

From Quiz Dig It: Diary of an Archaeological Tourist

Answer: Terracotta Warriors

Dear Diary, I had seen an exhibition of the Terracotta Warriors but seeing them in situ was quite different. The huge hall was filled not only with soldiers of various ranks, including charioteers and horses, to guard Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 BC - 210 BC) in his afterlife but there are also troupes of acrobats, clowns and other performers for his entertainment as well as officials to serve him. Each statue is unique. Originally all were painted to be even more lifelike but little colour is visible now. Other structures, almost a small city, were also built for his use. Qin Shi Huang arranged for building to start when he became Emperor at the age of thirteen. According to an ancient historian who lived just after that time it involved 700,000 workers. The site was discovered in 1974 by some farmers who were digging to make a well. It has since become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From Quiz Completely Lost and in Ruins

Answer: Vikings built a settlement in the New World in 998

Icelandic sagas tell of a land far to the west called Vinland because of the many wild grapes growing there.

From Quiz A Ruinous Quiz

Answer: Newfoundland

Most historians now believe that the Vikings were the first Europeans to land in North America. Nordic literature refers to the settling of Vinland, which is believed to be the place now known as Anse au Meadow on the Canadian coast of Newfoundland. For years, historians were misled by the term "Vinland", as they assumed that the word "vin" referred to grapes; however, historical detective work revealed that it meant "meadow", many of which are found in this part of Newfoundland. The ruins of structures identified as Nordic have been found in the area, adding further support to the theory that the Vikings settled here around 1000 AD.

From Quiz Completely Lost and in Ruins

Answer: By going there to find out for sure!

Author Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a popular fantasy adventure series about "John Carter of Mars", a soldier from Earth and his adventures among the denizens of Mars, inclluding the gorgeous red princess, Dejah Thoris.

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Last Updated Apr 18 2026 5:51 AM

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