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  • Published
    11 Images

    11 lost civilizations and how they might have fallen

    When ancient civilizations fall, the reasons for their demise often remain a mystery. But modern science has helped us paint a clearer picture of what may have brought a few of the most famous cultures to extinction. For more fascinating facts, check out Listomania.

  • 01_sumer_zig_ur
    Sumer Middle East 5000s-2000s BCE Probable cause of demise: Invasion Pictured: U.S. Soldiers climb the steps of the Ziggurat of Ur, a Sumerian monument built during the Early Bronze Age (21st century BC).
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    Spc. Samantha Ciaramitaro/U.S. Army
  • 02_minoan_bull
    Minoan Southern Europe 2700s-1500s BCE Probable cause of demise: Natural disaster, invasion Pictured: A fresco found at the Minoan site of Knossos, indicating a sport or ritual of "bull leaping", the red skinned figure is a man and the two light skinned figures are women.
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    Public Domain
  • 03_harappa_coach
    Harappa Indian Subcontinent 3300s-1300s BCE Probable cause of demise: Environmental collapse Pictured: A Harappan coach driver, ~2000 BCE
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    Miya M.
  • 04_nok_sculpture
    Nok Africa 1000s BCE-500s CE Probable cause of demise: Unknown Pictured: Nok sculpture. Terracotta, 6th century BCE–6th century CE, Nigeria.
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    Federal Republic of Nigeria
  • 05_mayan_acropolis
    Maya Central America 2600s BCE-900s CE Probable cause of demise: Environmental collapse, overpopulation Pictured: North Acropolis, Tikal, Guatemala.
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    Public Domain
  • 06_anasazi_dwelling
    Anasazi North America 1200s BCE-1300s CE Probable cause of demise: Environmental collapse, overpopulation Pictured: Remains of multistory dwellings constructed into the side of the canyon wall at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico.
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    Public Domain
  • 07_pitcairn_island
    Polynesians of the Pitcairn Islands South Pacific 1000s-1400s Probable cause of demise: Invasions, disease Pictured: NASA Satellite Image of Pitcairn Island in the Pacific Ocean.
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    NASA
  • 08_aztec_pyramid
    Aztec Central America 1200s-1500s Probable cause of demise: Invasions, disease Pictured: The Aztec Pyramid at St. Cecilia Acatitlan, Mexico State.
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    Public Domain
  • 09_inca_machupicchu
    Inca South America 1200s-1572 Probable cause of demise: Disease, overpopulation Pictured: Machu Picchu Temple of the Sun (also named "the watch tower"), located in the Cusco Region of Peru, South America.
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    Fabricio Guzmán
  • 10_rapa_nui_moai
    Rapa Nui South Pacific 300s-1800s Probable cause of demise: Environmental collapse, overpopulation Pictured: Moai, monolithic human figures carved from rock, at Rano Raraku, Easter Island.
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    Public Domain
  • 11_beothuk_museum
    Beothuk North America 1500s-1829 Probable cause of demise: Invasion, disease Pictured: A Beothuk archaeological site and museum in northeastern Newfoundland.
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    Carl B.
  • Published
    11 Images

    11 lost civilizations and how they might have fallen

    When ancient civilizations fall, the reasons for their demise often remain a mystery. But modern science has helped us paint a clearer picture of what may have brought a few of the most famous cultures to extinction. For more fascinating facts, check out Listomania.

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  • 11 lost civilizations and how they might have fallen
  • 01_sumer_zig_ur
  • 02_minoan_bull
  • 03_harappa_coach
  • 04_nok_sculpture
  • 05_mayan_acropolis
  • 06_anasazi_dwelling
  • 07_pitcairn_island
  • 08_aztec_pyramid
  • 09_inca_machupicchu
  • 10_rapa_nui_moai
  • 11_beothuk_museum