Buddha of Great Sunlight, the Chief Buddha, Dazu rock carvings, Mount Baoding, near Chongqing, China

Buddha of Great Sunlight, the Chief Buddha, Dazu rock carvings, Mount Baoding, near Chongqing, China

Ming vase on display in the Shanghai Museum, China

Pit 3 containing horses and warriors as they were found, at Qin Museum, exhibition halls of Terracotta Warriors, China

Infantry men figures in Pit 1 at Qin Museum, exhibition halls of Terracotta Warriors, Xian, China

Amphorae, House of the Cryptoporticus, Roman ruins of Pompeii, UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Naples, Campania, Italy, Europe

Roman temple of Diana, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Evora, Alentejo, Portugal, Europe

Close-up of Antiquities shop in area of Selimiye Camii mosque in Nicosia, North Cyprus, Europe

Ancient Chinese characters on display in the Shanghai Museum, China

Pit 3 containing horses and warriors as they were found, at Qin Museum, exhibition halls of Terracotta Warriors, China

Statue of a resting lion, Spirit Way, Ming Tombs, Beijing (Peking), China

Stone Henge in the winter, Wilthshire, England.

Arco di Costantino (Arch of Constantine), Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Arles Amphitheatre, Arles, Bouches du Rhone, Provence, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France, Europe

Tourists at Dazu rock carvings of Buddha of Great Sunlight, Buddha of Mercy at Mount Baoding, China

Ceramic Buddha figure on display in the Shanghai Museum, China

Infantry men figures in Pit 1 at Qin Museum, exhibition halls of Terracotta Warriors, Xian, China

Antiquities, County Meath, Leinster, Republic of Ireland (Eire), Europe

Figurines on display in glass case in the Shaanxi History Museum, Xian, China

Tourists at Dazu rock carvings of Buddha of Great Sunlight, Buddha of Mercy at Mount Baoding, China

Infantry men figures in Pit 1 at Qin Museum, exhibition halls of Terracotta Warriors, Xian, China

Stone Buddha figure of Bodhisattva on display in the Shanghai Museum, China

Terracotta warriors and horses on display in the Shaanxi History Museum, Xian, China

Remains of the Roman amphitheatre discovered in the basement of the Guildhall, London, EC2, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Acropolis Museum, Athens, Attica Region, Greece, Europe

Terracotta warrior on display in the Shaanxi History Museum, Xian, China

Camel figure on display in the Shaanxi History Museum, Xian, China

Statue of a standing elephant, Spirit Way, Ming Tombs, Beijing (Peking), China

Public fountain on cobbled street, Roman ruins of Pompeii, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Campania, Italy, Europe

Place de la Republique, Arles, Bouches du Rhone, Provence, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France, Europe

Dazu rock carvings at Mount Baoding, Chongqing, China

Buddha stone from the Northern Qi Dynasty on display in the Shanghai Museum, China

Pan water vessel on display in glass case at the Shanghai Museum, China

Terracotta warriors and horses on display in the Shaanxi History Museum, Xian, China

Infantry men figures in Pit 1 at Qin Museum, exhibition halls of Terracotta Warriors, Xian, China

Statue of a stading camel, Spirit Way, Ming Tombs, Beijing (Peking), China

Chinese characters, detail from Forest of Stone Tablets, also known as the Forest of Stelae, Xian, China

Zhong Dynasty bell on display in the Shanghai Museum, China

The Egyptian Antiquities Museum, Cairo, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Pantheon, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Infantry men figures in Pit 1 at Qin Museum, exhibition halls of Terracotta Warriors, Xian, China

Tourists view Pit 3 containing horses and warriors as they were found, at Qin Museum of Terracotta Warriors, China

Tourists photograph Terracotta warriors on display in the Shaanxi History Museum, Xian, China

Ara Pacis, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Public fountain on cobbled street, Roman ruins of Pompeii, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Campania, Italy, Europe

Teatro Marcello, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

The tomb of Alasdair Macleod in St Clements Church in Rodel, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK, and ancient 15th century church built for the chiefs of the Clan Macleods

An old abandoned tin mine on moorland above St Agnes, Cornwall, UK.

Ancient, medieval Tudor timber framed houses in Pembridge, Herefordshire, UK.

An old abandoned tin mine chimney on moorland above St Agnes, Cornwall, UK.

An old abandoned tin mine on moorland above St Agnes, Cornwall, UK.

An abandoned tin mine in Porthtowan on the North Cornish coast, UK.

The formal gardens of Lanhydrock a country residence dating from the 1600's in Cornwall, UK.

The formal gardens of Lanhydrock a country residence dating from the 1600's in Cornwall, UK.

Ancient preserved grave slabs in Iona Abbey on Iona, off Mull, Scotland, UK.

An ancient preserved grave slab in Iona Abbey on Iona, off Mull, Scotland, UK.

Iona Abbey on Iona, off Mull, Scotland, UK.

Ancient preserved grave slabs in Iona Abbey on Iona, off Mull, Scotland, UK.

An ancient preserved grave slab in Iona Abbey on Iona, off Mull, Scotland, UK.

St john's Cross in the grounds of Iona Abbey, Iona, off mull, Scotland, UK, with St Oran's Cross in the background

A solar park at Wheal Jane an old abandoned Cornish tin mine near Redruth, UK, that is rediscovering itself as a renewable energy hub.

A solar park at Wheal Jane an old abandoned Cornish tin mine near Redruth, UK, that is rediscovering itself as a renewable energy hub, with the old mine buildings in the background.

An ancient medieval Tudor timber framed house in Dilwyn, Herefordshire, UK.

An old abandoned tin mine on moorland above St Agnes, Cornwall, UK.

Iona Abbey on Iona, off Mull, Scotland, UK, with the grave of John Smith, the former Labour leader in the foreground.

An ancient medieval Tudor timber framed house in Dilwyn, Herefordshire, UK.

The formal gardens of Lanhydrock a country residence dating from the 1600's in Cornwall, UK.

Sandstone pillars in Iona Abbey on Iona, off Mull, Scotland, UK.

St john's Cross in the grounds of Iona Abbey, Iona, off mull, Scotland, UK, with St Oran's Cross in the background

A granite Tor and standing stone on the summit of Great Links Tor, on Dartmoor, Devon, UK.

Iona Abbey on iona, off Mull, Scotland, UK.

Castlerigg stone circle, near Keswick Lake District, UK.

Lanhydrock a country residence dating from the 1600's in Cornwall, UK.

Castlerigg stone circle, near Keswick Lake District, UK.

Sandstone pillars in Iona Abbey on Iona, off Mull, Scotland, UK.

Castlerigg stone circle, near Keswick Lake District, UK.

The Purana Qila fort in Delhi; India at sunset.

4000 year old Standing stones on the Glen Gorm estate near Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland, UK.

The Purana Qila fort in Delhi, India, the oldest building in delhi, dating back to the 16th Century

Roman mosaic floors at the Roman town of Conimbriga in Portugal

Roman mosaic floors at the Roman town of Conimbriga in Portugal, Europe

La Calahorra Castle in La Calahorra at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Andalucia, Spain, Europe

The rift valley at Pingvellir, Pingvellir National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most visited sites in Iceland, Polar Regions

Roman remains at the Roman town of Conimbriga in Portugal

The Merry Maidens stone circle near Lamorna Cove in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Crown Mine, an old abandoned tin mine on the Cornish coast at Botallack near St. Just, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Europe

The ancient Chysauster settlement near Penzance in Cornwall, the best preserved iron age settlement in the west country.

Dun Beag Broch on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

The University of Coimbra, Portugal, Europe

The Merry Maidens stone circle near Lamorna Cove in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Dun Beag Broch on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

An ancient stone cross in Crows an Wra in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Old tin mines on the Cornish coast at Botallack near St. Just, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Old wooden houses in Blatten above Zermatt, Switzerland, Europe

An ancient Broch near Stoer in Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Aerial views of El Castillo and the Ruins of the Mayan temple grounds at Tulum, Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Mexico. Tulum is the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city which served as a major port for Coba, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The ruins are situated on 12 meter 39 ft tall cliffs along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. Old World diseases brought by the Spanish settlers appear to have resulted in very high fatalities, disrupting the society, and eventually causing the city to be abandoned.

Aerial views of El Castillo and the Ruins of the Mayan temple grounds at Tulum, Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Mexico. Tulum is the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city which served as a major port for Coba, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The ruins are situated on 12 meter 39 ft tall cliffs along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. Old World diseases brought by the Spanish settlers appear to have resulted in very high fatalities, disrupting the society, and eventually causing the city to be abandoned.

Roman baths, Downtown, Beirut, Lebanon

Temple of Bacchus, Baalbeck, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

Aztec Cihuateotl. Mexico, Aztec. Late 15th-early 16th century. Stone. Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. 82nd Street Manhattan New USA