7. Great Zimbabwe Ruins

Photo by Macvivo via Wikimedia Commons

Between the 11th and 15th centuries, these remains were the main city of the Bantu Civilization of the Shona. The monument, built out of granite with some walls reaching 20 meters high, was constructed from a dry-stonewalling technique which takes a high-level of masonry expertise. Researchers believe that anywhere from 5,000 to 30,000 people inhabited this site before it turned to ruins. It seems that over the years this monument deteriorated because of drought and overgrazing which exhausted the soil. Today, this legendary capital of the Queen of Sheba is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has been protected since 1893.