Perched on cliffs or hidden deep in caves, the world is full of ancient sites that have stood for thousands of years. From cave paintings depicting early human life, to burial grounds, to mysterious henges, here are 33 amazing prehistoric sites around the world. 

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Some of the most spectacular prehistoric sites were constructed with megaliths, such as Ale's Stones in Sweden, a monument comprised of 59 large sandstone boulders, each weighing about 1.8 tonnes, that have been placed in the shape of a ship; and Carnac in France, a site that features more than 3,000 prehistoric megaliths all erected during the Neolithic period. Antequera's dolmens in Spain, such as Menga Dolmen, feature tombs that have been constructed to create tunnel tombs. The heaviest megalith used at Menga weighs about 180 tonnes. This impressive site has been nominated for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure not to miss the Avenbury Stone Circle in England, which is the largest stone circle in the world. It is believed to date from 2500 to 2200 BC. 

Many of the discovered prehistoric sites are believed to be ancient burial sites and tombs, such as Brú na Boinne in Ireland; or place of worship, such as Gobekli Tepe in Turkey.  Discovered by archeologists in 1994, Gobekli Tepe is connsidered one of the world's oldest places of worship, according to Live Science. It predates Stonehenge by 6,000 years, reports The Smithsonian Magazine, and features massive carved stones, depicting scenes of animals, that are about 11,000 years old by prehistoric people that had not yet developed metal tools or pottery. 

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Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico is one of the oldest prehistoric sites in the United States, providing evidence of a human presence in the area for over 11,000 years. The park is home to a number of dwellings that have been carved into rock cliffs, as well as petroglyphs, images carved into rock. The Canyon de Chelly, inhabited for nearly 5000 years, also features a number of stunning petroglyphs made by the ancestral Puebloan people. 

Some of the most incredible surviving prehistoric art, however, is found in caves, such as the famous Lascaux and Chauvet caves in France.  Lascaux features Paleolithic paintings that are believed to be about 20,000 years old, while the Chauvet cave is home to the world's oldest-known cave paintings, dating back approximately 30,000-32,000 years. Both of these caves have been closed to the public for their conservation, protecting them from the deterioration that humidity and warmth brought by visitors, but toursits can see reproductions of these famous paintings in replica caves nearby. 

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Click on the slideshow above to read more about these stunning ancient sites around the world. 

This article was originally published September 22, 2015 and was updated on March 29, 2016. 

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