Old Sarum, Salisbury, England

A hill fort of the Early Iron Age, Old Sarum sprawls across nearly thirty-acres of English countryside. The plateau-like structure of the area gives it a distinct appearance from afar, but closer inspection reveals remnants of a once-thriving city. Originally developed as a fort by Roman invaders, it was abandoned when Roman occupation ended. The castle and cathedral are the inner sanctuaries housed within the fortress's protective structure. The monument dates back to the 11th Century, when the first cathedral within Old Sarum was built by Bishop Osmund, Chancellor to William the Conqueror. The cathedral lay empty until it was renovated by Bishop Roger during his tenure from 1107-1139 AD. Both the cathedral and the castle are in a ruinous state, but the artifacts that have been excavated trace the site back to its roots.