3Rumkale – Turkey (circa 840 BC)
Rumkale, meaning “Roman Castle,” is located on a cliffside overlooking the Euphrates River in southeastern Turkey. Though it gained prominence during the Roman and Byzantine periods, the site itself has roots as far back as the Assyrian Empire. It was later occupied by the Crusaders and Armenians. Its dramatic setting and ancient walls make it one of the lesser-known but oldest fortified sites in the region.
