The title of the world's oldest standing wooden building belongs to Horyu-ji Temple (specifically its five-story pagoda and Main Hall) in Nara, Japan. These structures were originally completed in 607 AD, and despite a fire in 670 AD, the timber used in the reconstruction has been carbon-dated to have been felled in the late 7th century. This means the temple has stood largely intact for over 1,300 years. The longevity of the building is attributed to the use of high-quality Japanese cypress (hinoki), which becomes stronger as it ages, and an ingenious seismic design featuring a central "shinbashira" pillar that allows the structure to sway safely during earthquakes. More recently, in late 2025, archaeologists at Kalambo Falls in Zambia discovered a wooden structure—interlocking logs—dated to roughly 476,000 years ago. While this is technically the "oldest wooden structure," it is an archaeological find rather than a standing, functional building like Horyu-ji.