The search for the first inhabited city in the world is not only a journey through time but also a glimpse into the early achievements of human civilization. Long before the rise of monumental empires and sprawling capitals, ancient humans began forming settlements that gradually evolved into cities. These early cities were hubs of agriculture, trade, culture, and religion. Among the most recognized and widely studied candidates for the title of the world’s first inhabited city is Jericho, located in the West Bank region. Archaeological evidence suggests it may have been continuously inhabited for over 10,000 years, making it a remarkable testament to human resilience and development.
Understanding the Concept of a City
What Defines a City?
Before naming the first inhabited city, it’s important to define what a city actually is. A city is more than a cluster of homes; it involves organized infrastructure, social structure, governance, trade, and cultural or religious practices. Early cities were typically marked by:
- Permanent structures made of durable materials
- Evidence of agricultural practices and food storage
- Defensive walls or boundaries
- Burial sites and places of worship
- Artifacts indicating trade or specialized labor
Criteria for the Oldest City
To qualify as the first inhabited city, a site must show long-term habitation, not just temporary or seasonal occupation. Archaeologists look for layers of habitation, known as strata, which demonstrate a city’s development over centuries.
Jericho: The Leading Candidate
Geographic Location
Jericho is located near the Jordan River in the West Bank, at an oasis in the Jordan Valley. It sits well below sea level, making it one of the lowest inhabited cities on Earth. Its fertile land and proximity to fresh water made it ideal for early settlement.
Evidence of Early Habitation
Archaeological digs have uncovered remains of dwellings, stone tools, and even defensive walls dating back to 9000 BCE. Excavations by archaeologists such as Kathleen Kenyon in the 1950s revealed a round tower and wall built around 8000 BCE likely the oldest known city fortifications in human history.
Neolithic Culture
Jericho’s early inhabitants belonged to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) and Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) cultures. These communities cultivated wheat and barley, domesticated animals, and developed religious practices, as seen in burial customs and shrines.
Other Early Cities Worth Mentioning
Çatalhöyük (Turkey)
Located in modern-day Turkey, Çatalhöyük is another ancient settlement often cited as one of the earliest cities. Dating back to around 7500 BCE, it housed thousands of residents in closely packed mudbrick houses. However, it lacked certain urban features like streets and defensive walls, leading some to classify it as a large village rather than a true city.
Byblos (Lebanon)
Byblos, situated along the Mediterranean coast of modern Lebanon, has been inhabited since at least 5000 BCE. It played a crucial role in early Phoenician culture and writing systems, but its urban development came much later than Jericho or Çatalhöyük.
Damascus (Syria)
Although not the oldest, Damascus is often called one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Its urban roots stretch back to around 3000 BCE, and it has remained an important cultural and political center for thousands of years.
Why Jericho Stands Out
Longevity of Habitation
Unlike many early settlements that were abandoned or destroyed, Jericho has seen continuous human occupation for over ten millennia. This long history makes it a living record of human development, adaptation, and survival.
Technological Innovations
The ancient inhabitants of Jericho demonstrated significant advances in construction, agriculture, and irrigation. The use of stone walls and towers to protect against floods and invaders reveals complex social organization and engineering knowledge.
Religious and Cultural Life
Evidence of ritual burials and early shrines suggests that the people of Jericho were deeply spiritual. The presence of figurines and burial offerings indicates belief in an afterlife or ancestral reverence.
The Role of Agriculture
The Agricultural Revolution
The development of agriculture was a turning point that allowed humans to settle in one place and form cities. Jericho was among the first places where humans shifted from hunting and gathering to farming wheat, barley, and legumes.
Food Surplus and Storage
With agriculture came food surplus, which allowed for the division of labor. Not everyone had to farm some became artisans, leaders, or religious figures. Storage facilities found in Jericho, such as granaries, highlight this shift toward a complex economy.
Social Structure and Trade
Division of Labor
As societies grew more complex, roles became more specialized. Jericho’s inhabitants included farmers, builders, spiritual leaders, and possibly traders. The distribution of work marks the beginnings of social classes and governance structures.
Trade Networks
Obsidian tools found in Jericho suggest trade with distant regions such as Anatolia. These early trade networks were vital in spreading goods, technologies, and cultural practices across regions.
Impact on Future Civilizations
Urban Planning
The principles of organized settlement seen in Jericho laid the groundwork for future urban planning in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and beyond. The concept of fortification, for instance, was later refined in many ancient empires.
Legacy in Modern Culture
Jericho holds a special place in religious texts, especially within the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is mentioned in the Bible as the city whose walls fell after being circled by the Israelites, a story that continues to influence art and literature.
Challenges in Dating Ancient Cities
Archaeological Limitations
Determining the exact timeline of early cities is challenging due to erosion, incomplete records, and the limitations of carbon dating. New discoveries often change our understanding of when and where the first cities arose.
Definition Disputes
Scholars sometimes debate what qualifies as a city versus a village or settlement. These definitions can influence which site is considered the oldest true city.
While many ancient settlements have strong claims to antiquity, Jericho remains the most widely accepted candidate for the first inhabited city in the world. Its combination of early permanent structures, agricultural innovation, religious life, and continuous habitation gives it a unique status in human history. Understanding Jericho and other ancient cities helps us appreciate the profound journey from scattered nomadic groups to organized urban civilizations. The lessons learned from these early centers continue to shape the way we live and build communities today.