Jericho is often considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, with evidence of some areas dating back to 9,000 BCE.
Dozens of cities around the world have been inhabited for thousands of years. However, accurately determining the oldest continuously inhabited city is not straightforward. The question arises: If a city is destroyed, then rebuilt, slightly relocated, rebuilt again, and then collapses once more before being reconstructed, does it become a new city or remain the original city? The science site IFL Science highlighted several contenders for the title of the world’s oldest city on May 29, many of which are located in the Middle East.
The Mar Saba Monastery in Jericho is one of the oldest monasteries in the world that has been continuously inhabited. (Photo: Ameer Qaimari/Shutterstock).
Jericho is widely regarded as the oldest existing city. Archaeological evidence indicates that the area has seen numerous settlements over the millennia. Some parts of the city and its famous walls are believed to have been constructed around 9,000 BCE.
However, it is important to distinguish these ancient structures from modern-day Jericho, located in the West Bank of Palestine. The ancient part of Jericho is actually known as Tell es-Sultan, situated about 2 kilometers north of the current city center. As such, there remains some debate about whether this site can be considered continuously inhabited.
Syria also boasts several strong contenders for the title of the oldest existing city. Historically, Damascus was widely recognized for this honor due to archaeological remnants showing human presence since 9,000 BCE. However, there is no clear evidence of significant human activity in Damascus until around 2,000 BCE.
Aleppo, another city in Syria, may be a safer choice. Archaeological findings suggest that this city has likely been inhabited since 6,000 BCE. Aleppo began to thrive during the Golden Age of the Silk Road from the 12th to the early 15th centuries.
Aleppo, one of the oldest cities in the world, before the Syrian Civil War began (2011). (Photo: Joel Carillet/Getty).
Lastly, the city of Faiyum in Egypt also deserves mention. Originally, the ancient Egyptians built the city known as Shedet. Due to the settlement’s worship of the crocodile god Sobek, the Greeks named the city “Crocodilopolis.” Located about 130 kilometers southwest of modern Cairo, pottery and architectural remains near the city indicate that humans have lived here since around 5,500 BCE. This makes Faiyum the oldest city in Egypt and one of the oldest settlements in Africa.
