The Neolithic Era began between six to twelve thousands years ago, when our ancestors discovered that instead of hunting and gathering, they could live in one place by domesticating plants and animals. The discovery opened the door to a new future for the human species. It began the period of agriculture, metallurgy, and pottery, causing the development of urban life and the growth of the human population. Possibly the first urban settlement was the city of Jericho.1
Jericho is the oldest known city, and today it is known as “The City of Palm Trees.” When one drives through the desert near Jericho, one will come to an oasis and to fertile soil. It is located 900 feet below sea level in the northern part of the Dead Sea, one of the lowest points in the world. Even though that Jericho is currently located in a desert, ten thousand years ago the neolithic village of Jericho was able to grab its water from the mountains of Moab and Gilead, which were 2500 feet above sea level and close to the village. The water would go through underground tunnels to the village, which then used the water for what was probably the first irrigation system in history. Also, the fresh water that came from the mountains gave the village’s fertile farm lands ample water for growing grain, feeding domesticated animals like sheep, goats, and dogs, as well as providing water for the palm tree groves. For its day, Jericho became a most prosperous village, and the only such village in the world.2
Jericho was not only the first of its kind, but also the strongest village in the land. Because of its unique location, it had two important routes: one was to the lands east of the city and the other one to the desert behind it, to the Palestinian coast. The village was also notable for its early pre-pottery settlement (8500-7000 BCE), with buildings made of mud brick, and unique oval shaped walls, which surrounded the whole village to protect the five to thirty families that live in it from outsiders. Their houses and buildings seemed to be well developed with rooms and kitchens. The village of Jericho was built on top of a great mound that was about eighty feet high. Archaeologist have found towers as high as twenty five feet in the village, and various fortified walls, (the walls started from five to six feet high and increase over time) because the original village was never destroyed; the people, instead of destroying it by tearing it down, build another city on top of the previous one that was standing.3 Now, people live in Jericho. It is populated by Palestinians today, but it is also a place where archaeologist and tourist go to find out about the history of our past and about the beginning of the Neolithic Era.
- Kathleen M. Kenyon, “Excavations at Jericho,” The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland 84, no. 1/2 (1954): 105. ↵
- Kathleen M. Kenyon, “Excavations at Jericho,” The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland 84, no. 1/2 (1954): 103-5. ↵
- O. Bar-Yosef, “The Walls of Jericho: An Alternative Interpretation,” Current Anthropology 27, no. 2 (1986): 158. ↵
Tags from the story
Ancient Jericho
neolithic villages
Recent Comments
Aurora Torres
I like the article, when I read or hear the word Jericho of course I think of the story in the Bible. How Joshua was sent to destroy the city…..never knew about what I read in your article. I like the idea that thousands of years ago they were able to grab the water from the mountains and the first (natural) irrigation system, that’s amazing. Enjoyed reading, thanks.
29/09/2016
7:29 am
Erik Rodriguez
Awesome topic! Definitely one of the greatest and most unique accomplishments of human history! In my previous studies, I have never been specifically informed about the development and uprising of this village. However, after reading this article, I have indubitably grasped a good understanding of the city of Jericho from its historical background to even a glimpse of today’s current situation. It strikes me crazy how this village in the middle of a desert was capable of creating the world’s first irrigation system ever! The fact that they were able to generate a water system through the mountains of Moab and Gilead and create a water source providing for almost everything in that village, that is just crazy! Great article! Very informative and substance surrounded! Keep up the good work!
05/10/2016
7:29 am
Priscilla Reyes
Beautifully written! I loved the introduction, imagery and descriptions throughout. However, I would have liked to read more about Jericho as one of the strongest villages in the land and how the two major routes were important.
06/10/2016
7:29 am
Celina Resendez
I remember vaguely learning about Jericho when I was in high school, however, I was not aware that the city was still inhabited today. I think it would be interesting to see pictures of the original village and the village as it is today. It makes me wonder if one can still see the remnants of the original mud brick dwellings or if they have been built upon so drastically that they are difficult to distinguish. Great article!
26/09/2016
7:29 am