The Ancient City of Jericho: History and Major Facts
Jericho, one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities, holds a significant place in the annals of human history. Its antiquity, coupled with its notable mentions in religious texts and its...
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Situated in the Jordan Valley of the West Bank, the ancient city of Jericho, known as the “City of Palm Trees”, boasts a history that stretches back over 10,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Earliest Beginnings
The origins of Jericho trace back to around 9000 BC during the Natufian culture. Its initial inhabitants were semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers who began to establish permanent settlements. With the end of the Younger Dryas period and the onset of favorable climatic conditions, Jericho evolved from a temporary to a more permanent settlement, laying down the framework for an urban culture.
Walls of Jericho
The Neolithic settlement of Jericho became renowned for its imposing fortifications. By around 8000 BC, the city had erected massive stone walls, standing at least 13 feet high, and a watchtower, which was approximately 28 feet tall. These walls, believed to be among the first for pure military defense, symbolize the burgeoning complexity of Neolithic societies, emphasizing the necessity to safeguard their established resources.
Transition to Urbanization
Between 9,500 BC and 6,500 BC, Jericho underwent rapid urban development, transforming from a hunter-gatherer society to a more agriculturally centered one. The domestication of crops like barley, emmer wheat, and pulses underscored this shift. Architecturally, the city saw the rise of round mud-brick houses and sophisticated water systems.
Canaanite Era & Bronze Age
Around 4500 BC, the Canaanite era marked Jericho’s Bronze Age. By the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, the city expanded both in size and influence. Robust walls enclosed it, and it witnessed the construction of grand palaces. By the Late Bronze Age, Jericho was a formidable entity within the Canaan region. However, between 1617 BC and 1530 BC, its walls met with destruction. Contrary to popular biblical accounts of its downfall to the Israelites, archaeological evidence suggests that this devastation occurred centuries earlier, likely due to an Egyptian campaign against the Hyksos.
Iron Age & Successive Occupations
After the Bronze Age Collapse, Jericho lay uninhabited for centuries. The Iron Age, around the 10th and 9th centuries BC, saw its reconstruction. However, this rebirth was short-lived as the Babylonians, during their invasion of Judah in the 6th century BC, laid waste to it. Following Babylon’s defeat by the Persians, Jericho was rebuilt, marking its Phoenix-like resilience through history.
Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine Eras
After the demise of Alexander the Great, Jericho became part of the Seleucid Empire. By 140 BC, under the Hasmonean dynasty, it transitioned to a garden city. The Roman conquest later gifted Jericho to Cleopatra, and subsequently, King Herod, who adorned the city with a hippodrome, aqueducts, and lavish palaces, making it a destination for the elite.
Later Periods
Jericho transitioned through numerous rulers after the ancient era — from the Umayyads to the Crusaders, and the Ottomans. Each left an indelible imprint on its cultural and architectural landscape.
Modern Day Jericho
Currently, Jericho is a small town in the Palestinian West Bank, with a population surpassing 20,000. Its rich history makes it a focal point for archaeological research and tourism.
Major excavations of the site
The archaeological site at Jericho, Tell es-Sultan, has attracted numerous expeditions. Starting in 1868 under Charles Warren, the first excavations revealed parts of Temple Mount and a water shaft, named Warren’s Shaft. These findings showed Jericho’s advantageous position, with natural defenses and abundant water from springs. This excavation marked a new age in Biblical archaeology.
From 1907-1911, Germans, led by Ernst Sellin and Carl Watzinger, dug further, unearthing more facets of Biblical Jericho. Their efforts hinted at deeper historical layers, yet the true extent remained unveiled.
Between 1952 and 1958, Kathleen Kenyon’s work uncovered that Jericho was ancient, predating even written history. Dated to around 10,000 BC, it’s considered the world’s oldest settlement, but not the first city; Çatalhöyük in Turkey holds that title.
From 1997 to 2015, a joint Italian-Palestinian team, including Lorenzo Nigro, Hamdan Taha, and Jehad Yasine, discovered defensive towers on the tell, further highlighting Jericho’s historical importance.
