Jericho
For other meanings of the word Jericho, see: Jericho (disambiguation)Jericho is a town in the West Bank, near the west bank of the Jordan River.
History
Three separate settlements have existed at or near the current location for more than 11,000 years. The location was probably desirable on account of a supply of fresh water and a favorable position on an east-west route north of the Dead Sea.Tell es-Sultan
The earliest settlement was located at the present-day Tell es-Sultan (or Tell Sultan), a couple of kilometers from the current city. Arabic tell means "mound" -- consecutive layers of habitation built up a mound over time, as is common for ancient settlements in the Middle East and Anatolia. The Neolithic settlements were contemporary with Catalhoyuk and had a similar technology level. The habitation has been classed into several phases:Proto-Neolithic -- construction at the site apparently began before the invention of agriculture, with construction of stone Natufian culture structures beginning earlier than 9000 BC.
Pre-Pottery Neolithic A, 8350 BC to 7370 BC. A four hectare settlement surrounded by a stone wall, with a stone tower in the centre of one wall. Round mud-brick houses. Use of domesticated emmer wheat, barley and pulses and hunting of wild animals.
Pre-Pottery Neolithic B, 7220 BC to 5850 BC. Expanded range of domesticated plants. Possible domestication of sheep. Apparent cult involving the preservation of human skulls, with facial features reconstructed from plaster and eyes set with shells in some cases.
Late 4th millennium BC. A walled town, continuously occupied until some time between 1580 BC and 1400 BC when it was destroyed.
