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This is a list of present-day cities by the time period over which they have been continuously inhabited as a city. The age claims listed are generally disputed. Differences in opinion can result from different definitions of "city" as well as "continuous habitation" and historical evidence is often disputed.
- Jericho, West Bank. Dating back to between 11,000 and 9,300 BCE, Jericho is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city on Earth. Fortifications unearthed in Jericho dating back to between 9,000 and 8,000 BCE confirm it's also the earliest known walled city.
- Damascus, Syria. Damascus is widely believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with evidence of habitation dating back to around 10,000 to 8,000 BCE.
- Ray, Iran. Located within the Greater Tehran metropolitan area, Ray, Iran (also spelled Rayy and Rey), has evidence of habitation dating back to around 6,000 BCE, though it has likely been continuously occupied for longer.
- Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. The city of Erbil, also known as Hewlêr, is located in what is now the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Continuously inhabited since about 6,000 BCE, the city is dominated by the fortified settlement surrounding Erbil Citadel.
May 30, 2019 · Learn about the ancient origins and modern life of these urban centers that have been continuously inhabited for thousands of years. See photos and facts of Damascus, Eridu, Varanasi, and more.
- Damascus, Syria
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- Luxor, Egypt
- Athens, Greece
- Susa, Iran
- Jerusalem
- Argos, Greece
- Aleppo, Syria
- Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Byblos, Lebanon
photo source: Wikimedia Commons via UNESCO by Véronique Dauge However, people may have inhabited Damascus much earlier as there is archaeological evidence that shows people lived in the region just outside of Damascus as early as 10000 to 8000 BCE. Regardless of when the city was first settled, Damascus became important to the various peoples that ...
In addition to all of its historical landmarks, Damascus is home to the world’s largest restaurant, Damascus Gate Restaurant. According to Guinness World Records, the Damascus Gate Restaurant has a total 6,014 seats and covers 215,277.4 square feet (20,000 square meters).
photo source:Wikimedia Commons Luxorsits on the site of the ancient city of Thebes, which was the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom. The city was established around 3200 BCE and started out as a small trading post and eventually became the center and one of the wealthiest cities of the Egyptian Empire during its peak. Many ancient structures ...
photo source:Wikimedia Commons Athens is one of the oldest and most important cities in western civilization. The city has been inhabited since Neolithic times, around the the end of the 4thmillennium BCE. By the first millennium BCE, Athens became the leading city of Ancient Greece. According to Greek mythology, Athens was named for its patron god...
photo source:Wikimedia Commons The ancient city of Susa (modern-day Shush)was home to the Elam civilization. There is evidence that the earliest settlement was established around 4200 BCE. Evidence suggests that the city was founded around the time that nearby villages were abandoned including Chonga Mish, which was the cultural center of the regio...
photo source: Wikimedia Commons via Godot13 Jerusalemis a strategically located ancient city that has been heatedly fought over by various civilizations. Unfortunately, these wars are still ongoing today as both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem as their capital. The ancient city is also a major religious site and is important to three major rel...
photo source:Wikimedia Commons Under Roman rule Argos became important again and flourished during the Byzantine era. At one point the Greek government considered moving the capital to Argos, but eventually chose Athens in 1834. The city of Argos is featured throughout several Greek myths and is believed to be the birthplace of Perseus, the son of ...
photo source:Wikimedia Commons In recent history, the city of Aleppohas become known as being the center of the Syrian Civil War; the city has seen massive destruction and is the worst hit by the war. Today, the damaged parts of Aleppo are still undergoing reconstruction. Despite its current circumstances, Aleppo is a great city of antiquity with a...
photo source:Wikimedia Commons Plovdiv, which is often cited as one of the oldest cities in Europe, was first settled during the Neolithic era around 6000 BCE. Throughout the city’s long history, it has been conquered by several different peoples including the Thracians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians, and Ottoman Turks — all of these ...
photo source:Wikimedia Commons According to archaeological research, Bybloshas been occupied since the Neolithic Period between 8800 – 7000 BCE and its oldest settlement developed around the 4th millennium BCE – Byblos has been continuously occupied since this first settlement. According to myth, Byblos was built by Cronus as the first city of Phoe...
May 19, 2023 · Learn about the history and archaeology of six ancient cities that claim to be the oldest inhabited in the world, from Jericho to Susa. Compare their cultural, historical, and archaeological significance and challenges.
- Cory Price
Jun 7, 2024 · Damascus, Syria, founded in 3000 B.C.E., is considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Jericho, West Bank, Palestine, dating back around 11,000 years, is one of the oldest cities with evidence of 23 layers of ancient sites.
Sep 2, 2009 · Byblos is among the cities listed as candidates for the distinction of 'oldest city in the world' as it has been continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years. Byblos is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
