Years of foundation of the cities of the world. The oldest city in the world according to ancient historians

The oldest cities in the world still live today. These settlements have passed, as they say, the test of time.

History can be surprisingly unpredictable, but some of its monuments have been unshakable for several thousand years. Before you is a list of the most ancient cities in the world that did not fall into decay and were not lost over the years, but were constantly inhabited by people. Find out which cities of the East, Europe and Asia are not only considered the oldest, but are still inhabited! You may also be wondering which civilization is considered the oldest.

The most ancient cities of East Asia

Although the Chinese civilization is rightfully considered one of the most ancient, the age of its oldest surviving cities is significantly inferior to the age of the first fortified settlements of the Near and Middle East. But even these figures cause awe in a person who has come face to face with the legacy of time.

Beijing

Country: China
Year of foundation: 1045 BC

The ancient name of the current capital of China is Ji. The city, founded in 1045 BC, was listed as the capital feudal principality Yang for almost two thousand years, until in 938 AD. the Liao dynasty did not make it a second capital North China. Beijing (it was also called Beijing and, later, Beiping) was the most important state center in the era of Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing, retained this status after the formation of New China. By the way, it was in the vicinity of Beijing that the remains of Sinanthropus were found - the so-called "Beijing Man", whose age dates back to approximately 600 thousand years.

Sian

Country: China
Year of foundation: 1100 BC

For 3100 years, Xi'an (ancient names - Haojin, Chan-An), the most ancient city China from now inhabited, visited the capital of ten major dynasties. A major cultural and political center was also famous for the manufacture of bronze objects; some products have survived to this day and are now exhibited in local museums. In 907, the Tang Dynasty died out, after which the city slowly fell into decay. Subsequently, he played an important role in the development of state trade, but he never returned to his former greatness.

The oldest cities in the Middle East

The ancient Near East, namely the interfluve of the Tigris and Euphrates, is considered the cradle of human civilization. Mesopotamia is the largest ancient civilization, which, despite its greatness, could not resist the onslaught of centuries. But, for example, neighboring Egypt still pleases tourists with its ancient capital.

Balkh

Country: Afghanistan
Year of foundation: 1500 BC

This city, located on the territory of modern Afghanistan, is often called the cradle of three religions: Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Buddhism. Balkh is considered to be the birthplace of Zarathustra, the founder of Zoroastrianism, the most ancient religion in the world known to man.

Luxor

Country: Egypt
Year of foundation: 3200 BC

Approximately XXII-XX centuries BC. Luxor was the capital of Waset (the fourth nome of Ancient Egypt), then became the main city of the entire kingdom of Egypt and remained so until the 10th century BC. It is also known to historians under the Greek name of Thebes.

El Fayoum

Country: Egypt
Year of foundation: 3200 BC

Another ancient Egyptian city appeared on the world map in the 4th millennium BC. Faiyum is located southwest of Cairo, on the territory of the ancient Crocodilopolis. Such an unusual name is a settlement in honor of the cult of the sacred crocodile Petsuhos, which was worshiped by local residents. Now the city is quite modern, here you can visit large bazaars, mosques, baths, as well as the pyramids of Khawara and Lekhin.

The most ancient cities in Europe

Athens

Country: Greece
Year of foundation: 1400 BC

The exact date of the founding of Athens is unknown. Written sources testify that the states of the Ancient World knew about the existence of a settlement on the site of modern Athens as early as 9600 BC. However, the city itself, which is rightly called the cradle Greek culture, arose only in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC.

Agros

Country: Greece
Year of foundation: 2000 BC

The date of foundation of the city of Agros (Peloponness) is conventionally considered to be 2000 BC. - the first evidence of its existence found by archaeologists belongs to this period. Perhaps its history goes much deeper. According to the ancient Greek epic, Agros was adjacent to Mycenae and Tiryns, now in ruins.

Mantova

Country: Italy
Year of foundation: 2000 BC

Mantua is not Big city in the region of Lombardy, founded by the Etruscans and Gauls. For most of its history, Mantua was located on an island on the Mincio River. Subsequently, already in the Middle Ages, the inhabitants blocked the channel and turned the island into a peninsula. As a result, the city was surrounded by lakes on three sides. By the way, the ancient Roman poet Virgil was born in the vicinity of Mantua.

Plovdiv

Country: Bulgaria
Year of foundation: 6000 BC

The oldest city in Europe is located in a picturesque place in southern Bulgaria, on the coast of the Maritsa River. Like Rome, it was built on seven hills - three of them can be clearly distinguished today. Initially, Plovdiv was a small village called Tratsian, which later turned into a major center of the Roman Empire. Before becoming part of Bulgaria, Plovdiv was also under the rule of Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire. Modern Plovdiv is a flourishing city with a rich cultural and social life.

The oldest cities in the Middle East

bible

Country: Lebanon
Year of foundation: 5000 BC

Once on the site of modern Jbeil stood the ancient city of Byblos - the heart of all Mediterranean navigation, the largest exporter of papyrus to Hellas. In the sixth millennium BC, these places were chosen by nomadic tribes who hunted for fishing. After a couple of thousand years, the settlement, nicknamed by the inhabitants of Gubla, was overgrown with stone walls, and its inhabitants continued the traditions of their ancestors and turned the city into a prosperous harbor. In the III millennium BC. Gubla passed into the possession of the Phoenicians - the sea people were attracted by its convenient position and developed water infrastructure. In the second millennium BC, the city developed its own written language, which significantly increased its wealth, which was entirely dependent on trade. And a little later, he became the main exporter of papyrus to Greece. Papyrus in ancient Greek was known exactly as “byblos”, and the city, accordingly, began to be called the same.

Jericho

Country: Palestine
Year of foundation: 6800 BC

The most ancient city in the world is Jericho (meaning a settlement with fortified walls). Although the first human settlements arose here, on the west bank of the Jordan, as early as the 8th millennium BC. It still reminds me of those days powerful walls Jericho tower. According to biblical legend, the walls of this city in ancient times fell from the sound of the trumpet of Joshua. During the excavations, which were closely engaged in the middle of the 20th century, archaeologists discovered as many as forty so-called "cultural layers" under these lands!

You can also find out about the most ancient city in Russia, its history and location on our website.
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Cities are like people: they are born, live and die. But they can be thousands of years old. But, like people, not everyone achieves success. Some cities that were previously large settlements degenerate into tiny villages, others become completely deserted. But sometimes they are lucky, and for thousands of years they remain real active cities. And the most ancient cities have been inhabited not even for hundreds, but for thousands of years.

Surely you have heard about the city of Jericho, its walls and pipes that destroyed them. About the war of Joshua with this city, during which he massacred all the inhabitants, except for one family. In the Bible, this settlement is mentioned many times in general, it is not surprising that many consider this city to be exceptionally legendary.

But it really exists, and it is the oldest city in the world. close-up locality it became around the third millennium BC, that is, for more than 50,000 years people have been constantly living in it. It was a periodic stop even longer, from about the ninth millennium BC, that is, another 6000 years. Today it is the capital of one of the provinces in the Palestinian territory.

During this time, the city has seen everything: the emergence and collapse of civilizations, the emergence of new religions and the death of old ones, new inventions and breakthroughs ... If stones could talk, then Jericho would become a better history teacher. But, alas, they are silent ...

If Damascus is younger than Jericho, then not much - only 500 years. The first mention of it as a city dates back to the 2500s BC. But as a settlement, it appeared much earlier - 10-11 thousand years ago. Today it has become the capital of Syria, despite being the second largest. But that doesn't stop him from being cultural capital Promised Land. In addition, it is considered one of the objects cultural heritage and is listed by UNESCO as being in danger of destruction.

Closes the top three ancient cities the world of the Bible. Despite the fact that the city still lives and lives on the same place, it has a different name - Jbeil. However, Byblos (or Byblos) he was always called by foreigners. Through this major port, they exported many goods, including papyrus. Therefore it Greek name, as well as the word "book" itself came from this locality.

This settlement appeared about four thousand years ago.

Today, this Lebanese city belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, because it is practically a monument of history and architecture.

Susa

This Iranian city is rightfully considered one of the oldest on earth, it appeared about 7 thousand years ago, becoming a place of permanent settlement a large number of people. He remains to this day. Susa saw dozens of civilizations, more than once was the capital of states. Now it is a relatively small settlement, in which about 60-70 thousand people live, mainly Persian Jews and Shiite Arabs.

Derbent is the most ancient city in Russia. This historical monument is located in Dagestan. Its name is translated as "closed gates", which is not accidental - it has become a kind of Caspian gate (it is located on a narrow passage between the mountains of the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea). It is not surprising that an active city has grown and constantly existed on this site. By official versions, it appeared about six thousand years ago, in bronze age.

saithe

Lebanon is generally lucky with ancient cities, and Saida is one of them. As historical studies show, it appeared as a city about 4000 thousand years BC. But archaeologists say that people periodically appeared on its territory long before that, already in the tenth millennium BC. In the Bible, he was called "the firstborn of Canaan", alluding to his antiquity. Historians, however, argue that it was from this city that the culture of Phoenicia grew - one of the largest civilizations of the ancient world.

Faiyum

Egyptian civilization considered one of the most ancient, but the city related to it appeared on our list just now. On the other hand, it is difficult to talk about the age of such cities, because there are no exact datings, there are only approximate data. So the foundation of the Faiyum is attributed to the same fourth millennium BC as Saidu, and it is quite difficult to say which of them is older. It is located in the Egyptian region under the funny name Crocodilopolis, which appeared because of the cult of the god with a crocodile head - Petsuhos.

Bulgaria boasts more than one ancient city, but Plovdiv is one of them. It is a kind of contemporary of the already mentioned Faiyum and Saida, the fourth millennium BC turned out to be quite productive. Now it has become the second largest settlement in Bulgaria and a major cultural center. History and architecture are especially flourishing in it, which is not surprising, given the number of picturesque ruins and ancient buildings.

We hope that after reading this article, you have a better idea of ​​which city in the world appeared first. At the same time, it is worth noting that today we talked about those settlements that remain active from the moment they appeared to the present day. After all, a city remains a city as long as people live in it, without them it becomes ruins.

Memphis, Babylon, Thebes - they all once were major centers, but only the name remains of them. However, there are cities that have existed throughout the history of mankind, from the Stone Age to the present day.

Jericho (West Bank)

At the very foot of the Judean Mountains, opposite the confluence of the Jordan into the Dead Sea, is the most ancient city on earth - Jericho. Traces of settlements dating back to the 10th-9th millennium BC were found here. e. It was a permanent site of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A culture, whose representatives built the first wall of Jericho. The defensive structure of the Stone Age was four meters high and two meters wide. Inside it was a powerful eight-meter tower, which, obviously, was used for ritual purposes. Its ruins have survived to this day.

The name Jericho (in Hebrew Jericho) according to one version comes from a word with the meaning "smell" and "fragrance" - "reach". According to another, from the word moon - "yareah", which the founders of the city could revere. First written reference we meet about him in the book of Joshua, which describes the fall of the walls of Jericho and the capture of the city by the Jews in 1550 BC. e. By that time, the city was already a powerful fortified fortress, whose system of seven walls was a real labyrinth. Not for nothing - Jericho had something to defend. It was located at the crossroads of three important trade routes of the Middle East, right in the middle of a blooming oasis with large quantity fresh water and fertile soil. For the desert dwellers real earth promised.

Jericho was the first city to be captured by the Israelites. It was completely destroyed, and all the inhabitants were killed, with the exception of the harlot Rahab, who had previously sheltered Jewish spies, for which she was spared.

Today Jericho, located on West Bank Jordan is a disputed territory between Palestine and Israel, remaining in a zone of permanent military conflict. Therefore, visiting the most ancient and rich in historical sights of the city is not recommended.

Damascus: "eye of the desert" (Syria)

Damascus, the current capital of Syria, is fighting for the first place with Jericho. The earliest mention of it was found in the list of conquered cities of the pharaoh Thutmose III who lived in 1479-1425 BC. e. In the first book of the Old Testament, Damascus is mentioned as a large and well-known center of trade.

In the 13th century, the historian Yakut al-Humavi claimed that the city was founded by Adam and Eve themselves, who, after being expelled from Eden, found refuge in the cave of blood (Magarat ad-Damm) on Mount Qasyun on the outskirts of Damascus. The first murder in history, described in Old Testament Cain killed his brother. According to legend, the self-name Damascus comes from the ancient Aramaic word "demshak", which means "brother's blood." Another, more plausible version says that the name of the city goes back to the Aramaic word Darmeśeq, which means “well-irrigated place”.

It is not known for certain who first founded the settlement near Mount Kasyun. But recent excavations at Tel Ramada, a suburb of Damascus, have shown that humans settled the area around 6300 BC. e.

Byblos (Lebanon)

Closes the top three of the most ancient cities - Byblos, known today as Jbeil. It is located on the coast mediterranean sea 32 km from Beirut, the current capital of Lebanon. Once it was a large Phoenician city founded in the 4th millennium BC, although the first settlements on this territory date back to the late stone age- 7th millennium.

The ancient name of the city is associated with the legend of a certain Biblis, who was madly in love with her brother, Kavnos. She died of grief when her lover fled to escape sin, and her shed tears formed inexhaustible source water that watered the city. According to another version, byblos in Greece was called papyrus, which was exported from the city.

The Bible was one of major ports ancient era. He was also known for the spread of the cult of Baal there - the formidable god of the Sun, who "demanded" self-torture and bloody sacrifices from his adherents. written language Ancient Byblos is still one of the main mysteries of the Ancient World. The Proto-Biblic script, widespread in the second millennium BC, is still not decipherable, it does not look like any of the known writing systems of the Ancient World.

Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

Today, it is customary to consider the oldest city in Europe not Rome or even Athens, but the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, located in the southern part of the country between the Rhodope and Balkan mountains (the home of the legendary Orpheus) and the Upper Thracian lowland. The first settlements on its territory date back to the 6th-4th millennium BC. e., although Plovdiv, or rather, then Evmolpiada, reached its heyday under the peoples of the sea - the Thracians. In 342 BC. it was captured by Philip II of Macedon, the father of the famous Alexander, who named it Philippopolis in his honor. Subsequently, the city managed to be under Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule, which made it the second cultural center in Bulgaria after Sofia. In world history, Derbent has become an unspoken "checkpoint" between Europe and Asia. One of the most important sections of the Great Silk Road ran here. It is not surprising that he has always been a favorite object of the neighbors' conquests. showed to him big interest The Roman Empire was the main goal of the campaigns to the Caucasus by Lucullus and Pompey in 66-65 BC. was precisely Derbent. In the 5th century A.D. e. when the city belonged to the Sassanids, powerful fortifications were erected here to protect against nomads, including the fortress of Naryn-kala. From her, located at the foot mountain range, two walls descended to the sea, designed to protect the city and the trade route. It is from this time that the history of Derbent as a large city is counted.

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For reference: in Europe, the oldest cities include Lisbon (about 1000 BC), Rome (753 BC), Kerkyra (about 700 BC), Mantua ( around 500 BC). For comparison: London was founded in 43 AD, Moscow no later than 1147, Kyiv around 880, my Vasilkov 988.

The 20 oldest cities in the world still inhabited

Situated on the west bank of the Ganges River, Varanasi - also known as Benares - is an important holy city for Hindus and Buddhists. According to legend, it was founded by the Hindu god Shiva 5,000 years ago, although modern scientists believe that the age of the city is about 3,000 years.

Built on a narrow strip of land jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, Cadiz has been the port of the Spanish navy since the 18th century. Founded by the Phoenicians as a small trading post and captured by the Carthaginians around 500 BC, becoming Hannibal's bridgehead for the conquest of Iberia. Then it was in Roman and Moorish possession. It is currently undergoing a renaissance.

Approximately in 1400 BC. founded three modern cities

As the main competitor of ancient Athens, Thebes was ruled by the Boeotian confederation and even provided assistance to Xerxes during the Persian invasion in 480 BC. Today Thebes is little more than a city market.

Founded as [Kitiyak] by the Phoenicians, Larnaca is known for its many coastal palm trees. archaeological sites and numerous beaches attract modern visitors.

Cradle Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. Athens is filled with Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments and remains an extremely popular tourist city.

Known to the ancient Greeks as Baktra, present-day Balkh is located in northern Afghanistan and is often referred to as the [mother of Arab cities]. The peak of development falls on the years between 2500 BC. and 1900 BC before the rise of the Persian Empire and Median. Modern Balkh is the center of the region's cotton industry.

Located about 150 miles north of Baghdad, Kirkuk stands on the site of an ancient Assyrian capital Arrapha. Its strategic importance was recognized by the Babylonians and Media, who tried to control the city. The ruins of the 5,000-year-old citadel are still visible, and the city is now the headquarters of the Iraqi oil industry.

To the north of Kirkuk lies Erbil, a former possession in different time: Assyrians, Persians, Sassanids, Arabs and Turks. It was the main [stop] on Silk Road. The ancient 26-meter citadel still dominates the skyline.

The legendary birthplace of Europa and Dido, Tire was founded around 2750 BC, according to Herodotus' description. It was conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. after seven months of siege and became a Roman province in 64 BC. Today, tourism is the city's main industry: world heritage(UNESCO) Rome Hippodrome.

Jerusalem is the spiritual center of the Jewish people and the third holy city of Islam. The city is home to several important religious sites, including the Mosque of Omar, the Wailing Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and al-Aqsa. During its history, the city was besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, captured 44 times and destroyed twice.

The capital of Lebanon, as well as its cultural, administrative and economic center, Beirut is rooted in history for 5,000 years. During excavations in the city, monuments of the Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Arab and Ottoman eras were found, there is evidence that the city was mentioned in the letters of the pharaoh of Egypt as early as the 14th century BC. After graduation civil war in Lebanon, Beirut has come to life, has become a modern tourist attraction.

Built in the southern part of Turkey, near the border with Syria, Gaziantep dates back to the time of the Hittites. The fortress of Ravanda restored by the Byzantines in the 6th century is located in the center of the city, ancient Roman mosaics were discovered in it.

Also three cities were founded around 4000 BC

The second largest city in Bulgaria, Plovdiv was originally a Thracian settlement before becoming the main city of the Roman Empire. Later it was captured by the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires before becoming part of Bulgaria. The city is a major cultural center and is famous for its many ancient monuments, including the Roman amphitheater and aqueduct, as well as the Ottoman bath.

About 25 miles south of Beirut is Sidon, one of the most important and perhaps the oldest Phoenician cities. He was the basis from which the Mediterranean empire of the Phoenicians grew. Both Jesus and Saint Paul are said to have visited Saida, as did Alexander the Great, who captured the city in 333 BC.

Fayyum (El Fayyum) is located southwest of Cairo, and most of it is occupied by Crocodilopolis, an ancient Egyptian city that worshiped Petsuchos, the sacred crocodile. The modern city has several large bazaars, mosques and baths, nearby are the pyramids of Lekhin and Khawara.

Susa was the capital of the Elamite Empire until it was taken over by the Assyrians. It was the subjugation of the Achaemenid Persians by Cyrus the Great, about which Aeschylus and other ancient theatrical plays. The modern city of Shush has about 65 thousand inhabitants.

3rd and 4th placesdivided between two ancient cities around 4300 BC.

There is information from some sources that Damascus is the most ancient city on Earth, founded more than 12 thousand years ago. It became a large and important settlement after the advent of the Arameans, who created a network of water channels. Damascus at various times was under the rule of Alexander the Great, Rome, Arabs and Ottomans. Today, its rich historical heritage has made the city one of the most popular destinations for tourists.

The most populous city in Syria with about 4.4 million inhabitants, Aleppo was founded as Halab around 4300 BC. The city was under the control of the Hittites, then as part of the Assyrian, Greek and Persian empires. Later it was captured by the Romans, Byzantine Arabs, besieged by the crusaders, and then fell under the rule of the Mongols and Turks.

Founded by the Phoenicians as Gebal. Byblos got its name from the Greeks, who imported papyrus from the city. By the way, modern word[Biblek comes from the name of the city. The main tourist sites are the ancient Phoenician temples, the castle of St. John the Baptist and the medieval city ​​wall.

The oldest city inhabited in this moment. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a settlement dating back to 11,000 BC. The city is located on the West Bank of the Jordan River, and today about 20 thousand people live in it.

That's all! Basta, karapuziki, dancing is over :)

Many ancient cities claim the right to be called the first city of the Earth. We will talk about the two oldest and most ancient cities, according to archaeologists and historians. These two cities are Jericho and Hamukar. These cities existed thousands of years ago.

Jericho

First of all, the definition of "the oldest city" refers to Jericho - an oasis near the place where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea. The city of Jericho, widely known from the Bible, is located here - the very one whose walls once fell from the sound of the trumpets of Joshua.

According to biblical tradition, the Israelites began the conquest of Canaan from Jericho, and after the death of Moses, under the leadership of Joshua, they crossed the Jordan and stood at the walls of this city. The townspeople, who took refuge behind the walls of the city, were convinced that the city was impregnable. But the Israelis used an extraordinary military stratagem. They circled the city walls in a silent crowd six times, and on the seventh they shouted in unison and blew their trumpets, so loudly that the formidable walls collapsed. This is where the expression "Jericho's trumpet" comes from.

Jericho is fed by the powerful source of Ain es-Sultan ("Spring of the Sultan"), to which the city owes its origin. The Arabs call the name of this source a hill to the north of modern Jericho - Tell es-Sultan ("Mountain of the Sultan"). Already in late XIX century, it attracted the attention of archaeologists and is still considered one of the most important places archaeological finds objects of the early historical period.

In 1907 and 1908, a group of German and Austrian researchers, led by professors Ernst Sellin and Karl Watzinger, began excavations for the first time at Mount Sultana. They came across two parallel fortified walls built of sun-dried bricks. The outer wall had a thickness of 2 m and a height of 8-10 m, and the thickness of the inner wall reached 3.5 m.

Archaeologists have determined that these walls were built between 1400 and 1200 BC. It is understandable that they were quickly identified with the walls that the Bible says were torn down by the mighty trumpets of the Israelite tribes. However, during the excavations, archaeologists came across the remains of construction debris, which was of even greater interest to science than the finds that confirmed the Bible's information about the war. But the first World War suspended further research.

More than twenty years passed before a group of Englishmen, under the guidance of Professor John Garstang, were able to continue their research. New excavations began in 1929 and continued for about ten years.

In 1935-1936, Garstang came across the lowest layers of the Stone Age settlements.

He discovered a cultural layer older than the 5th millennium BC, dating back to the time when people did not yet know pottery. But the people of this era already led a sedentary lifestyle.

The work of the Garstang expedition was interrupted due to the difficult political situation. And only after the end of World War II did English archaeologists return to Jericho again. This time the expedition was led by Dr. Kathleen M. Canyon, whose activities are associated with all further discoveries in this ancient city of the world. To participate in the excavations, the British invited German anthropologists who had been working in Jericho for several years.

In 1953, archaeologists led by Kathleen Canyon managed to make outstanding discovery, which completely changed our understanding of the early history of mankind. The researchers made their way through 40 (!) Cultural layers and found structures of the Neolithic period with huge buildings dating back to the time when, it would seem, only nomadic tribes should have lived on Earth, earning their livelihood by hunting and gathering plants and fruits. The results of the excavations showed that about 10 thousand years ago, a qualitative leap was made in the eastern Mediterranean, associated with the transition to the artificial cultivation of cereals. This led to drastic changes in culture and lifestyle.

The discovery of early agricultural Jericho became an archeological sensation in the 1950s. Systematic excavations have discovered whole line successive layers combined into two complexes - pre-ceramic Neolithic A (VIII millennium BC) and pre-ceramic Neolithic B (VII millennium BC).

Today, Jericho A is considered the first urban-type settlement discovered in the Old World. Here are found the earliest known to science buildings of a permanent type, burial places and sanctuaries built of earth or small rounded unbaked bricks.

The pre-ceramic Neolithic A settlement occupied an area of ​​about 4 hectares and was surrounded by a powerful defensive wall made of stone. A massive round stone tower adjoined it. Initially, the researchers assumed that this was the tower of the fortress wall. But obviously it was a building special purpose, which combined many functions, including the function of a sentry post to control the surroundings.

Under the protection of a stone wall were round, tent-like houses on stone foundations with walls made of mud brick, one surface of which was convex (this type of brick is called "pig's back"). In order to more accurately determine the age of these structures, the latest scientific methods, for example radiocarbon (radiocarbon) method.
Atomic physicists in the study of isotopes found that it is possible to determine the age of objects by the ratio of radioactive and stable isotopes of carbon. By sounding, it was found that the most ancient walls of this city belong to the VIII millennium, that is, their age is about 10 thousand years. Even more ancient age had a sanctuary discovered as a result of excavations - 9551 BC.

There is no doubt that Jericho A, with its sedentary population and developed construction business, was one of the first early agricultural settlements on Earth. Based on many years of research conducted here, historians have received a completely new picture of the development and technical capabilities that mankind had 10 thousand years ago.

The transformation of Jericho from a small primitive settlement with miserable huts and huts into a real city with an area of ​​at least 3 hectares and a population of more than 2,000 people is associated with the transition of the local population from a simple gathering of edible cereals to agriculture - growing wheat and barley. At the same time, the researchers found that this revolutionary step was not taken as a result of some kind of introduction from the outside, but was the result of the development of the tribes living here: archaeological excavations of Jericho showed that in the period between the culture of the original settlement and the culture of the new city, which was built at the turn of IX and VIII millennia BC, life was not interrupted here.

At first, the town was not fortified, but with the advent of strong neighbors, fortress walls were needed to protect against attacks. The appearance of fortifications speaks not only of the confrontation between different tribes, but also of the accumulation of certain material values ​​by the inhabitants of Jericho, which attracted the greedy eyes of neighbors. What were these values? Archaeologists have answered this question as well. Probably, the main source of income for the townspeople was barter: a well-located city controlled the main resources Dead Sea- salt, bitumen and sulfur. Obsidian, jade and diorite from Anatolia, turquoise from the Sinai Peninsula, cowrie shells from the Red Sea were found in Jericho - all these goods were highly valued during the Neolithic period.

The fact that Jericho was a powerful urban center is evidenced by its defensive fortifications. Without the use of picks and hoes, a ditch 8.5 m wide and 2.1 m deep was cut in the rock. A stone wall 1.64 m thick rose behind the ditch, preserved at a height of 3.94 m. Its original height probably reached 5 m , and above there was a laying of raw bricks.

During the excavations, a large round stone tower with a diameter of 7 m was discovered, preserved to a height of 8.15 m, with an internal staircase carefully built from solid stone slabs a meter wide. The tower housed a storehouse for grain and clayed cisterns to collect rainwater.

The stone tower of Jericho was probably built at the beginning of the 8th millennium BC. and lasted for a very long time. When it ceased to be used for its intended purpose, crypts for burials began to be arranged in its internal passage, and the former vaults were used as dwellings. These rooms were often rebuilt. One of them, which died in a fire, dates back to 6935 BC

After that, in the history of the tower, archaeologists counted four more periods of existence, and then the city wall collapsed and began to erode. Apparently, the city was already empty at that time.

The construction of a powerful defensive system required an enormous expenditure of labor, the use of a significant labor force and the presence of some central government to organize and manage work. Researchers estimate the population of this world's first city at 2,000, and this figure may be an underestimate.

What did these first citizens of the Earth look like and how did they live?

An analysis of the skulls and bone remains found in Jericho showed that 10 thousand years ago, undersized people with elongated skulls (dolichocephals), who belonged to the so-called Euro-African race, lived here 10 thousand years ago. They built oval dwellings from lumps of clay, the floors of which were deepened below ground level. The house was entered through a doorway with wooden jambs. Several steps led down. Most of the houses consisted of a single round or oval room with a diameter of 4-5 m, covered with a vault of intertwined rods. The ceiling, walls and floor were plastered with clay. The floors in the houses were carefully leveled, sometimes painted and polished.

The inhabitants of ancient Jericho used stone and bone tools, did not know ceramics and ate wheat and barley, the grains of which were ground on stone grain grinders with stone pestles. From rpyboy food, consisting of cereals and legumes, pounded in stone mortars, these people completely wore out their teeth.

Despite a more comfortable habitat than that of primitive hunters, their life was exceptionally difficult, and the average age of the inhabitants of Jericho did not exceed 20 years. Child mortality was very high, and only a few lived to be 40-45 years old. People over this age ancient Jericho obviously didn't exist at all.

The townspeople buried their dead right under the floors of their dwellings, putting iconic plaster masks on their skulls with cowrie shells inserted into the eyes of the masks.

It is curious that in the ancient graves of Jericho (6500 BC), archaeologists for the most part find headless skeletons. Apparently, the skulls were separated from the corpses and buried separately. The cult cutting off of the head is known in many parts of the world and has been encountered up to our time. Here in Jericho, scholars have encountered what appears to be one of the earliest manifestations of this cult.

During this "pre-pottery" period, the inhabitants of Jericho did not use earthenware - they were replaced by stone vessels, carved mainly from limestone. Probably, the townspeople also used all kinds of wickerwork and leather receptacles like wineskins.

Not knowing how to sculpt earthenware, the ancient inhabitants of Jericho at the same time sculpted animal figures and other images from clay. In residential buildings and tombs of Jericho, many clay figurines of animals, as well as stucco images of the phallus, were found. The cult of the male principle was widespread in ancient Palestine, and its images are found in other places.

In one of the layers of Jericho, archaeologists discovered a kind of front hall with six wooden pillars. Probably, it was a sanctuary - a primitive predecessor of the future temple. Inside this room and close proximity from him, archaeologists did not find any household items, but they found numerous clay figurines of animals - horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs and models of male genital organs.

The most amazing discovery in Jericho was the stucco figures of people. They are made from local limestone clay called hawara with a reed frame. These figurines are of normal proportions, but flat frontal. Nowhere, except for Jericho, have archaeologists encountered such figurines before.

In one of the prehistoric layers of Jericho, life-size group sculptures of men, women and children were also found. For their manufacture, clay similar to cement was used, which was smeared on a reed frame. These figures were still very primitive and planar: after all, for many centuries plastic art was preceded by rock paintings or images on the walls of caves. The figures found show how much interest the inhabitants of Jericho showed in the miracle of the origin of life and the creation of a family - this was one of the first and most powerful impressions of prehistoric man.
The appearance of Jericho - the first urban center - testifies to the emergence of high forms public organization Even the invasion of more backward tribes from the north in the 5th millennium BC. could not interrupt this process, which eventually led to the creation of highly developed ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Middle East.

Hamukar

In Syria, the ruins of a city were discovered, which, according to scientists, is at least 6,000 years old. The find actually changed the traditional ideas about the appearance of cities and civilization on Earth in general. It forces us to view the spread of civilization in a new light, starting from an earlier time. Prior to this, the discovery of the city, dating back to 4000 BC, was found only in ancient Sumer - between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers on the territory of modern Iraq, the last, the most ancient, was found in the southeastern part of Syria under a huge hill near the village of Hamukar . Mysterious city also called Hamukar.

For the first time, archaeologists began to actively dig the ground here back in the 1920s-1930s. Then they assumed that it was here that Vashshukani was located - the capital of the Mitanni Empire (approximately XV century BC), which has not yet been discovered. But signs of settlement in this area were not found then - the “Vashshukan theory” turned out to be untenable.

Many years passed, and scientists again became interested in this place. And for good reason: after all, it is located on one of the most important transport arteries of antiquity - the road from Nineveh to Aleppo, along which travelers and caravans of merchants stretched. This situation, according to scientists, gave a lot of advantages and created excellent prerequisites for the development of the city.

The researchers really found signs indicating its existence as early as the middle of the 4th millennium BC.

Then in southern Iraq, one after another, the first cities arose, and their colonies formed in Syria.

This time the archaeologists were determined - in the very literally- get to the bottom of the truth. A special Syrian-American expedition was formed to explore Hamukar, the director of which was McGuire Gibson, a leading researcher at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. The first spade hit the ground in November 1999. The expedition had to settle in, equip itself, prepare the excavation area, local residents for hard work...

It all started with drawing up a detailed map of the area. And only then, with its help, archaeologists began the next, no less painstaking stage of work: it was necessary to carefully - almost with a magnifying glass in hand - examine the entire excavation area, collecting various shards. Such studies would give a fairly accurate idea of ​​the size and shape of the settlement. And luck really smiled at the archaeologists - the ancient cities hidden in the earth “fell down” as if from a cornucopia.

The first of the found settlements belonged to about 3209. BC. and covered an area of ​​about 13 hectares. Gradually it grew, its territory increased to 102 hectares, and subsequently the settlement became one of the largest cities of that time. Then, based on the items found, other, most interesting places for excavations. In the eastern part of the settlement, archaeologists discovered a building in which pots were fired. And the main result of the survey of the area was the discovery of a large settlement south of the hill. His more detailed study confirmed that this territory began to be settled at the beginning of the 4th millennium BC. If all the discovered settlements are recognized as one city, then its area will be more than 250 that, which is hard to believe. At that time, in the era of the birth of the first urban settlements, such a large city was a real metropolis of antiquity.

Satellites have helped scientists a lot. The photographs taken from them prompted the researchers to another thought, when, 100 m from the hill, on its northern and eastern sides, they distinguished a dark meandering line, similar to a city wall, while only a small slope was visible on the ground. Further examination showed that the wall could be located closer to the hill, and the slope was preserved from the ditch that supplied the city with water.

Excavations were carried out in three zones. The first is a trench 60 m long and 3 m wide, running along northern slope hill. Its gradual digging made it possible for archaeologists to consider the development of the settlement in various eras, since each step was lower than the next by 4-5 m. So: the lowest layer that scientists reached showed the city of 6000 years ago!

On the next level walls of several houses made of clay blocks were found, as well as a huge, possibly urban, wall 4 meters high and 4 meters thick. The remains of ceramics under it date back to the middle of the 4th millennium BC. Further goes level, dated to 3200 BC Ceramics from here refers to the creativity of the peoples of southern Iraq, which indicates the interaction of the Syrian and Mesopotamian peoples at that time.

These houses are followed by more "young" buildings built in the III millennium BC. There are already baked brick houses and wells here. Directly above one of the houses a later building was built - the middle of the 1st millennium, and then there is a modern cemetery.

Another excavation area abounded in potsherds. She was divided into sections of five square meters And carefully "shoveled" the whole earth. Archaeologists have discovered here houses with perfectly preserved clay walls. And inside in huge quantities there were things for a long time past days- all covered with a thick layer of ash. This created great difficulties for scientists: try to find burnt fragments in the cracks of the floors, in various bumps and pits.

Soon sources of such abundant ash were found - in one room the remains of four or five slabs made of clay blocks were excavated, which were partially burned when the furnaces were heated. Around the plates there were remains of barley, wheat, oats, as well as animal bones. Hence, power stoves are used for baking bread, brewing beer, cooking meat and other foods.

The pottery discovered here amazed scientists with its diversity: large pots for cooking ordinary food, small vessels, as well as small elegant vessels, the walls of which are equal to the thickness of the shell of an ostrich egg. Figurines with big eyes were also found in the houses, possibly some deities from the middle of the 4th millennium BC.

But still, 15 seals in the form of carefully traced animals tell the most fully about the society of that era. All of them were found in the same pit, presumably a grave. A huge number of beads made of bone, faience, stone and shells were also found here, and some of them were so small size, which can be assumed: they were not used as necklaces, but were woven or sewn into clothes.

The seals are carved from stone in the form of animals. One of the largest and beautiful seals made in the form of a leopard, the spots on which are made with the help of small pins inserted into the drilled holes. A seal was also found, not inferior to the leopard in beauty, - in the form of a horned beast, which, unfortunately, the horns broke off. The large seals are much more varied, but far fewer in number than the small ones, the main types of which are the lion, goat, bear, dog, hare, fish, and birds. The larger and more elaborate seals must have belonged to people of great power or wealth, while the smaller ones may have been used by others to signify private property.

In a small pit two meters deep in the northeastern part of the excavation, just below the surface, the researchers found a wall dating from the 7th century BC. AD, and even a meter below - the corner of the building, reinforced with a support with two niches. The prop was placed next to the door that leads to the east. The doorframe, support, niches and the south wall are covered with lime. Typically, such props with niches were installed not at private, but at temple buildings. Fragments of pottery found near the temple indicate the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, that is, the Akkadian period, when the rulers of Akkad, a state in southern Mesopotamia, began to expand into the territory of present-day Syria. Since this is a critical period in the history of Mesopotamia, the place where so many eras intertwined becomes the main focus of the expedition's forces in the next season.

Previously, historians assumed that the Syrian and Turkish states began to actively develop only after contact with representatives of Uruk, an ancient state in southern Iraq. But the excavations of Hamukar prove that highly developed societies appeared not only in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates, but also in other areas at the same time. Some researchers even believe that civilization originally originated in Syria. The discovery actually changed the traditional ideas about the emergence of cities and civilization in general, forcing us to consider its birth and spread at an earlier time.

If earlier it was believed that civilization originated in the Uruk period (okayo 4000 BC), now there is evidence of its existence as early as the Ubaid period (about 4500 BC). This means that the development of the first states began before the appearance of writing and other phenomena that are considered criteria for the emergence of civilization. Between different nations vital connections began to form, people exchanged experiences. Civilization began to walk the planet with leaps and bounds!

The excavations of Hamukar promise many more discoveries, because this is the only place where the layers of 4000 BC. lie two meters from the surface and even higher.

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