The first known town in human history is often considered to be Çatalhöyük, located in modern-day Turkey and dating back to around 7500 BC to 5700 BC. However, Jericho, in the present-day West Bank, has evidence of habitation from as early as 9000 BC and is frequently cited as the earliest known walled city or town.

Early Examples

• Çatalhöyük was a large Neolithic settlement with a population possibly reaching 10,000 people and had distinctive architecture with interconnectedrooftop housing access.

• Jericho is notable for its ancient fortifications and long history of habitation, making it a strong candidate for the title of the "first town".

Other Early Settlements

• Other contenders for the earliest towns and cities include Eridu and Uruk in Mesopotamia and Jaffa, Diyarbakır, and Aleppo, which also show ancient evidence of urbanization but generally date later than Jericho and Çatalhöyük.

Thus, while Çatalhöyük is one of the earliest major towns, Jericho is usually recognized as the oldest known town due to its antiquity and evidence of early urban life.