Tell es-Sultan, Archaeological site near Jericho, West Bank
Tell es-Sultan is an archaeological site near Jericho in the Palestinian territories and spans numerous settlement layers from different millennia. The mound shows circular building remains made from mud bricks and sections of massive stone walls still visible across the terrain.
The first settlers arrived here around 11,600 years ago and founded a permanent settlement. The stone tower from around 8000 BCE was the tallest human-made structure for over three thousand years, until the Egyptian pyramids were built.
The site reveals traces of early farming communities with storage pits for grain and tools made from flint. Skulls covered with molded clay layers point to ritual burial customs that recreated the facial features of the dead.
Visits take place with guided tours that explain the archaeological finds from more than 20 consecutive settlement periods. The site lies open under the sun, so a hat and enough water are recommended.
The tower originally stood around 28 feet (8.5 m) high and contained an internal staircase with 22 steps. Researchers still debate its purpose today, as its function as a defensive structure has not been clearly proven.
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