Gilgal I

Gilgal I is a Neolithic site in the Jordan Valley with thirteen circular structures built from mud and stone. These remains date to roughly 11,400 years ago and show how people lived and settled at that time.

The site was excavated starting in 1979 and revealed the oldest cultivated figs ever found, preserved in a burned building. This discovery shows that people were growing figs before they farmed other crops.

The site reveals how early inhabitants gathered and stored grains and fruits, with figs holding a special role in their daily lives. These practices show the first steps toward a way of life that made people settle in one place.

The site sits north of Jericho in the Jordan Valley and is gradually being developed with an educational facility. Visitors should prepare for sandy ground and limited shade in the area.

The figs here were cultivated through vegetative propagation rather than seeds, suggesting deliberate plant selection. This happened a thousand years before people domesticated wheat, showing that people chose certain plants long before farming grain.

Location: West Bank

Inception: 9300 BCE

GPS coordinates: 32.03280,35.47550

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:03