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‘And the Walls Came Tumbling Down’ – The History and Historicity of the Biblical Account of Jericho

Khalid Elhassan May 16, 2025 16 min

Jericho - Depiction of the Old Testament's description of Jericho's walls miraculously falling down — Depiction of the Old Testament's description of Jericho's walls miraculously falling down. Pinterest

6. The Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) Period, Circa 8500 – 7500 BC

The Tower of Jericho today, and how it would have looked when built. Exciting Archaeology News

This period from around 8500 to 7500 BC witnessed significant transformations as communities transitioned from nomadic lifestyles to permanent settlements. At Tell es-Sultan, inhabitants built circular mud-brick houses, developed early agricultural practices, and cultivated cereals like emmer wheat and barley. One of the most remarkable structures from this era is a defensive wall.

By 8000 BC, inhabitants had constructed a massive stone wall, about 12 feet high and 6 feet thick, that encircled the settlement. That is the oldest known city defensive wall. That wall, accompanied by a 28-foot-tall stone tower, represents one of the earliest known examples of urban fortification, and highlights the community’s organizational capabilities and concern for protection.

Written by

Khalid Elhassan

A lifelong history buff, I developed a particular passion for WW2 history as a child, when I spent hours listening to my grandfather, enraptured, as he recounted his wartime experiences in the British East African Campaign and with the British 8th Army in North Africa.

I graduated with a history BA from George Mason University, then went on to get a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. After lawyering for a decade, I moved to sunny Rio de Janeiro and a less demanding career, opening a tourism agency in Copacabana.

A big chunk of my free time is spent blogging (you can follow me on Quora https://www.quora.com/profile/Khalid-Elhassan ) or freelance writing, mostly about my favorite subject, history.