Jericho, a town in the West Bank. Jericho is one of the oldest permanent settlements in the world, probably dating back to around 9000 BC. Archaeological excavations have revealed Jericho's long history.
The site of the city is of archaeological importance. It provides evidence of the first development of permanent settlements and thus the first steps towards civilization.
Herod the Great established a winter residence in Jericho, and died there in 4 BC.
Excavations in 1950-51 revealed something of Herodian Jericho: a magnificent facade along the Valley of Al-Qalat is probably part of Herod's palace, and its style reflects Herod's devotion to Rome.
Traces of other fine buildings can be seen in the area, which became the center of Roman and New Testament Jericho, about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the Old Testament city.
Crusader-era Jericho was still in a third location, a mile east of the Old Testament site, and it was where the modern city would later develop.
