Interesting fact of the day: Jericho, in the Palastinian-administered West Bank of Israel, is generally considered to be the oldest city in the world. It was founded sometime around 9000 bce, making it upwards of 11, 000 years old.

It’s more than 6, 000 years older than the oldest Egyptian pyramids. It predates Sumer, the first of the world’s great civilizations, by 4, 500 years. It was more ancient to the Romans than the Romans are to us, by far.

It’s been sacked, conquered, and abandoned at various times throughout history, but people always come back.

Suddenly, DC’s Victorian rowhouses seem a little less impressive.

Jericho. Photo by gashwin on flickr.