Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered the remains of an 'immense' 5,000-year-old city, the Israel Antiquities Authority said, shedding new light on a period when the region's rural population began building larger urban centers.
, considered one of the the oldest continuously occupied cities in the world, Paz said. In the Early Bronze Age, Jericho covered some 13 acres, according to Paz, while the city at En Asur covered 160 acres.In the site's public area, archaeologists uncovered an"unusual" ritual temple with a large stone basin in its courtyard, apparently used during the performance of religious rituals, archaeologists involved in the project said.
A structure with burnt animal bones from animal sacrifices and rare figurines were found inside the temple. Photos from the site show numerous small stone carvings of animals, as well as a carving of a human head and a seal of office."Such a city could not develop without having behind it a guiding hand and an administrative mechanism," the archaeologists said in their statement.
But Paz admits a definitive answer is elusive. There are no signs of violent destruction or a sudden natural disaster.
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