An oval settlement mound and a perennial spring lie right next to each other at Tell es-Sultan. The site, also known as Ancient Jericho, contains archaeological deposits of human activity dating from around 10,500 BC. ‘Ain es-Sultan lies directly adjacent. Together, the mound and spring are among the distinctive geographical features of this place.
Early settlement traces and cultural heritage
Tell es-Sultan preserves the remains of an early Neolithic settlement: round mud-brick houses, a wall and a circular tower. The tower is considered the oldest surviving part of a fortification system. In 2023, Tell es-Sultan was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List for its exceptional documentation of the first successful permanent settlements and its role as a major centre of the Neolithic agricultural revolution. The settlement forms, fortifications and archaeological deposits each offer different insights into the history of the site.
The site lies in the lower Jordan Valley, about ten kilometres north of the Dead Sea and 250 metres below sea level. The approximate distance from the Dead Sea and the elevation provide two different reference points for its geographical location.
Another example of Palestinian cultural heritage is the Monastery of Saint Hilarion, also known as Tell Umm Amer. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site of the State of Palestine in 2024. The two World Heritage inscriptions mark different sites and years: Tell es-Sultan was added in 2023, and Saint Hilarion in 2024.
Battir: terraces, water and agriculture
In Battir’s cultural landscape, dry-stone terraces near water sources are part of a traditional irrigation system. This system shaped the development of land suitable for agriculture. The terraces are therefore not merely a landscape feature, but part of an interconnected system of water management and agriculture.
The land is still used for agriculture, including the cultivation of olives and vegetables. This ongoing use, together with the inherited terraces and irrigation system, forms a cultural landscape that remains shaped by agriculture to this day. Visitors interested in the relationship between landscape and agriculture will find a tangible way to explore it in Battir.
Historic townscapes
Over the past decades, the Old City of Nablus has developed into a lively centre of commerce and tourism. It attracts visitors from the city, other Palestinian areas and abroad. Its role can therefore be described in terms of both trade and its appeal to visitors.
In Sebastia, the church’s front façade still stands at its original height. The central main portal leads into a courtyard with a basilica layout. The façade, central entrance and courtyard are the distinctive features of the surviving architectural description.
The present-day urban structure of Hebron’s Old City dates back to the Mamluk period, with additions from the Ottoman period. These are particularly evident in the upper layers and in individual houses. Thus, a Mamluk foundation and Ottoman additions coexist in Hebron. This offers a different perspective on the city’s history from the early settlement traces at Tell es-Sultan: here, the focus is on the development of a historic urban area, while there it is on Neolithic dwellings and fortification remains.
These places offer a range of themes to explore: early settlement and archaeology at Tell es-Sultan, agriculture and water in Battir, and commercial life and historic architecture in the old cities of Nablus and Hebron. Saint Hilarion adds another World Heritage Site to this selection, with its own inscription in 2024.
Discover more destinations: Netiv Hagdud, Uja e-Tahta, Samu'a, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Nablus, Hebron, Gaza.
