Widespread consensus attributes Damascus the priviledge of being the oldest inhabited city in the world. Different sources claim to have been inhabited at least between 8,000 and 10,000 BC, the chalcholitic age.

Jericho, in the Palestinian West Bank, could be one of the oldest cities (dating back to 8,000 years of history) in the world but it has not been continuously inhabited.

Byblos, Beirut, Sidon and Varanasi are next in line in terms of antiquity.