How Thick Were the Walls of Jericho?
The question of how thick the walls of Jericho were is one of the most debated topics in biblical archaeology. That said, to understand the physical dimensions of these fortifications, we must look beyond the narratives and dive into the stratigraphic layers of one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. For centuries, the story of the walls of Jericho falling has been a symbol of divine intervention and strategic collapse. By examining archaeological evidence and the unique geography of the Jordan Valley, we can reconstruct a picture of how these walls were built and exactly how massive they truly were.
Introduction to the Fortifications of Jericho
Jericho, located in the West Bank, is often cited as the oldest continuously inhabited city on Earth. And because of its strategic location near a permanent spring (Ein es-Sultan), it was a prized location for various civilizations. To protect this precious water source and the surrounding agricultural land, the inhabitants built some of the most sophisticated defensive systems of the ancient world.
When people ask about the thickness of the walls, they are usually referring to the fortifications mentioned in the Book of Joshua. From an archaeological perspective, the "walls" were not just a single line of brick, but a complex system consisting of a revetment wall (a retaining wall) and a superstructure (the actual defensive wall on top). This dual-layer system created a formidable barrier that would have been nearly impossible to breach using the primitive weaponry of the Bronze Age.
The Architectural Structure: The Double-Wall System
To understand the thickness, we must first understand that Jericho’s defenses were not a simple fence. Archaeological excavations, most notably those by Kathleen Kenyon in the 1950s, revealed a sophisticated "double-wall" design Not complicated — just consistent..
The Revetment Wall (The Lower Wall)
The first layer was the revetment wall. This was a massive stone wall built at the base of the city's mound (the tell). Its primary purpose was to support the upper wall and prevent the soil of the mound from sliding down Nothing fancy..
- Thickness: This lower wall was incredibly thick, often measuring between 3 to 5 meters (10 to 16 feet) in width.
- Material: It was constructed from large, roughly hewn limestone blocks.
- Function: It acted as a foundation, ensuring that the city's upper defenses remained stable and high above the surrounding plain.
The Upper Wall (The Defensive Wall)
Sitting atop the revetment wall was the actual defensive wall. This was the wall that soldiers would stand upon to keep watch and repel invaders.
- Thickness: The upper wall was typically made of mud-bricks and was approximately 2 to 3 meters (6 to 10 feet) thick.
- Height: Combined with the revetment wall, the total height of the fortifications could reach 10 to 15 meters, creating a towering cliff of stone and brick.
When you combine these two layers, the total structural thickness at the base was immense. An attacker would not just be facing a wall, but a stepped fortification system that forced them to climb a steep, stone-reinforced slope before even reaching the main defensive line Most people skip this — try not to..
Scientific Explanation: Why Were the Walls So Thick?
The thickness of Jericho's walls was not an accident; it was a response to the military technology of the Middle and Late Bronze Ages. In an era where the primary methods of attack were scaling ladders and battering rams, thickness was the only way to ensure survival.
- Resistance to Battering Rams: A thin wall could be knocked down by a heavy ram. Still, a wall that is 5 meters thick absorbs the kinetic energy of a ram without collapsing.
- Structural Support for the Tell: Because Jericho is built on a tell (an artificial mound created by layers of previous cities), the ground is unstable. The massive thickness of the revetment wall was a structural necessity to prevent the entire city from sliding downward.
- Psychological Warfare: A massive, thick wall served as a visual deterrent. Seeing a wall of such magnitude from the valley floor would discourage most invading armies from attempting a direct assault.
The Archaeological Debate: Did the Walls Actually Fall?
One of the most intriguing aspects of Jericho's walls is the discrepancy between the biblical account and archaeological findings. That said, the Bible describes the walls falling flat, allowing the Israelites to charge straight in. Archaeologists, however, have found different evidence.
Kathleen Kenyon’s excavations suggested that the walls of the city during the period traditionally associated with Joshua may have already been destroyed or were not as massive as described. On the flip side, other researchers argue that the way the walls fell supports the narrative. They suggest that the revetment wall collapsed outward, causing the upper mud-brick wall to slide down and create a natural ramp of rubble.
If the revetment wall collapsed, the "thickness" of the wall essentially became a bridge. Instead of a vertical barrier, the debris created a slope that an army could simply walk up to enter the city. This explains how a wall of such thickness could "fall" in a way that facilitated an invasion rather than just creating a pile of rubble And that's really what it comes down to..
Comparison with Other Ancient Cities
To put the thickness of Jericho's walls into perspective, it is helpful to compare them to other cities of the same era:
- Troy: The walls of Troy were also massive, but they utilized a sloping "glacis" (a smooth, sloping surface) to prevent scaling.
- Jerusalem: Early Jerusalem walls were thick, but often relied more on the natural topography of the valley for defense.
- Jericho's Uniqueness: Jericho was unique because of its reliance on the revetment system. The combination of a stone base and a brick top made it one of the most advanced fortifications of its time.
FAQ: Common Questions About Jericho's Walls
Q: Were the walls made of stone or brick? A: Both. The lower retaining wall (revetment) was made of stone for strength, while the upper defensive wall was made of sun-dried mud-bricks, which were easier to build and repair.
Q: How high were the walls in total? A: While thickness is often discussed, the total height—including the mound and the walls—could exceed 15 meters (approx. 50 feet).
Q: Is there evidence of the walls falling today? A: Yes, archaeological layers show evidence of destruction and collapse, though the exact date and cause (earthquake vs. warfare) remain a subject of scholarly debate.
Q: Could a trumpet blast actually knock down walls of that thickness? A: From a purely physical standpoint, sound waves cannot knock down stone walls. That said, some theorists suggest that the frequency of the trumpets might have triggered a landslide or coincided with a seismic event (earthquake), which is common in the Jordan Rift Valley.
Conclusion: The Legacy of the Walls of Jericho
The walls of Jericho were a marvel of ancient engineering. But with a base thickness of up to 5 meters and a complex double-layered design, they represented the pinnacle of Bronze Age military architecture. These walls were designed to be impenetrable, utilizing the local limestone and mud to create a fortress that protected the city for centuries.
Whether one views the fall of the walls through a lens of faith or a lens of archaeology, the physical reality remains: the walls were massive, imposing, and meticulously planned. Think about it: they serve as a testament to the ingenuity of early humans who sought security in an unstable and violent world. The thickness of the walls of Jericho was not just about defense; it was about the survival of a civilization at the crossroads of the ancient world.
