How Thick Were the Walls of Jericho?
The ancient city of Jericho, located in the West Bank, holds a unique place in both historical and biblical narratives. Known for the story of Joshua’s siege, where the walls famously fell after the Israelites marched around them for seven days, the physical characteristics of these walls have long fascinated archaeologists and historians. One of the most debated aspects of Jericho’s defenses is the thickness of its walls, which provides critical insights into the city’s architecture, defensive strategies, and the timeline of its existence.
Archaeological Findings and Kathleen Kenyon’s Excavations
The most comprehensive study of Jericho’s walls comes from the excavations led by British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon in the 1950s. Day to day, her work uncovered multiple layers of occupation, each revealing distinct phases of wall construction. Kenyon’s findings indicated that the walls associated with the Bronze Age (circa 1500–1200 BCE), often linked to the biblical account of Joshua, were approximately 4 meters (13 feet) thick. Here's the thing — these walls were built using large stones and mud bricks, with the stone foundations forming the base before transitioning to mud brick layers. The thickness was a deliberate architectural choice, designed to withstand the pressures of siege warfare and provide structural stability for the city’s defenses.
Even so, Kenyon’s discoveries also revealed that these walls were not the first or last of their kind. Earlier walls, dating to the Middle Bronze Age (circa 2000 BCE), were significantly smaller in scale, suggesting that the massive walls of the Late Bronze Age represented a major expansion in the city’s defensive capabilities. Later walls, from the Iron Age (1200–586 BCE) and Hellenistic periods, showed even greater variations in thickness, with some reaching up to 6 meters (20 feet), reflecting evolving military technologies and the increasing complexity of ancient siege tactics Small thing, real impact..
Wall Thickness in Different Historical Periods
The walls of Jericho were not static; they evolved over centuries, with each iteration responding to the geopolitical and military challenges of the time. On top of that, the Bronze Age walls (circa 1500–1200 BCE) are the most renowned, as they align with the biblical narrative of the Israelites’ conquest. These walls were constructed in a taluván style, a common Canaanite architectural technique where the base widens outward before narrowing upward. This design not only provided structural strength but also allowed for thicker foundations to support the city’s heavy gates and towers.
The official docs gloss over this. That's a mistake.
In contrast, the Iron Age walls (circa 1000–586 BCE) showed a shift in construction methods. That said, the increased thickness during this period may have been a response to the rise of more sophisticated siege engines and the need to withstand prolonged conflicts. Archaeological evidence suggests that these walls were often built with rammed earth and stone, with thicknesses varying between 3.5 and 6 meters. As an example, the Assyrian and Babylonian armies, known for their advanced siege warfare, would have required Jericho’s defenders to reinforce their walls And it works..
The Hellenistic period (332–330 BCE) saw further modifications. After Alexander the Great’s conquest of the region, Jericho became a strategic outpost, and its walls were rebuilt with larger stones and thicker foundations. These walls, while less well-preserved than their Bronze Age predecessors, indicate that the city’s defenders prioritized durability over the earlier, more modest structures.
Construction Materials and Purpose
The materials used in constructing Jericho’s walls played a crucial role in determining their thickness. That said, the Bronze Age walls combined stone and mud brick, with the lower sections made of massive stone blocks to resist battering rams and mining attempts. The upper portions, built with mud brick, were lighter but required additional thickness to distribute weight evenly It's one of those things that adds up. That's the whole idea..
