Oldest known settlement in Egypt 9,200 years old.

One of the oldest cities in Egypt developed in a region called Faiyum, a large oasis that was known for its fertility and abundance of both plant and animal life. It is located around 100 kilometers from present-day Cairo. The oasis came into existence when a branch of the Nile river silted up, diverting water to it. Eventually, the basin filled with abundant water, which attracted wildlife and encouraged plantlife to grow.

Archaeological excavations in the region have revealed that in addition to wildlife, the oasis in the middle of the arid desert attracted human populations as well, and experts have traced human occupation of the site to around 7,200 BC. This means that already 9,200 years ago, people called Faiyum their home. The first traces of agricultural communities at Faiyum can be traced back to around 5,200 BC. The region surrounding the oasis would eventually become home to a number of settlements and cities, of which one of the most famous is Shedet, better known as Crocodilopolis. Read the free article.