Evidence Suggests World’s Oldest City Found in THIS Country, Not Mesopotamia

New archaeological findings suggest that the first cities in the world may not have emerged in Mesopotamia or Central Asia as previously thought, but rather in Ukraine. According to a recent report by the Swiss publication *Neue Zürcher Zeitung*, researchers have uncovered evidence of what could be “the largest city in the world” at the time, with remnants such as scattered pottery shards pointing to ancient urban settlements.

These Trypillia mega-sites, dating back to 4000 BCE, now hold the distinction of being the world’s oldest known urban settlements. As noted by *Euromaidan Press*, these findings not only push the timeline of early cities further back but also ignite debates around ancient social organization, sustainability, and the very definition of a city.

Archaeologist Joseph Muller from the University of Kiel began researching these massive settlements in Ukraine in 2011, building on foundational research from the 1960s. A military topographer initially identified over 250 sites, distinguished by unique vegetation patterns forming concentric circles, which hinted at human construction.

Using geomagnetic survey techniques, the researchers uncovered structures buried beneath the Earth’s surface. Among their discoveries were Trypillia mega-sites that spanned over 100 hectares.

 

What are Trypillia Mega-sites?

Unlike modern urban centers, these Trypillia mega-sites represent some of the earliest known planned cities. According to *U-krane*, the sites were circular or oval in shape, with houses arranged in concentric rings and wide corridors or boulevards separating them.

*Neue Zürcher Zeitung* noted that one of these sites was larger than Monaco and could be compared in size to Central Park. The homes, made from wood and clay, appear to have been destroyed in an ancient conflict, likely by fire.

Interestingly, despite the evidence of organized settlement, archaeologists have found no individual graves. As Joseph Muller explained, “Individual graves often reflect the social roles of those buried, but this is not evident here.” However, Muller also noted that the absence of archaeologist-friendly burial markers does not necessarily mean the culture lacked burial practices or reverence for the dead.

These discoveries are reshaping our understanding of urbanization, challenging the belief that cities only emerged later in human history.