What is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world?

The answer

Damascus, the capital of Syria, is widely considered the world's oldest continuously inhabited city, with evidence of settlement dating to approximately 10,000–8,000 BCE. Excavations in the Tell Ramad area on the outskirts revealed Neolithic occupation from the 7th millennium BCE. Damascus appears in Egyptian records from the 15th century BCE and was a major Aramean kingdom by 1100 BCE. However, the claim is contested. Jericho in the Palestinian Territories has archaeological evidence dating to 9000 BCE, and Aleppo, also in Syria, shows continuous habitation from approximately 5000 BCE. Athens has been continuously occupied since at least 5000 BCE as well. What distinguishes Damascus is its unbroken role as a major urban center across 5,000 years of recorded history.