Final answer:
Archaeologists found remnants of the world's first cities and evidence of early agriculture in the Fertile Crescent during the mid-19th century, including Neolithic cities, staple crop cultivation, and the domestication of animals.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the mid-19th century, archaeologists discovered evidence of some of the earliest human civilizations in the area known as the Fertile Crescent in Mesopotamia. This region, aptly named for its crescent shape and fruitful land, includes the territories of modern-day Iraq, Syria, Israel, Palestine, and Turkey.
Archaeological findings revealed that this area was home to the world's first cities such as Ur, Babylon, and Nineveh, and provided insightful information on the early development of agriculture and domestication of staple crops and livestock like wheat, barley, goats, sheep, and cows. Moreover, the remains of Neolithic cities like Jericho and Çatalhöyük, along with the monumental architecture at sites like Göbekli Tepe, highlight the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities.