Final answer:
The initial economic base of Jericho was agriculture, supported by the city's fertile environment. This foundation enabled the growth of the population, the building of significant structures for protection and ceremonies, and allowed for the development of complex social and religious customs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The initial economic base of the ancient city of Jericho revolved around agriculture, which was a crucial development during the Neolithic era. The fertile land around the Ein as-Sultan spring provided the water necessary for the inhabitants to grow plants and sustain animal husbandry. These agricultural activities formed the bedrock of Jericho's economy and allowed for the settlement's growth and the development of complex societal structures. As archaeological evidence indicates, Jericho's residents constructed circular homes from mud bricks, maintained a food surplus necessary for urban life, and even built notable structures such as a substantial stone wall and a tower, which may have served various protective, religious, or astronomical purposes.
Furthermore, the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period brought advancements such as the construction of rectangular houses and increased religious or cult activities, as evidenced by a large building with plastered interior pits and domed adjoining structures presumably used for ceremonies. Although the people of Jericho in these times did not yet have pottery, they utilized stone vessels and engaged in long-distance trade to procure valuable materials like obsidian.
The community of Jericho was likely united by agricultural practices, religious beliefs, and the veneration of ancestors, with plastered human skulls being a striking representation of such customs. These practices highlight the intricate economic and cultural systems that emerged in one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.