The oldest 'civilization' is hypothesized to be ancient Sumer in Iraq. Circa 5000 BC.
The term civilization is super treacherous terrain. What you define as civilization may be incompatible with someone elses definition; yet, intensive year round agriculture was practiced here, sedentism was practiced here blah blah blah.
This is what the classical archaeologists want you to believe. But really, who cares about classics? Go out and do some hunter-gatherer research its much more removed and way more interesting!
