World's Oldest City?

Question: I recently read about some ruins that were recently discovered in the deserts of western Egypt that are supposed to be extremely old. Where is, in your opinion, the world's oldest city? Stephen C., Lincoln, Nebraska.
Answer: When one is dating things, Stephen, it should not be a matter of opinion but simply fact. However, in archaeology, facts are not concise nor are they generally agreed upon. The ruins you refer to are mostly likely those at Nabta Playa whose stone astronomical alignments give a date of 17,700 B.C. or almost twenty thousand years of age. Also with astronomical alignments that point to around 20,000 years ago are the ruins at Tiahuanaco in Bolivia. This place is now frequently referred to as Tiawanaku. The original name was Taypicala. In addition to the alignments that indicate an extreme age, there are intricately carved stone monoliths that have been transported to this site that weigh in excess of 400 tons. How they were transported, we do not know. Some of the stonework shows precisely cut grooves and drill holes that look to be the work of modern technology. They were not chipped by hand. How they were produced we do not know. Based on what has thus far been recovered (and fully realizing that much is yet to be discovered), it is my opinion that Tiahuanaco is the world's oldest city.