 Archaeological evidence of the earliest known settlements around Varanasi in the Ganges valley suggest that they began in the 20th century BC , placing it among the world 's oldest continually inhabited cities according to Kenneth Fletcher . These archaeological remains suggest that the Varanasi area was populated by Vedic people . However , the oldest known text referencing the city , the Atharvaveda , which dates to approximately the same period , suggests that the area was populated by indigenous tribes . It is possible that archaeological evidence of these previous inhabitants has yet to be discovered . Recent excavations at Aktha and Ramnagar , two sites very near to Varanasi , show them to be from 1800 BC , suggesting Varanasi was also inhabited by this time . 
 Archaeological evidence of the earliest known settlements around Varanasi in the Ganges valley suggest that they began in the 20th century BC , placing it among the world <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>oldest continually inhabited cities according to Kenneth Fletcher . These archaeological remains suggest that the Varanasi area was populated by Vedic people . However , the oldest known text referencing the city , the Atharvaveda , which <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>dates</mark></a> to approximately the same period , <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>suggests</mark></a> that the area was populated by indigenous tribes . It is possible that archaeological evidence of these previous inhabitants <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>has</mark></a> yet to be discovered . Recent excavations at Aktha and Ramnagar , two sites very near to Varanasi , show them to be from 1800 BC , suggesting Varanasi was also inhabited by this time . 
Archaeological evidence of the earliest known settlements around Varanasi in da Ganges valley suggest that they began in the 20th century cus , placing it among the world  oldest continually inhabited cities according to Kenneth Fletcher . These archaeological remains suggest that tdaVaranasi area was populated by Vedic people . However , the oldest known text referencing thdaity , the Atharvaveda , which date to approximately the same period , suggest that thedaea was populated by indigenous tribes . It is possible that archaeological evidence of dese previous inhabitants have yet to be discovered . Recent excavations at Aktha and Ramnagar , two sites very near to Varanasi , show em to b from 1800 BC , suggesting Varanasi was also inhabited by this time .