Syrian Archaeological Sites

 

The Syrian Archaeological Sites

 

Editor: Prof. Jamal Abou-Deeb, Geology Department, Damascus University

Mobile: 00963 955479919, e-mail: jabudeeb@gmail.com

The twelfth Archive of the following Syrian Geological Studies site:

"syrgeostudies.blogspot.com"

This archive and the Syrian Archaeological Studies Archive are added because the relation between geology and archaeology is deeply interconnected, primarily through geoarchaeology, which applies geological principles to archaeological questions. Geology provides crucial context to the physical landscape, including stratigraphy, soil, and sediment analysis, to help archaeologists understand site formation, dating, and environmental conditions. In turn archaeology brings human history to bear on geological processes by studying the impact of human activity, such as ancient mining or the creation of artificial ground on the landscape. (Al Overview).

Geology informs archaeology by the following:

Context and dating, site formation and material sourcing.

Archaeology informs geology by the following:

Human impact on landscape and archaeological stratigraphy

 

Summary of the ancient Near East archaeological Periods:

 The Near East area includes Mesopotamia, the Levant, Egypt, Iran, Anatolia, the Armenian Highlands and the Arabian Peninsula.

The history of the ancient Near East begins with the rise of Sumer in the 4^th millennium BC; the term covers the region's developments in the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.

 The following is a brief table of the Near East periods of time:

Copper Age	Chalcolithic 5000-3300 BC	Early Chalcolithic	5000-4500 BC
		Late Chalcolithic	4500-3300 BC
Bronze Age	Early Bronze Age 3300-2100 BC	Early Bronze Age I	3300-3000 BC
		Early Bronze Age II	3000-2700 BC
		Early Bronze Age III	2700-2200 BC
		Early Bronze  Age IV	2200-2100 BC
	Middle Bronze Age 2100-1550 BC	Middle Bronze Age I	2100-2000 BC
		Middle Bronze Age II A	2000-1750 BC
		Middle Bronze Age II B	1750-1650 BC
		Middle Bronze Age II C	1650-1550 BC
	Late Bronze Age 1550-1200 BC	Late Bronze Age I	1550-1400 BC
		Late Bronze Age II A	1400-1300 BC
		Late Bronze Age II B	1300-1200 BC
Iron Age	Iron Age I 1200-1000 BC	Iron Age I A	1200-1150 BC
		Iron Age I B	1150-1000 BC
	Iron Age II 1000-539 BC	Iron Age I I A	1000-900 BC
		Iron Age I I B	900-700 BC
		Iron Age I I C	700-539 BC
Classical antiquity		Achaemenid	539-330 BC
		Hellenistic & Parthian	330-31 BC
		Roman & Persian	31 BC- 634 AD

This archive is divided into five parts:

Part One: Summary of Syrian archaeological missions.

Part Two: Papers and books of separate sites and areas.

Part Three: Table includes the available archaeological sites.

Part one: Summary of  Syrian Archaeological  Missions.

 

Chronique archéologique en Syrie

 1-Jammous, B., Abdulrahman, A., Al-Maqdissi, M., Hamoud, M., Hasan, H., and Dib, M. (2008). «Chronique archéologique en Syrie» is an archaeological and historical revue Published by Al-Bassel Centre for archaeological, and training and research, The Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums. Ministry of Culture in the Syrian Arab Republic. 29p. It contains the following studies:

 

- The 2008 Excavation at the Middle Paleolithic site of Wadi Mushkuna Rockshelter, Damascus Province, Syria.

- The 2008 TDASP Survey in the Damascus Province, Syria and the refinement of models of Paleolithic landuse.

- The 2007 - 2008 season’s excavations at Dederiyeh Cave, Afrin, Northwest Syria.

- Preliminary Report on the Tenth Season of Excavations at Tell Qaramel (Autumn 2008).

- DJA’DE EL MUGHARA 2008 Découverte de nouvelles peintures vieilles de 11 000 ans.

- Shir/West Syria Results of the fourth and fifth seasons of excavations in 2008.

- Excavations at Tell Seker al-Aheimar, Hassake: The 2008 Season.

- Atlas archéologique des sites pré- et protohistoriques de Syrie du Sud Etude préliminaire du site de Qarassa (Mohafazat de Suweida) Rapport des missions du 16 juillet au 3 août et du 4 septembre au 4 octobre 2007, et du 20 mai au 30 juin 2008.

- Tell El-Kerkh 2008.

- The 2008 season of excavations at Tell Qarqur.

- Syria-Japan Archaeological Joint Research In The Region of Ar-Raqqa, Syria, 2008.

- Raport On The Activities of The Polish-Syrian Mission To Tell Arbid, Hasake Governorate, Spring Season of 2008

- Tell Chuera 2008. - Summary of the excavation results.

- Preliminary Report on the 21th Season of Excavations at Tell Mozan-Urkesh (July-September 2008).

- Rapport Preliminaire Sur Les Activtes de La Mission Syro-Belge de Tell Tweini Entre 2007 et 2008 sur Le Chantier A.

- Tell Feres al Sharqi, un site LC 1-5 dans le bassin du Khabur (Syrie) Synthèse provisoire au terme de trois campagnes (2006-2008).

- Rapport préliminaire de la campagne de l’automne 2008 de la mission de Tell Mohammed Diyab.

- Excavations at Tall Bazi 2008.

- Les marges Aride de la Syrie du Nord Chronique d’une prospection géo-archéologique: 2006.

- 4th Season of the Archaeological Middle-Euphrates Project in Syria (PAMES). Excavations in Tell Qubr Abu al-‘Atiq: From the Early City to the Middle Assyrian Settlement.

- Tell Afis 2008 Field Season Preliminary Report.

- La Mission Conjointe Syro-Française de L’Oronte: Premiere et deuxième campagnes (2007 et 2008).

- Notes préliminaires sur l’étude du système défensif méridional de Cyrrhus. Campagnes 2007-2008

- Bostra exacavtion and researches of the Italian Mission on 2008.

- The Syro-German/Austrian Archaeological Mission at Palmyra in 2007.

- The Syro-German/Austrian Archaeological Mission at Palmyra in 2008.

- Excavation of No.129 –b House Tomb at the North Necropolis in Palmyra.

- Mission at Palmyra, IGLS XVII (october 2008): Report.

- Mission épigraphique de la Syrie côtière (IGLS) : rapport 2007-2008.

- La campagne 2008 à Zénobia-Halabiyé.

- Travaux de la mission syro-française de Qinnasrin en 2008.

- Resafa, Syria. Pilgrimage City and Caliph Residence. The continuation of the five subprojects in 2008 – intra and extra muros.

- Rapport préliminaires sur les travaux des missions archéologiques syro-suisses de Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi et de Palmyre en 2008.

- Report about the 11th Excavation Campaign 2008 at Kharab Sayyar.

- Le Château de Saladin (Saône/Sahyun) et son territoire (vallée du Nahr al-Kabîr al-

Shamâlî) 2008. 

1.Conrad, N. J. (edi) (2006). Tübingen-Damascus Excavation and Survey Project (1999-2005). Tübingen Publications in Prehistory, Tübingen University, Tübingen, Germany, Published by the Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte und Archäologie des Mittelalters Universität Tübingen, Germany, In cooperation with Kerns Verlag, Tübingen, Germany.

2.Conard, N. J., Masri, M., Bretzke, K., Napierala, H. A., Welte B., and Kandel, A. W. (2008). The 2008 survey in the Damascus Province, Syria and the refinement of models of Paleolithic Land use. Universität Tübingen-Germany, DGAM-Syrie, Heidelberger Akademie Tübingen-Germany. Special issue documenting the annual excavation reports concerning the archaeological activities in Syria.

3.Conrad, N. J. (2010). The settlement of southwestern Syria: Results from the Tübingen Damascus excavation and survey project (1999-2008). The History and Antiquities of al-Golan: International Conference 2007-2008.

Part Two:  Papers and books of separate sites and areas:

 

 Aleppo

At-Tabbah, Muhammad (1988–89).[1408–1409]. Iºlam an-nubalaº bi taºrih Halab as-Sahbaº. 7 vols., 2nd. ed. [1341/1923]. Aleppo: Dar al-Qalam al-ºArabi bi Halab.

Gaube, H. and Wirth, E. (1984). Aleppo. Historische und geographische Beitr ge zur baulichen Gestaltung, zur so zialen Organisation und zur wirtschaftlichen Dynamik einer vorderasiatischen Fernhandelsmetropole. Beiträge zum Tübinger Atlas des Vorderen Orients, Vol. 58. Wiesbaden: L. Reichert.

Gonella, J. (2016).  The Citadel of Aleppo: The Islamic Periods. In: I. Thuesen, (ed). Proceedings of the 2^nd International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, 22-26 May 2000, Copenhagen. Vol. 2, pp. 157-170, Bologna.

Gonnella, J., Khayyata, W., and Kohlmeyer, K. (2000). Die Zitadelle von Aleppo. In: Damaskus-Aleppo. 5000 Jahre Stadtentwicklung in Syrien. M. Fansa, H Gaube, and J Windelberg, (eds), pp. 250–258. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern.

Haddon, R. A. W. (2012). The Middle Islamic Finewares from the Syrian-German Excavations on the Aleppo Citadel. In: R, Matthews and J. Curtis (eds). Proceedings of the 7th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, 12-16 April 2010, the British Museum and UCL, London. Volume 2: Ancient & Modern Issues in Cultural Heritage, Colour & Light in Architecture, Art & Material Culture, Islamic Archaeology, pp. 675-690, Harrassowitz Verlag · Wiesbaden.

Herzfeld, E. (1954-55). Matériaux pour un corpus inscriptionum arabicarum. Deuxième partie: Syrie du Nord. Inscriptions et monuments d’Alep. Mémoires de l'Institut francais d’archéologie orientale du Caire, Vol. 36-38. Cairo: L’Institut francais d’archéologie orientale.

Kanjou, Y., Del Fabbro, R., Kai-Browne, A., and Kohlmeyer, K. (2025). Safeguarding the Archaeological Cultural Heritage in Aleppo and its Hinterland. In: Thuesen, I., Haddow, S., and Mazzucato, C. (2025). Proceedings of the 13th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East 22–26 May 2023 Copenhagen, Vol, 1, pp. 591-602,  Harrassowitz Verlag· Wiesbaden.

Khayyata, W., and Kohlmeyer, K. (1998). Die Zitadelle von Aleppo-Vorläufiger Bericht über die Untersuchungen 1996 und 1997. Damaszener Mitteilungen, Vol. 10, pp. 69–96.

Klengel, H. (1997). Die historische Rolle der Stadt Aleppo im vorantiken Syrien. In: Die orientalische Stadt. Kontinuität, Wandel, Bruch. G. Wilhelm, (ed.). pp. 359-374. Colloquien der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft, 1. Saarbrücken: Kommission bei SDV Saar brücker Druckerei und Verlag.

Mason, R. and Gonnella, J. (2000). The Petrology of Syrian Stonepaste Ceramics: the View from Aleppo. Journal of Internet Archaeology, Vol.  9 (electronic publication).

Northedge, A. (1981). Selected Late Roman and Islamic Coarse Wares. In: The River Qoueiq, Northern Syria and its Catchment, Part II. John Matthers, (ed.). pp. 459–467. BAR International Series, Vol. 98, No. 2. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports.

Sauvaget, J. (1931). Inventaire des monuments musulmans de la ville d’Alep. Revue des Études Islamiques, Vol. 8, pp.59–114.

Sauvaget, J. (1941a). Alep. Essai sur le développement d’une grande ville syrienne des origines au mi lieu du XIXe siècle. 2 vols. Bibliothèque Archéologique et Historique, Vol. 34. Paris: P. Geuthner.

Sauvaget, J. (1941b). Alep. Paris: Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner.

Sauvaget, J. (1941c). Alep; essai sur le dévelopment d’une grande ville syrienne. 2 vols. Paris: Bibliothèque Archéologique et Historique.

Tabbaa, Y. (1997). Constructions of Power and Piety in Medieval Aleppo. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press. 

Al Hadir

Rousset, M. -O. (2010). La céramique des débuts de l’Islam à al-Hadir (Syrie du Nord). In: P. Matthiae, F. Pinnock, L. Nigro and N. Marchetti, (eds). Proceedings of the 6^th International Congress of the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East 5 May-10 May 2009, Sapienza, Università di Roma, Vol. 3, pp. 153-172. Harrassowitz Verlag. Wiesbaden.

Al-Mina

Lane, A. (1937). Medieval Finds from al-Mina in North Syria. Archaeologia, Vol. 87, pp19-78.

 

Al-Rawda

Castel, C. (2007). Stratégies de subsistance et modes d’occupation de l’espace dans la micro-région d’Al-Rawda au Bronze Ancien inal (Shamiyeh): In: D. Morandi Bonacossi (ed.), Studi archeologici su Qatna. Urban and Natural Landscapes of an Ancient Syrian Capital. Settlement and Environment at Tell Mishrifeh/Qatna and in Central Western Syria. Proceedings of the International Conference held in Udine 9th -11 th December 2004, Vol. 1, pp. 283-296.

Castel, C., and Awad, N. (2006).  Quatrième mission archéologique franco-syrienne dans la micro-région d’Al-Rawda (Syrie intérieure): la campagne de 2005: in Orient-Express, pp. 7-14.

Castel, C., and Awad, N. (2007).  Cinquième mission archéologique franco-syrienne dans la micro-région d’Al-Rawda (Syrie intérieure): la campagne de 2006: In: Orient-Express pp. 26-32.

Amrit

Youssef, Y. (2018). Archaeological Site of Amrit. Excavation Results, Seasons 2003-2011. (Lattakieh). In: J. A. Massih, Sh. Nishiyama, H. Charaf, and A. Deb. (eds.), Archaeological Explorations in Syria 2000-2011: Proceedings of ISCACH-Beirut 2015, pp. 375–384. Archaeopress.

 

 

Antioch-on-the Orontes

Waksman, S. Y. (2025). Archaeometric Investigations of Islamic Pottery Production at Antioch-on-the Orontes: Preliminary Results. In: Thuesen, I., Haddow, S., and Mazzucato, C. (2025). Proceedings of the 13th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East 22–26 May 2023 Copenhagen, Vol, 1, pp. 539-548, Harrassowitz Verlag· Wiesbaden.

 

 

Ar-Raqqa

Meinecke, M. (1996).  Ar-Raqqa am Euphrat: Imperiale und religiöse Strukturen der islamischen Stadt. Mitteilungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft, Vol. 128, pp. 157-172.

 

Bishri 

Adachi, T., and Fujii, S. (2018). Shell Ornaments from the Bishri Cairn Fields: New Insights into the Middle Bronze Age Trade Network in Central Syria. In: B. Horejs, Ch. Schwall, V. Müller, M. Luciani, M. Ritter, and M. Guidetti, R. B. Salisbury, F. Höflmayer, and T. Bürge (Eds.), Proceedings of the 10th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, 25-29 April 2016, Vienna, Vol. 2, pp. 239–246). Harrassowitz Verlag.

 

Busra

 Azar, G., Chimineti, G., Haddad, H. and Seeden, H. (1985). Busra: Housing in Transition. Berytus Archaeological Studies, Vol. 33, pp. 103–114

 

Chaqar Bazar

Leon, S., and Arkhipov, I. (2018). Chagar Bazar (Syrie) VI: Les tombes ordinaires de l’âge du Bronze Ancien et Moyen des chantiers D-F-H-I (1999-2011) : les objets, Louvain-Paris-Bristol.

 

Damascus

 Connard, N. J. (2002). An overview of the recent excavations at Baaz Rockshelter, Damascus Province, Syria, In: R. Aslan, St. Blum, G. Kastl, Fr. Schweizer, D. Thumm. (eds.) Festschrift für Manfred Korfmann. Remshaldem Grunbach, Greimer Verlag, pp. 623-639.

Contenson, H. (2000). Ramad site néolithique en Damascène (Syrie) aux VIIIème et VIIème millénaires avant l’ère chrétienne, Bibliothèque archéologique et historique Tome. 157, InstitutFrançais du Proche-Orient, Beyrouth 

Di Paolo, S. (2008). Dalle straordinarie avventure di Lady Hester Stanhope alla «Crociata» archaeo-logica di Butler: la politica «religiosa» dei viaggi delle esplorazioni scientifiche nellaregione di Damasco tra XIX e XX secolo. In: J. Mª Córdoba, M. Molist, Mª. C. Pérez, I. Rubio, and S. Martínez. (ed.), Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East: Madrid, April 3 - 8, 2006, Vol. 1, pp. 647-660.

Saad, H. (2018). A New Place of Worship Dedicated to Zeus Theandrios inside the Temple Precinct of Damascene Jupiter. (Damascus). In: J. A. Massih, Sh. Nishiyama, H. Charaf, and A. Deb. (eds.), Archaeological Explorations in Syria 2000-2011: Proceedings of ISCACH-Beirut 2015, pp. 65–72. Archaeopress.

 

Sauvaget, J. (1934). Esquisse d’une histoire de la ville de Damas. [1937]. Revue des Études Islamiques, Vol. 8, pp. 422–480.

 

Sauvaget, J. (1949). Le Plan Antique de Damas. Syria, Vol. 26, pp. 314-358.

 

 

Dederiyeh Cave

Akazawa, T., and Nishiaki, Y. (2018). The Paleolithic Excavations at the Dederiyeh Cave, Afrin Valley (1989-2011), (Aleppo-North Syria). In: J. A. Massih, Sh. Nishiyama, H. Charaf, and A. Deb. (eds.), Archaeological Explorations in Syria 2000-2011: Proceedings of ISCACH-Beirut 2015, pp. 5–12. Archaeopress.

 

 

Deir Mar Elian Al-Sheikh

Brahim, W. (2018). Al-Qaryatayn in the Heart of the Syrian Desert: Deir Mar Elian Al-Sheikh. (Damascus). In: J. A. Massih, Sh. Nishiyama, H. Charaf, and A. Deb. (eds.), Archaeological Explorations in Syria 2000-2011: Proceedings of ISCACH-Beirut 2015, pp. 73–82. Archaeopress.

 

Dja’de el Mughara

Coqueugniot, E. (1998). Dja’de el Mughara (Moyen-Euphrate), un village néolithique dans son environnement naturel à la veille de la domestication. In: M. Fortin and O. Aurenche (eds.), Espace naturel, espace habité, en Syrie du Nord (10^e-2^e millénaires av. J.- C.). Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies, Bulletin, Vol. 33. Travaux de la Maison de l’Orient Méditerranéen 28 (Toronto – Lyon), pp. 109–114.

 

Coqueugniot, E. (1999). Tell Dja’de el-Mughara. In: G. Olmo Late and J.-L.  Montero Fenollós (eds), Archaeology of the Upper Syrian Euphrates: The Tishrin Dam Area, pp. 41-55. Barcelona, Editorial AUSA.

 

Dūr-Katlimmu

Kühne, H. (2010). The rural hinterland of Dūr-Katlimmu: in H. Kühne (ed.), Dūr-Katlimmu, 2008 and Beyond. Studia Chaburensia, Vol. 1, Wiesbaden, pp. 115-128.

 

Kühne, H. (ed.) (2008a). Umwelt und Subsistenz der Assyrischen Stadt Dūr-Katlimmu am Unteren Hābūr, Berichte der Ausgrabung Tall Šēh Hamad / Dūr-Katlimmu Bd. 8, Wiesbaden

 

Kühne, H. (ed.) (2008b). Umwelt und Subsistenz der Assyrischen Stadt Dūr-Katlimmu: Was wissen wir wirklich? In H. Kühne (ed.), Umwelt und Subsistenz der Assyrischen Stadt Dūr-Katlimmu am Unteren Hābūr, Berichte der Ausgrabung Tall Šēh Hamad / Dūr-Katlimmu Bd. 8, Wiesbaden, pp. 215-231.

 

Kühne, H., and Radner, K. (2008). Das Siegel des Išme-ilu, Eunuch des Nergal-ereš aus Dūr-Katlimmu: in Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie, Vol. 98, pp. 26-44.

 

Pucci, M. (2010). The discovery of the city-canal of Dūr-Katlimmu: in H. Kühne (ed.), Dūr Katlimmu 2008 and Beyond. Studia Chaburensia Vol. 1, Wiesbaden, pp. 163-174.

 

Radner, K. (2010). Neue neuassyrische Texte aus Dūr-Katlimmu: in H. Kühne (ed.), Dūr Katlimmu 2008 and Beyond, Studia Chaburensia, Vol. 1, Wiesbaden, 175-186.

 

 

Halabiya-Zenobia

Blétry, S. (2018). The Necropolises of Halabiya-Zenobia. (Raqqa/Deir Ez-Zor). In: J. A. Massih, Sh. Nishiyama, H. Charaf, and A. Deb. (eds.), Archaeological Explorations in Syria 2000-2011: Proceedings of ISCACH-Beirut 2015, pp. 407–416. Archaeopress.