ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
International Syrian Congress on Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

PROGRAMAND
ABSTRACTS

3‐6 DECEMBER 2015
GEFINOR ROTANA HOTELBEIRUT, LEBANONISCACH (Beirut 2015)

International Syrian Congress on Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS

3‐6 DECEMBER 2015
GEFINOR ROTANA HOTELBEIRUT, LEBANON© The ISCACH 2015 Organizing Committee, Beirut Lebanon
All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Title: ISCASH (International Syrian Congress on Archaeology
and Cultural Heritage) 2015 Beirut: Program and Abstracts
Published by the ISCACH 2015 Organizing Committee and theArchaeological Institute of Kashihara, Nara
Published Year: December 2015
Printed in Japan

This publication was printed by the generous support of
the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction……….……………………………………………………….....................................3
List of Organizing Committee ............................................................................4
Program Summary .............................................................................................5
Program .............................................................................................................7
List of Posters ................................................................................................. 14
Poster Abstracts.............................................................................................. 17
Presentation Abstracts
Day 1: 3rd December ............................................................................. 25
Day 2: 4th December ............................................................................. 51
Day 3: 5th December ............................................................................. 80
Day 4: 6th December ........................................................................... 104
List of Participants........................................................................................ 113

1

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

Introduction: Welcome to ISCACH, Beirut 2015
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, the Japanese Society for West Asian Archaeology
and the Lebanese Archaeological Missions worked in Syria welcome all with an interest inarchaeology and cultural heritage to the International Syrian Congress on Archaeology andCultural Heritage, Beirut, 3‐6 December 2015.
Three years ago, archaeological research in Syria came to an abrupt halt. In the years since
we have heard countless alarming reports of damage to and the destruction ofarchaeological sites and cultural artefacts – mindless acts which rob humanity forever ofvast swathes of history and knowledge.
Numerous international organizations and academic institutions have organized
conferences, symposiums and workshops dedicated to the preservation of those cultural
assets that are currently endangered or lamenting those now wholly lost.
In contrast, few academic gatherings have focused on what has most recently been foundand recorded: namely, the results of fieldwork carried out immediately prior to the present
conflagration.
With numerous archaeological sites and aspects of cultural heritage the subject of study byboth Syrian and international scholars in the years leading up to 2011, we believe it both
timely and desirable to now share those results among both the scientific community andthe general public.

The Organizing Committee

3

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

Organizing Committee
Prof. Dr. Jeanine Abdul Massih (Director of Archaeological Mission to Cyrrhus): Lebanese
University,
Prof. Kiyohide Saito (Director of Archaeological Mission to Palmyra): President, the JapaneseSociety for West Asian Archaeology,
Prof. Dr. Akira Tsuneki (Director of Archaeological Mission to Tell el‐Kerkh): University ofTsukuba,
Dr. Shin’ichi Nishiyama: Chubu University.

4

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

Program Summary
Thursday 3rd December
08.30‐09.00
09.00‐09.30

Welcoming Participants
Opening Session

Friday 4th December
Homs Session / R. Pierobon Benoit
09.00‐09.20
Michel al‐Maqdissi
09.20‐09.40

Sunday 6th December
Deir ez‐Zor Session /G. Bunnens
09.00‐09.20 Sylvie Blétry

09.20‐09.40

Yoshihiro Nishiaki

09.20‐09.40

Palmyra Session / M. Abdulkarim
09.40‐10.00
Kiyohide Saito
10.00‐10.20
Grzegorz Majcherek

09.40‐10.00
Dorota Wojtczak
Raqqa Session / G. Clarke
10.00‐10.20
Dorothée Sack

09.40‐10.00

Shigeo Yamada

10.00‐10.20

Raffaella Pierobon Benoit

09.40‐10.00 Yaarob Alabdullah
Latakia Session 2/ F. Braemer
10.00‐10.20 Massoud Badawi

10.20‐10.40

10.20‐10.40

10.20‐10.40

Johnny Baldi

10.20‐10.40

Yaser Yusef

10.40‐11.00

Balazs Major

Tomasz Waliszewski

Jean‐Marie Le Tensorer

Saturday 5th December
Hasake Session 2 / M. al‐Maqdissi
09.00‐09.20
Suleiman Elias

Ayham al Fakhri
10:40 ‐ 11:10 Coffee Break

Idlib Session / J.M. Le Tensorer

Hama Session / P. Bieliński

Damascus Session / D. Sack

11.10‐11.30

Maamoun Abdulkarim

11.10‐11.30

Karin Bartl

11.10‐11.30

Ahmad Taraqji

11.30‐11.50

Akira Tsuneki

11.30‐11.50

Bernard Geyer

11.30‐11.50

Rima Khawam

11.50‐12.10

Paolo Matthiae

11.50‐12.10

Nazir Awad

11.50‐12.10

Cancelled

12.10‐12.30

Francis Pinnock12.10‐12.30

Mathilde Gelin

12.10‐12.30

Houmam Saad

12.30‐12.50

Stefania Mazzoni

12.30‐12.50

Cancelled

12.30‐12.50

Edmond El‐Ajji

12.50‐13.10

Shin Nishiyama

12.50‐13.10

Haytham Hassan

12.50‐13.10

Ahmad Dally

13.10‐13.30

POSTER PRESENTATION

13.10‐13.30

Abdel Wahab Abou Saleh

13.10‐13.30

POSTER PRESENTATION

13:30 ‐ 14:30 Lunch Break
Hasake Session 1/ P. Matthiae

Aleppo Session 2/ TBA

Daraa Suweida Session / K. Saito

14.30‐14.50

Cancelled

14.30‐14.50

Heather Jackson

14.30‐14.50

Pierre‐Marie Blanc

14.50‐15.10

Dominik Bonatz

14.50‐15.10

Jeanine Abdul Massih

14.50‐15.10

Frank Braemer

15.30‐15.50

Piotr Bieliński

15.30‐15.50

Ammar Abdulrahman

15.30‐15.50

Ahmed Dyab

15.50‐16.10

Mohamad Fakhro

15.50‐16.10

Justine Gaborit

15.50‐16.10

Qasem al‐Muhammad

16.10‐16.30

Samer Abdel Ghafour

16.10‐16.30

Marie‐Odile Rousset

16.10‐16.30

Ghazi Alolo

16:30 ‐ 16:50 Coffee BreakAleppo Session 1/ K. Bartl

Latakia Session 1/ S. Mazzoni

Damascus Region Session / V. Matoïan

16.50‐17.10

Takeru Akazawa

16.50‐17.10

Michel al‐Maqdissi

16.50‐17.10

17.10‐17.30

Yousef Kanjou

17.10‐17.30

Ahmad Deeb

17.10‐17.30

Ghada Suleiman

17.30‐17.50

Serena Maria Cecchini17.30‐17.50

Leila Badre

17.30‐17.50

Woroud Ibrahim

17.50‐18.10

Guy Bunnens

17.50‐18.10

Valérie Matoïan

17.50‐18.10

Nada Sarkis

18.10‐18.30

Khozama al‐Bahloul

20:00

WELCOMING INVITATION DINNER

5Mahmud Hamud

Shaker Al Shbib

11:00 ‐ 11:30 Coffee Break

11.30‐13.00

13.00‐13.05

Special Session: Thinking Future of Syrian
Cultural Heritage
Closing Session

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

Thursday 3rd December
08.30‐09.00

Welcoming Participants

09.00‐09.30

Opening Session
Official speeches (TBA)

Palmyra Session / Chair: M. Abdulkarim
09.40‐10.00

10.00‐10.20

10.20‐10.40

Kiyohide Saito
Archeological Institute of Kashihara, Nara (Japan)
Japanese Archaeological Works in Palmyra from 1990 to 2010
Grzegorz Majcherek
Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw (Poland)
Shaping an urban landscape: Church buildings in Palmyra
Tomasz Waliszewski
Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw (Poland)
An olive oil for oasis. On some installations from Palmyra.

10:40 ‐ 11:10 Coffee Break
Idlib Session / Chair: J.‐M. Le Tensorer
11.10‐11.30

11.30‐11.50

11.50‐12.10

12.10‐12.30

12.30‐12.50

12.50‐13.10

13.10‐13.30

Maamoun Abdulkarim / Gérard Charpentier
DGAMS, Damascus University (Syria) / CNRS, Université Lyon2, Maison de l’Orient
et de la Méditerranée (France)
Archaeological and Architectural Studies in Northern Syria (Dead Cities),
General presentation with three missions in, El Bâra and Ruweiha
Akira Tsuneki
University of Tsukuba (Japan)
Tell el‐Kerkh: A Neolithic Mega Site in Idlib Province
Paolo Matthiae
Sapienza University of Rome, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (Italy)
The Excavations at Tell Mardikh‐Ebla in 2004‐2010: The Temples of EB IVA‐B andthe Royal Citadel of MB I‐II
Francis Pinnock
Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)
The Archaeological Park of Ebla. A Long‐Term Plan for the Site and its Region
Stefania Mazzoni
Università di Firenze (Italy)
Tell Afis: Late Bronze and Iron Age (13th‐7th cent. B.C.)
Shin Nishiyama / Shigeo Wakita
Chubu University (Japan) / the Ancient Orient Museum, Tokyo (Japan)
Tell Mastuma, Idlib: Rise and fall of an Iron Age rural settlement in northwest Syria

POSTER PRESENTATION
13:30 ‐ 14:30 Lunch Break7

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Hasake Session 1/ Chair: P. Matthiae
14.30‐14.50

Presentation Cancelled

14.50‐15.10

Dominique Bonatz
Freie Universität Berlin (Germany)
Tell Fekheriye/Ras el‐Ain in Northeastern Syria: A Short Report on the
Archaeological Site and its Neighboring Town Before and After the Political Crisis
Piotr Bieliński
Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw (Poland)
IIIrd Millenium BC city on Tell Arbid ‐ structure of a middle sized urban centre in theJezirehMohamad Fakhro
DGAMS (Syria)
Tell Halaf ‐ Guzana ‐ (excavation project 2006 ‐ 2010)
Giorgio Buccellati / Marilyn Kelly‐Buccellati / Samer Abdel Ghafour
Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles and theInternational Institute for Mesopotamian Area Studies (USA) / DGAMS (Syria)
Urkesh: Widening the chronological spectrum in the past and safeguarding
the site for the future15.30‐15.50

15.50‐16.10

16.10‐16.30

16:30 ‐ 16:50 Coffee BreakAleppo Session 1/ Chair: K. Bartl
16.50‐17.10

17.10‐17.30

17.30‐17.50

17.50‐18.10

20:00

Takeru Akazawa / Yoshihiro Nishiaki / Youssef Kanjou
Kochi University of Technology (Japan)/ the University of Tokyo(Japan) /DGAMS (Syria)
Dederiyeh Cave, Afrin
Yousef Kanjou / Ryszard F. Mazurowski
DGAMS (Syria) / University of Warsaw (Poland)
The archaeological excavation at Tell Qaramel 1999 ‐2011, Aleppo, north Syria
Serena Maria Cecchini
University of Bologna (Italy)
La dernière fouille à Arslan Tash
Guy Bunnens
Université de Liège (Belgium)
Unfinished work at Tell Ahmar/Til Barsib

WELCOMING INVITATION DINNER

8ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

Friday 4th December
Homs Session / Chair: R. Pierobon Benoit
09.00‐09.20

09.20‐09.40

09.40‐10.00

Michel al‐Maqdissi
DGAMS (Syria)
Syrian Excavations in Mishirfeh‐Qatna
Jean‐Marie Le Tensorer
University of Basel (Switzerland)
The Lower Palaeolithic of the El Kowm Area (Central Syrian) and the question of thefirst inhabitants of the Syrian Desert
Dorota Wojtczak
University of Basel (Switzerland)
The long Palaeolithic sequence of Hummal (Central Syria)

Raqqa Session / Chair: G. Clarke
10.00‐10.20

10.20‐10.40

Dorothée Sack / Martin Gussone
Technical University of Berlin (Germany)
Resafa, a multidisciplinary approach to reconstruct the development of the city
Ayham al‐Fakhri
DGAMS (Syria)
Tell Hwejet Halaweh

10:40 ‐ 11:10 Coffee BreakHama Session / Chair: P. Bieliński
11.10‐11.30

11.30‐11.50

11.50‐12.10

12.10‐12.30

12.30‐12.50

12.50‐13.10

13.10‐13.30

Karin Bartl
DAI (Germany)
Archaeological Investigations in the Hama Region
Bernard Geyer / Frank Braemer
Maison de l’Orient et de la Méditerranée (France)
Palaeoenvironments and Settlement Patterns in Western Syria and Lebanon
Nazir Awad
DGAMS (Syria)
Al Rawda: A city dating to the third millennium on the edge of the Syrian Desert
Mathilde Gelin / Shaker Al Shbib
CNRS‐IFPO (France) / DGAM (Syria)
Qalaat al‐Mudiq, citadel of Apamea: past and present
Presentation Cancelled

Haytham Hassan
DGAMS (Syria)
Masyaf Castle
Abdel Wahab Abou Saleh
DGAMS (Syria)
Tell Maksour

13:30 ‐ 14:30 Lunch Break9

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Aleppo Session 2/ Chair: TBA
14.30‐14.50

Heather Jackson
University of Melbourne (Australia)

14.50‐15.10

15.30‐15.50

15.50‐16.10

16.10‐16.30

A Commercial Area at Seleucid Jebel Khalid?
Jeanine Abdul Massih
Lebanese University (Lebanon)
Results of 2006‐2011 Research Program on the site of Cyrrhus.
Ammar Abdulrahman
Damascus University (Syria)
Genders in the classical period
Justine Gaborit
UMR 8167 Orient & Méditerranée (France)
New Evidences from Euphratésia : survey and excavation project in Hiérapolis area
(Menbij) in the right bank of the middle Euphrates
Marie‐Odile Rousset
CNRS ‐ Lyon (France)
Qinnasrin / Chalcis main results of 2008‐2010 archaeological work

16:30 ‐ 16:50 Coffee Break
Latakia Session 1/ Chair: S. Mazzoni
16.50‐17.10

17.10‐17.30

17.30‐17.50

17.50‐18.10

18.10‐18.30

Michel al‐Maqdissi
DGAMS (Syria)
Syrian Excavations in Ras Ibn Hani (2011)
Ahmad Deeb
DGAMS (Syria)
Results of the latest archaeological excavations in Tell Nahr Al‐'Arab‐Latakia
Leila Badre
Archaeological Museum, AUB (Lebanon)
Tell Kazel: Major Results
Valérie Matoïan
Maison de l’Orient et de la Méditerranée (France)
The Syro‐French archaeological Mission of Ras Shamra – Ougarit
Khozama al‐Bahloul (paper read by TBA)
DGAMS (Syria)
The result of excavations works at fortification area (Ugarit), Syrian team

10

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

Saturday 5th December
Hasake Session 2 / Chair: M. al‐Maqdissi
09.00‐09.20

09.20‐09.40

09.40‐10.00

10.00‐10.20

10.20‐10.40

Suleiman Elias
DGAMS (Syria)
Tell Shaeer
Yoshihiro Nishiaki
The University of Tokyo (Japan)
The Pre‐Pottery to Pottery Neolithic settlement of Tell Seker‐Aheimar, Hassake,
Syria: Excavations from 2000 to 2010
Shigeo Yamada / Hirotoshi Numoto
University of Tsukuba (Japan) / Kokushikan University (Japan)
Excavations at Tell Taban
Raffaella Pierobon Benoit
Università di Napoli Federico II (Itay)
Tell Barri/Kahat 2000‐2010: the contribution of ten years’ excavations to thehistory of Upper Mesopotamia (3000 B.C/ 900 A.D).
Johnny Baldi
IFPO (France)
Tell Feres. New evidences on the development of proto‐urban societies in northern
Mesopotamia

10:40 ‐ 11:10 Coffee BreakDamascus Session / Chair: D. Sack
11.10‐11.30

11.30‐11.50

11.50‐12.10

12.10‐12.30

12.30‐12.50

12.50‐13.10

13.10‐13.30

Ahmad Taraqji
DGAMS (Syria)
Tell Sakka
Rima Khawam
DGAMS (Syria)
Tell Aswad
Presentation CancelledHoumam SaadDGAMS (Syria)
Temple of Jupiter in Damascus, New prespective
Edmond El‐Ajji
DGAMS (Syria)
Citadel of Damascus; Possible Earlier Dating According to New Discoveries.
Ahmad Dally
DGAMS (Syria)
Site Museum of Souk al‐Sagha

POSTER PRESENTATION
13:30 ‐ 14:30 Lunch Break11

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Daraa Sweida Session / Chair: K. Saito
14.30‐14.50

14.50‐15.10

15.30‐15.50

15.50‐16.10

16.10‐16.30

Pierre‐Marie Blanc
CNRS Nanterre (France)
The Town of Bosra
Frank Braemer
CNRS Nanterre (France)
Leja/Qarassa
Ahmed Dyab
Damascus University (Syria)
Survey of Prehistoric Sites in Daraa, South of Syria
Qasem al‐Muhammad
DGAMS (Syria)
The results of the latest excavations at Tell al‐Ash'ari, Hauran (during theBronze Age)
Ghazi Alolo
DGAMS (Syria)
A report on surveying the Safaitic inscriptions, east of al‐Namara and al‐Zuluf

16:30 ‐ 16:50 Coffee BreakDamascus Region Session / Chair: V. Matoïan
16.50‐17.10

17.10‐17.30

17.30‐17.50

17.50‐18.10

Mahmud Hamud
DGAMS (Syria)
Excavation at Tell Al‐Humira
Ghada Suleiman
DGAMS (Syria)
Tell al‐Bahariya
Woroud Ibrahim
DGAMS (Syria)
Al‐Qaryatayn in the heart of the Syrian Desert, Monastery of St Elian.
Nada Sarkis
DGAMS (Syria)
Frescoes of Church of St Sergius and St Bacchus, Sadad

12

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

Sunday 6th December
Deir ez‐Zor Session /Chair: G. Bunnens
09.00‐09.20

09.20‐09.40

09.40‐10.00

Sylvie Blétry
Université Paul‐Valéry, Montpellier 3 (France)
The necropolises of Halabiya‐Zenobia
Shaker Al Shbib
DGAMS (Syria)
Tall As‐Sin, on the eastern limes
Yaarob Alabdullah
DGAMS (Syria)
The Works of the Syrian Mission in the Byzantine City (Tell Al Kasra) in Five
Seasons (2006–2010)

Latakia Session 2/ Chair: F. Braemer
10.00‐10.20

10.20‐10.40

10.40‐11.00

Massoud Badawi
DGAMS (Syria)
Excavations at Tell Tweini (Syrian Mission)
Yaser Yusef
DGAMS (Syria)
The results of archaeological excavations in Amrit for 2003 and 2011
Balázs Major
Pázmány Péter Catholic University (Hungary)
Latest results of the al‐Marqab research project.

11:00 ‐ 11:30 Coffee Break
11.30‐13.00

Special Session: Thinking Future of Syrian Cultural Heritage

13:00‐13:05

Closing Session

13

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

LIST OF POSTERS
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

6.
7.
8.

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

14.
15.

16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Takeru AKAZAWA (Japan)
Yoshihiro NISHIYAKI (Japan)

Dederiyeh cave, Afrin
The steppe exploitation during the
Palaeolithic to Bronze Age in the Middle
Euphrates Valley: 2007–2011 surveys
Ewa PARANDOWSKA (Poland)Conservation of Roman wall paintingsfrom Mithraeum in Hawarte
Jesper EIDEM (Netherlands)
Qala'at Halwanji
Archaeological discoveries in the Homs
Maya HAIDAR BOUSTANY (Lebanon)
Gap by a Syrian‐Lebanese‐Spanish
Mission (2004‐2010)
Bernard GEYER (France)
The Arid Margins of Northern Syria,
Recent Results
Christophe BENECH (France)
Prospection Géophysique
Dominique Marie PARAYRE (France)
Tell al‐Nasriyah on the bank of the
Middlle Orontes from the Bronze ages
down to the medieval period
Pierre‐Marie BLANC (France)
The Jebel el‐Arab project
Said ALHAJE (Syria)
Study on awarness of the people of Bosra
in saving cultural heritage
Michel AL‐MAQDISSI and Eva ESHAK Terracotta figurines from Tell Toueini(Syria)(First millennium B.C.)
Michel AL‐MAQDISSI (Syria)
PalmyraFatema AL‐SULAITI (Qatar)
Sarouja‐Damascus: An example ofhistorical and architecture developmentof Islamic neighborhoods
Discovering the site of the Palmyra Tariff.
Michał GAWLIKOWSKI (Poland)
Polish excavations 2010‐2011
Miquel Molist and Anna Gómez
Tell Halula (Vallée de l'Euphrate, Syrie) :(Spain)Nouveautés de la recherche dans lapériode 2011‐2015
DGAMS ACTIVITIES
Ahmad DEEB
Tony GEROUGE
Lina KUTIFAN
Moussa Dib EL‐KHOURY and Hala
MOUSTAFA
Jeannette MAKHOUL

Preservation and packing the museums
artifacts
Archiving system for archaeological sites
Syrian World Heritage sites
DGAMS Publications
Planification at DGAMS

14

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

POSTER ABSTRACTSISCACH (Beirut 2015)

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
THE MIDDLE EUPHRATES VALLEY
Yoshihiro NISHIAKIThe University of Tokyo (Japan)

The steppe exploitation during the Palaeolithic to Bronze Age in the Middle
Euphrates Valley: 2007–2011 surveys.
Due to intensive investigations, the Middle Euphrates Valley is extremely valuable forreconstructing a long history of the human occupations in inland Syria. However, mostinvestigations have been conducted in its narrow valley basin, while leaving thearchaeological records of its hinterland dominated by the vast steppe relatively unexplored.
In an effort to better understand human exploitation of the steppe in prehistory, a series ofintensive archaeological surveys was conducted between 2008 and 2011, focusing
specifically on the steppe. The survey area was defined within a 10 km radius from the Early
Bronze Age site of Tell Ghanem al‐Ali situated at the boundary of the valley basin and the
steppe. Surveys documented an extensive human occupational history of the steppe fromthe Lower Palaeolithic onwards. Among other finds, the most impressive was the large
number of aceramic flint scatters from the Early Bronze Age. These probably indicate thatthe exploitation of the Middle Euphrates steppe started in that period on a hitherto
unparalleled scale, most likely due to the significant developments of the pastoralism
socioeconomy.

HAWARTE
Ewa PARANDOWSKA
Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archeology, University of Warsaw (Poland)Conservation of Roman wall paintings from Mithraeum in Hawarte.
Polish‐Syrian salvage excavations conducted between years 1998‐2010 at Hawarte near
Apamea brought to light a Mithraic sanctuary with high‐class Roman wall paintings. Such animportant discovery was also a source of many conservation problems. The cave was filledwith debris, collapsed ceiling and deep foundation walls of the later churches. Decorationconsisted of five superimposed coats of painted plaster, the latest one relatively wellpreserved.
The key question was: could this unique wall painting be preserved in situ or should it beremoved and exhibited in museum interiors?
The decision was to protect paintings in their original context, under temporary roofing.
Big part of collapsed ceiling decoration and thousands of small plaster fragments recoveredfrom the fill layers were collected for further conservation.
The team of Polish and Syrian restorers worked for many seasons simultaneously in the
Hawarte cave, in the Hama Museum laboratory and in the Academy of Fine Art in Warsaw.
Today, seven large scenes composed of reassembled painted fragments form part of thepermanent exhibition in the Archaeological Museum in Hama. The virtual reconstruction ofdestroyed fragments helped to identify the stylistic chronology of the sanctuary’s decoration.

Publication since 2010
Ewa Parandowska, Hawarte –Last Masterpieces of Ancient Painters, Warszawa, 201217

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
QALA'AT HALWANJI (ALEPPO)
Jesper EIDEM
Netherlands Institute for the Near East, Leiden (Netherlands)

Qala'at Halwanji.
The archaeological site of Qala'at Halwanji towers over the Sajour River, located high on asquare limestone cliff ca. 15 kms west of the Euphrates. It was first identified in 2007, and in
2008‐9 preliminary investigations were carried out by the author in cooperation with Syrian
colleagues. A surface survey and test excavations show that the site was first occupied in the
Early Bronze Age IV, but its main level, immediately under the modern surface, represents a
brief Middle Bronze Age II (early 2nd Mill. BC) occupation destroyed by fire. Excavatedrooms in the well‐preserved south and southwestern parts of the site contain numerous insitu ceramic vessels and specimens of remarkable sealings. During this period Qala'at
Halwanji seems likely to have been a fortress constructed by a regional or international
power. An identification with ancient Dūr‐Šamšī‐Adad, a fortress established in this regionby Šamšī‐Adad I ca. 1786 BC, and lost to Jamhad ca. 1779 BC, is one textually documented
possibility, but others are possible.

TELL AL‐NASRIYAH (HAMA)
Dominique Marie PARAYRECNRS UMR 7041 équipe Vepmo, Professeur émérite Université de Lille3 (France)

Tell al‐Nasriyah on the bank of the Middlle Orontes from the Bronze ages down to
the medieval period.
The “Syro‐French expedition of the Orontes” was exploring a very important quadrangularsettlement just on the right bank of the Orontes 15 kms south of Hama, and compared it toTell Massin set on the plateau. Both the acropolis and the lower town were excavated, andthe surrounding micro‐region was explored, so as to understand the changes in themorphology of the town as well as the changing role of the river during about 5 millenia. We
also found the places of the dead, both huge tumuli just outside the main entry (Bronzeages) as well as cinerary urns inside the city (LB‐Iron ages).

18

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
HOMS GAP
Michel Al‐MAQDISSI, Maya HAÏDAR‐BOUSTANI, Juan JOSÉ IBÁÑEZ
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria), Musée de Préhistoire libanaise,
FLSH‐USJ (Lebanon), Institución Milá y Fontanals, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas (Spain)

Archaeological discoveries in the Homs Gap by a Syrian‐Lebanese‐Spanish Mission(2004‐2010).
From 2004 to 2010 a Syrian‐Lebanese‐Spanish mission has carried out archaeologicalinvestigations in the Homs Gap. The project area extended between the city of Homs to theEast, Qalaat al‐Hosn to the West, the parallel of latitude 3852.28 to the North and thefrontier with Lebanon to the South; an area which covers around 560 km². Three main
geographical areas can be distinguished: the basaltic plain in the West bank of the Orontes
River, the basaltic hills in the central area and the Bouqaia Basin in the West. Over 160 new
archaeological sites spreading all over this region and dating from the Lower Palaeolithic
until the Ottoman period have been documented. What should be emphasized among thesesites is the discovery of an Early Natufian site, Jeftelik, and a Pottery Neolithic site, Tell el
Marj. The excavations undertaken on these two sites located in the Bouqaia shed some lighton the Neolithization process in this region of the Levant and on the cultural parallels with
the Lebanese‐Syrian coastal Neolithic. Also, a considerable and extended megalithic
landscape, spreading near the Orontes River, has been documented.

Publication since 2010
ARMENDÁRIZ A., IBÁÑEZ J.J, M., AL‐MAQDISSI M., HAÏDAR‐BOUSTANI M., TEIRA L. and GONZÁLEZURQUIJO J., 2011, « The megalithic necropolises at the West of Homs (Syria) », in: STEIMER‐HERBET T.
(dir), Pierres levées, stèles anthropomorphes et dolmens/Standing stones, anthropomorphic stelae anddolmens, Colloque International, Amman 15‐17 juin 2007, BAR International Series XXXX, pp. 55‐65.
ARMENDARIZ GUTIERREZ, A., TEIRAL, L. TAPIA SAGRANA, J., HAÏDAR‐BOUSTANI M., GONZÁLEZURQUIJO J.E., IBÁÑEZ ESTEVEZ, J.J, 2012, « Las necrópolis megalíticas de la región de Homs (Siria) »,in: MUÑIZ ALVAREZ, J. R., (ed), Ad orientem del final del paleolitico en el norte de España a lasprimeras civilizations del oriente proximo. Estudios en homenaje al professor Juan Antonio Frenandez‐
Tresguerres Velasco, Mensula, Pola de Siero (Asturias), pp.479‐499.
IBÁÑEZ J.J., TERRADAS X., ARMENDÁRIZ A., GONZÁLEZ URQUIJO J., TEIRA L., BRAEMER F.,
GOURICHON L., HAÏDAR‐BOUSTANI M., RODRÍGUEZ RODRÍGUEZ A., 2012, «Nouvelles données surles architectures des sites natoufiens de Jeftelik et Qarassa 3 (Syrie centro‐occidentale et du sud)», in:
MONTERO FENELLÓS J.‐L (éd.), Du village néolithique à la ville syro‐mésopotamienne, Vème
Rencontre Syro‐Franco‐Ibérique d’Archéologie et d’Historie Ancienne du Proche‐Orient 21‐22
novembre 2011, Facultade de Humanidades, Universidade da Coruña, Bibliotheca Euphratica Vol. 1,
Universidade da Coruña, pp. 9‐33.
RODRÍGUEZ RODRÍGUEZ A., HAÏDAR‐BOUSTANI M., GONZÁLEZ URQUIJO J.E., IBÁÑEZ J.J., AL‐
MAQDISSI M., TERRADAS X., ZAPATA L., 2013, «The Early Natufian Site of Jeftelik (Homs Gap, Syria) »,in: BAR‐YOSEF O. & VALLA F.R. (eds), Natufian Foragers in the Levant. International Monographs in
Prehistory. Archaeological Series 19. Ann Arbor, Michigan, pp.61‐72.
AL‐MAQDISSI M., HAÏDAR‐BOUSTANI M., IBÁÑEZ J.J, GONZÁLEZ URQUIJO J., ARMENDÁRIZ A., M.,
TEIRA L 2014, «Entre Homs et Qalat al‐Hosn», in: BARTL, K. and AL‐MAQDISSI, M. (eds), New
Prospecting in the Orontes Region. First Results of Archaeological Fieldwork, Deutsches
Archäologisches Institut Orient‐Abteilung, Orient‐Archäologie Band 30, Rahden/Westf.: Leidorf.

19

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
THE ARID MARGINS
Nazir AWAD, Mohamed AL‐DBIYAT, Jacques BESANÇON (†), Bernard GEYER, Marie‐
Odile ROUSSET
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria), Maison de l’Orient Méditerrannéen
Lyon (France)

The Arid Margins of Northern Syria, Recent Results.
The Arid Margins of Northern Syria have been the object of a geoarchaeological survey,
which ended in 2010 after 16 field campaigns. It allowed to discover and to characterizemore than 1000 archaeological sites, which were all replaced in their environmental context.
The aim was to understand the complexity of the Human – environment relations innotoriously difficult environments and to redraw the history of a region with early
sedentarisation where the influence of the environment upon development of the humansocieties has been important very early.
The poster presents the way we proceeded to synthesize the environmental data and ourknowledges about settlement, land use and development. This stage is essential tounderstand the economic models on which societies of the past based themselves tobecome established and develop in regions marked by strong constraints, the first of whichbeing aridity. But, generally, only the climatic aridity is put forward to explain the modalitiesof land use, what distorts widely the conclusions to which one can end.
We looked at ways to introduce, on one hand, realities of the edaphic aridity and, on theother hand, consequences of the human endeavour, in particular hydro‐agricultural
installations, to manage to define and to map classes of attractiveness at the scale of thesurveyed region.
This approach revealed itself particularly interesting for the Early Bronze Age IV and for thebyzantine period, which will be illustrated.

20

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
TELL TOUEINI (LATAKIA)
Michel AL‐MAQDISSI, Massoud BADAWI, Karel VAN LERBERGHE, Joachim
BRETSCHNEIDER
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven(Belgium)
Presented by Eva ISHAQ, Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Terracotta figurines from Tell Toueini (First Millennium B.C.)
Tell Toueini is located near the modern town of Jebleh, which lies on the Syrian coast, 28 km
south of Latakia and roughly 35 km from the ancient city of Ras Shamra‐Ugarit.
A number of terracotta figurines were discovered in areas A and B excavated by the joint
mission within the levels dated to the First millennium B.C.
We can distinguish the following six main categories:
o
o
o
o
o
o

Female figurines
Male figurines
Animal figurines
Human heads
Animal heads
Legs

All the terracotta figurines analyzed were dated to the Late Iron Age II and Iron Age III with
one exceptional specimen from the Iron Age I tradition.
The female terracotta is a traditional model dating back to the Iron Age II, discovered in TellAfis, Neirab and at the sites of the Amuq Plain.
The female plaque with arms down was a popular product in the Levant during the Iron
Age II‐III and maybe one of the oldest known Late Bronze Age artefacts also known from Ras
Shamra‐Ugarit, Tell Mumbaqa‐Ekalte on the Euphrates, Tell Beit Mirsim in Palestine.
The male figurine carrying a conical shape, with two holes in the bottom to put the legs, is avery rare example and it is called a ‘Puppet’. It represents the Cypriot and Greek tradition of
the Iron Age. Some analogies for this figurine can be found in the Middle East at such sites as
Babylon and even in Susa.
The large molded terracotta figurine of a naked woman, which has a unique and very
special shape, can be considered as one of the rare examples that appeared on the
Phoenician coast especially as they date back to the Iron Age III.
The ‘Persian Riders’ represent a very popular type that covers all of Near Eastern sites,from the Syrian‐Lebanese coast to Tell Halaf in the east. M. Rostovtzeff noted ‘Similar
Statuettes of the Archaemenid period are found in hundreds in all the cities which were
occupied by the Persian Army’. This type was manufactured in special workshops from veryfine clay of light beige color.
The animal terracotta figurines have very limited variation with the domination of theruminants or herbivores. Their dating is generally related to the late phase of the Iron Age(probably Iron Age III).

21

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

DGAMS ACTIVITIES
Tony GEROUGE
Documentation of Archaeological Sites and Historical Buildings.


In cooperation with the department of historical buildings, all related data for thosebuildings registered on the National Heritage List (NHL) have been input.



A dedicated interface was constructed to record damages: location and parts, short
description, and photos, through a constant feedback by the department of sitemanagement; in order to have real‐time reports of inter‐related data.

Lina KUTIFAN
Syrian World Heritage Sites.
UNESCO has declared six sites in Syria to be of outstanding universal value and added themto the World Heritage List, including the: Ancient City of Damascus (1979)
 Ancient City of Bosra (1980)
 Site of Palmyra (1980)
 Ancient City of Aleppo (1986)
 Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El‐Din (2006)
 Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (2011)
The ancient city of Damascus stands out. Founded in the third millennium B.C.,
Damascus vies for—and just might own—the title of the world oldest continuously
inhabited city.
Bosra is a major archaeological site, containing ruins from Roman, Byzantine, andMuslim times. Further, Nabatean and Roman monuments, Christian churches, mosquesand Madrasahs are present within the city.
Palmyra was one of the artistic cities in the Middle East its ruins constitute uniqueachievement influenced on the posterior development of the architectural style andtown planning.
Aleppo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, dating to the 2nd
millennium B.C
The Crusader castles Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El‐Din represent a distinct
evolution in the defense systems that were prevalent in the Europe. They also
contributed to the development of castles in Bilad Al Sham.
The Ancient Villages of Northern Syria are some 40 villages grouped in eight parks
situated in north‐western Syria provide remarkable testimony to rural life in late
Antiquity and during the Byzantine period.

22

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

PRESENTATION ABSTRACTSISCACH (Beirut 2015)

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Palmyra Session

PALMYRA (HOMS)
Kiyohide SAITO
Archeological Institute of Kashihara, Nara, (Japan)

Title:
Japanese Archaeological Works in Palmyra from 1990 to 2010.
Abstract:
Nara‐Palmyra archaeological mission carried out excavations and reconstructions at thesoutheast necropolis from 1990 to 2005. The excavation since 2006 at the north necropolis
has been suspended with conflicts since 2011.
Over the course of 16 years, six tombs including Tomb A that is a house tomb; Tomb C thatis an underground tomb constructed by YRHY in 109 AD; Tomb F that is an undergroundtomb decorated with beautiful floral patterns constructed by BWLH & BWRP in 128 AD;
Tomb G that is a Hellenistic pit grave, the earliest grave at Palmyra; Tomb E that is anunderground tomb constructed 3rd century; and Tomb H that is an underground tomb
constructed by TYBL in 113 AD and a complete sarcophagus expressed family banquet scene
was found. Among them, the restoration and reconstruction of Tomb F and H were carriedout.
No.129‐b House Tomb at the north necropolis is taken in the Zenobia Wall constructed as adefensive wall in the Diocletian period. Through scanning collapsed stones by 3D laser
scanner the heap of stones showed a rough process of the collapse of the tomb. The
reconstruction of outside and inside structure of this tomb could illustrate through the
excavation. Infant graves were found at the working slope for constructing the defensive
wall.

25

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Palmyra Session

PALMYRA (HOMS)
Grzegorz MAJCHEREKPolish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw (Poland)

Title:
Shaping an urban landscape: church buildings in Palmyra.
Abstract:
The paper summarizes results of our research on Early Byzantine churches in Palmyra withspecial focus on the last two seasons of fieldwork in 2008 and 2009. Within the frameworkof this program, our activities concentrated on excavations in northern Basilica, the largest
church building in the city. Great part of the apse, as well as the nave and both aisles werecleared. O particular interest was the so‐called Syrian bema occupying the center of thenave, undoubtedly the most unusual architectonic feature. While the bema is quite common
in churches of northern Syria, it is the first time that such a structure has been discovered incentral Syria.
Excavations revealed also evidence of Early Islamic occupation of the site. In the 9th‐10th
centuries AD, the abandoned and dilapidated church was re‐oriented and transformed into
secular building addressing new needs of population. This alteration reflected the changed
urban landscape of the Early Islamic Palmyra.

Publication since 2010
G. Majcherek, Polish Archaeological Mission to Palmyra, seasons 2008 and 2009, PolishArchaeology in Mediterranean XXI (Research 2009), 2012, 459‐479
G. Majcherek, Excavating Basilicas, Studia Palmyreńskie XII (2013), 251‐268
E. Jastrzębowska, La christianisation de Palmyre: l’example du temple de Bel, Studia
Palmyreńskie XII (2013), 177‐192
K. Juchniewicz, Late Roman fortification in Palmyra, Studia Palmyreńskie XII (2013), 193‐202
D. Wielgosz, Coepimus et lapide pingere: marble decoration from theso‐called Baths of
Diocletian at Palmyra, Studia Palmyreńskie XII (2013), 319‐332.
M. Żuchowska, Palmyra and the Far Eastern trade, Studia Palmyreńskie XII (2013), 381‐388

26

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Palmyra Session

PALMYRA (HOMS)
Tomasz WALISZEWSKI
Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw (Poland)

Title:
An olive oil for oasis. On some installations from Palmyra.
Abstract:
Until very recently production of the olive oil in ancient Palmyra was virtually unattested.
The preliminary inventory of few surviving presses or dozens of their elements scattered allover the site suggest that the olive oil was a part of the local agriculture, especially during
the late antique and early Islamic period.
The preliminary typology of installations known from Palmyra, based on author’s fieldresearch, corresponds to similar typologies established already in Palestine or Northern Syria.
The registered examples belong to the lever‐and‐weight type, lever‐and‐screw, and screw‐press types. The question of their chronology seems to be especially controversial due to thelack of archaeological context for the majority of installations or their elements.

27

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Session

DEAD CITIES (IDLIB)
Maamoun ABDULKARIM, Gérard CHARPENTIER
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria), Damascus University (Syria)
Architect CNRS –Université Lyon2 / Maison de l’Orient et de la Méditerranée (France)

Title:
Archaeological and Architectural Studies in Northern Syria (Dead Cities): General
presentation with three missions in El Bâra and Ruweiha.
Abstract:
1. Throughout History
The "dead cities," as they used to be called, in northern Syria constitute one of the mostwonderful archeological sites in the world. They consist of over 700 sites from the Roman
and Byzantine periods and extend on a wide region between Turkey in the north, Apamia inthe south, the Efrin and Orontes valleys in the west and the Aleppo plain in the east. They
also occupy a number of Limestone Mountains called the "limestone block". The surface
area of this block is about 2,000 square kilometers: the Simeon and Halaqa mountains in thenorth, Barisha and A'ala in the middle and the Zawiya in the south.
The significance of these sites does not lie in their number but in rather in its rural nature:they are not cities but old villages surrounded sometimes by stonewall forming cadastral
networks from the Roman period. The civilizations that date back to the end of the old ages
are definitely urban civilizations, but they relied on the base formed by the rural areas inwhich the vast majority of people lived and worked and which essentially determined thelevel of their wealth. The villages and rural areas of the Roman and Byzantine periods are
not well known: the sources of the texts are city dwellers who did not know them very well,in addition to the fact that their remains are largely destroyed. But the case is the exact
opposite in northern Syria, where these ruins have been exceptionally preserved. The
villages that are better preserved are often in full‐integrated groups.
As of 1994 the mission has become a joint Syro‐French mission which allowed forenhancing cooperation with the Department of Museums and Antiquities, in the frameworkof real scientific partnership, with the launch of new excavations in al‐Bara (2006) and in
Ruweiha (2008), with also the preparation of an archeological map with a geographicalframe of reference.
2. Al Bara village
It is situated in one of the most fertile areas of the Limestone Block in a valley whose soils
come from the decomposition of the limestone and the basalt. This village of El Bara is thebiggest antique town in the gebel Zawiya. It covers an area of about two kilometers from theNorth to the South and one kilometer from the West to the East. Since 2007, a more
ambitious research program has been opened at El Bara. It concerns the method of
occupation and development of this big rural town that differs from the other villages of theLimestone Block on several points: First, its dimensions :( more than 50 ha), which are theones of an authentic town. On the other hand, its organization is the one of a traditional
village. Then, its way of development, which seems to be different from the other villages of
the Limestone Block from chronological regards.

28

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Session

Finally, its numerous post byzantine archeological remains which show a sustained
occupation after the Arab Islamic conquest probably just after the Omayyad era.
The excavations of the central area of El Bara village ‐ The archeological works concern an
area of about one ha situated in the central part of the antique town which is composed of
the two big buildings which were excavated between 2007 and 2010, the public baths, whichwere converted into housing, and a big mosque which has been identified thanks to amihrab and which has been fully preserved.
‐The baths: The excavations have shown that there have been four main phases ofoccupation: 1) the construction of the Protobyzantin Baths; 2) the conversion of these baths
into hammams at the beginning of Islam; 3) A phase when the baths were abandoned during
te XIth century; 4) The conversion of the baths into housing during the Mameluk period.
‐The mosque: In its initial condition, the mosque used to consist of a larger architecturalgrouping than it seems to be. For a long time, it has been considered as belonging to themedieval period, but it could have been created at the beginning of the Abbasside period.
Established on older constructions, it is part of the center of a town about which one of thefirst phase of occupation could be prior to the Protobyzantin buildings.
In its early phase, the mosque could be contemporary with the public baths that used tooperate like usual therms before being changed into hammams… In spite of the small, stillcleared surface area, the outsides seem to have been planned to constitute the beginning ofroad works in the surroundings of a huge mosque, which was built in the early Abbassideperiod within the context of an urbanization plan for a big village.
3. Ruweiha village
Ruweiha is a large village characterized by its elevated position, North‐East of Jebel al‐
Zawiya. It is surrounded by valleys, separating it from Jerade village, and agricultural plains.
It contains perfectly preserved archaeological buildings made of local limestone. Most of thevillage dates to the Byzantine period.
Ruweiha village is home to several important historic buildings, including the Church of
Bissos, to the North‐East, dating to the sixth century AD. Two tombs flank the church; one isin the form of a Roman temple dating to the fourth century. The second has a dome.
Another church from the fifth century is located to the south. To the east, a tomb, datingback to the end of the fourth century, also has the form of a temple. In addition, the village
is abundant in large residential buildings that are still well preserved.
Besides, Ruweiha contains Roman ruins, particularly to the western corner of the village aswell as in its center. For example, House 13 was built in accordance with construction
techniques that are different from those adopted in the other dwellings belonging to the
Byzantine era. Its decorations, moreover, indicate that it dates back to the pre‐Christian era.
In comparison with both Serjilla and al‐Bara, this site is one of the most undisputedarchaeological sites in the region given that numerous assumptions have been presented asregards al‐Bara site in terms of the nature of settlement in the Roman era and during thetransition period to the Byzantine era. However, systematic archaeological excavations
should be carried out at the site.
Some researchers, such as Howard Crosby Butler and Georges Tchalenko, suggested theexistence of public open spaces or agoras (marketplaces) in some of the villages of theLimestone Massif, for example Dahis and Dar Quita in Jebel Barisha and Ruweiha in Jebel al‐
Zawiya. Previous studies conducted by Tchalenko indicated that Ruweiha village witnessed
the beginning of urban planning as evidenced by Building 22, consisting of a two‐story
portico, located in the center of the village. It is claimed to be a market or a commercial
exchange center; in addition, wealthy landowners are thought to have built large villas,
made of stone, in the late fifth century and during the sixth century.

29

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Session

Notwithstanding these hypotheses, Georges Tate believes that those structures weremerely residential buildings. He argued that Butler’s proposition was based on the existenceof squarely shaped public buildings whose sides are 40 meters in length. Tate refuted thishypothesis on the grounds that the data was not valid as the sides of the buildings are 35
meters long not 40. These measurements are customary in the houses of Jebel al‐Zawiya,
especially in Ruweiha.
The Syrian‐French mission working in Ruweiha village carried out the following:1‐
Conducting archaeological field surveys in Ruweiha using topographic equipment in order torecord and draw the ruins located in the agricultural fields surrounding the site. 2‐
Conducting archaeological excavations in Building 22. 3‐Studying the decorative elements in
the residential buildings at this site and the neighboring ones.
Excavations in Building 22, in Ruweiha, were carried out in order to test the above‐
mentioned hypotheses. In addition, various parts of the building and its surroundings were
inspected, which proved its occupation during the Byzantine period up until the Islamic era.

Publication since 2010
M. ABDULKARIM, Les villages antiques du massif calcaire du Nord de la Syrie, Guide
archéologiques de l’Institut francais du Proche‐Orient, Beirut, IFPO, 2011. In Arabic.
G. TATE, M. ABDULKARIM, G, Charpentier, C. DUVETTE et C. PIATON, Serjilla. Village
d'Apamène, Tome 1‐2, Presses de l'IFPO, Beirut, 2014. Prix Gustave Schlumberger del'académie des Inscriptions et des belles letters en France 2014.
M. ABDULKARIM, The Problems of the Establishment of the City of Emessa, Annales
Archéologiques Arabes Syriennes, Vol: 44, 2001, In Arabic.
M. ABDULKARIM, et al.: Les systèmes d'alimentation en eau au voisinage et dans lesterroires villages du Gebel Zawiyé, Annales Archéologiques Arabes Syriennes, Vol: 45, 2003.
M. ABDULKARIM, Etude des caractéristiques géologiques hydrogéologiques et des terroirsde villages antiques du Gebel Siman en Syrie du Nord, Photo‐interprétation, 40, 2004.
M. ABDULKARIM, Comparaison des potentialites naturelles d'accueil du Gebel Siman et
Zawiye, vis‐à‐vis des choix d'implantation des sites antiques romano‐byzantins de Syrie duNord, Photo‐interprétation, 40, 2004.
ABDULKARIM, M et CHARPENTER, G : Une première campagne d'étude sur la mosqué d'al‐Bara, dans: Residences, Castles, Settlements, Proceedings of the International Conference,Damascus, 5‐9 November 2006. 2009, p.45‐57.
ABDULKARIM, M et OLESTI‐VILLA, O, Les centuriations dans la province romaine de la Syrie,
Syria, Paris, 2007. p.249‐276.
ABDULKARIM, M et CHARPENTER, G: Peuplment et Gestion de l'eau dans Gebel zawyée,
Stragégies d’acquisiation de l’eau et société, BAH. Beirut. 2009, p.149‐156.
ABDULKARIM, M et al., Conquest of new lands and water systems in the western Fertile
Crescent (Central and Southern Syria), Springer Science, 2010. London.

30

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Session

ABDULKARIM, M et CHARPENTER, G, Fouilles dans les bains d’El‐Bara au nord de la Syrie,
Adyat Halab, 14, 2010, p.7‐19.
ABDULKARIM, M, Serjilla: a village of north Syria during the Roman‐Byzantine period,
Journal of Historical Studies, Damascus University. 2011, pp.89‐123.
ABDULKARIM, M et al., L'alimentation en eau du Serjilla en Syrie du Nord (époque romaine
et byzantine), Annales Archéologiques Arabes Syriennes, Vol.LIII‐LIV, 2011‐2012, pp.77‐89.
ABDULKARIM, M, Les parcellaires antiques dans la région de Ruweiha au nord de la Syrie,
Syria, 2012.
ABDULKARIM, M et CHARPENTER, G, Les fouilles archéologiques à Ruweiha dans le massif
calcaire au nord de la Syrie, Chronique archéologique en Syrie, VI, Damascus, 2012.
ABDULKARIM, M, Ruweiha, un village du massif Calcaire de la Syrie du Nord: nouvellesétudes archéologiques, Topoi Suppl, Vol2, Paris, 2013, pp.271‐284.
ABDULKARIM, M, Développement of Al‐Bara site, Journal of Historical Studies, Damascus
University, 2013.

31

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Session

TELL EL‐KERKH (IDLIB)
Akira TSUNEKI
University of Tsukuba (Japan)

Title:
Tell el‐Kerkh: A Neolithic Mega Site in Idlib Province.
Abstract:
Tell el‐Kerkh is a large tell‐complex located in the south of the Rouj Basin, Idlib province. A
DGAM‐University of Tsukuba Archaeological Mission carried out excavations at the site from1997 to 2010 to reveal a series of Neolithic settlements there. The oldest settlement dates
back to the middle of the 9th millennium BC. The people built large‐sized settlements (16 ‐8ha) during the late 8th and 7th millennium BC, which matched the small cities of later
historic periods. Their societies were complicated, including communal storage, communal
cemetery, and advanced technology for craft production, long‐distance trade, andownership concepts. On the other hand, we did not find clear evidence of social classes.
Neolithic people lived in egalitarian societies, where economic and social disparity had not
yet been actualized. The discipline for integrating large scale societies might be based on
frequent ritual practices, the evidence for which we observed here and there in the
excavations. It is also notable that the excavations produced the oldest outdoor communal
cemetery in the Near East, consisting of over 240 human skeletons and dating back to thelate 7th millennium BC. The evidence from Tell el‐Kerkh provides a lot of material forreconsidering why people started to congregate together, why they started to create large
and complex societies and what constitutes a city.

Publication Since 2010
Tsuneki, A. 2015 “Rationale for the symposium”, “Japanese archaeological investigations in
Idlib district and the current status of these sites”, A Crisis of Syrian Cultural Heritage and theEfforts to Safeguard It, pp. 1, 10, Research Center for West Asian Civilization, Univ. of
Tsukuba.
Dougherty, S. and A. Tsuneki 2014 “Non‐adult morbidity and mortality in Neolithic Syria”,
Poster presentation in Annual Conference of Paleopathology Association (PPA) Meeting,
University of Calgary, Canada.
Tsuneki, A. 2013 “The archaeology of death in the Late Neolithic: a view from Tell el‐Kerkh”,
in Nieuwenhuyse, O. P., R. Bernbeck, P.P.M.G. Akkermans, and J. Rogasch (eds.) Interpretingthe Late Neolithic of Upper Mesopotamia, pp.203‐212, Brepols Publishers, Turnhout.
Tsuneki, A. and Hydar, J. 2013 “Tell el‐Kerkh 2010”, Chronique Archéologique en Syrie: Special
Issue Documenting the Annual Excavation Reports Concerning the Archaeological Activities in
Syria, Excavation Reports of 2010‐2011, pp.39‐45. The Directorate General of Antiquities andMuseums,
Arimura, M. 2013 “Exchange of points in the PPNB: points with the Palmyran retouch from
Tell Ain el‐Kerkh, northwest Syria” in Borrell, F., Ibáňez, J.J. and Molist, M. (eds.) Stone Tools

32

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Sessionin Transition: From Hunter‐Gatherers to Farming Societies in the Near East, pp. 265‐276,
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Servei de Publicacions, Barcelona.

Tsuneki, A. 2012 “The meaning of Neolithic stamp seals”, 8th International Congress on the
Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Abstracts, pp.79, University of Warsaw, Warsaw.
Tsuneki, A. 2012 “Tell el‐Kerkh as a Neolithic mega site”, Orient 47, 29‐65.
Tsuneki, A. 2011 “A glimpse of human life from the Neolithic cemetery at Tell el‐Kerkh,
Northwest Syria”, Documenta Praehistorica 38: 83‐95, Univerza v Ljubljani, Slovenia.
Tsuneki, A. and Hydar, J. 2011 “Tell el‐Kerkh 2009”, Chronique Archéologique en Syrie, 5,2010, pp.69‐78. The Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums.
Tsuneki, A. (ed.) 2011 Life and Death in the Kerkh Neolithic Cemetery, University of Tsukuba
and DGAM Archaeological Mission to Tell el‐Kerkh, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba.
Tsuneki, A. and Hydar, J. 2010 “Tell el‐Kerkh 2008”, Chronique Archéologique en Syrie, 4,2010, pp.91‐95. The Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums.
Tsuneki, A. 2010 “Early cremation practices recognized from a Neolithic site, Tell el‐Kerkh”,
Poster in 7th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East,
Programme & Abstract Handbook, pp.101, The British Museum & University College ofLondon.
Tsuneki, A. 2010 “A newly discovered Neolithic cemetery at Tell el‐Kerkh, northwest Syria”,
in Matthiae P., Pinnock, F., Nigro, L., and Marchetti, N. (eds.) Proceedings of the 6thInternational Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Volume 2,: pp.697‐713,
Harrasowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden.

33

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Session

TELL MARDIKH‐EBLA (IDLIB)
Paolo MATTHIAE
Sapienza Università di Roma, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (Italy)

Title:The Excavations at Tell Mardikh‐Ebla in 2004‐2010: The Temples of EB IVA‐B andthe Royal Citadel of MB I‐II.
Abstract:"The Italian Archaeological Mission at Ebla, beyond some minor other results, during theyears 2004‐2010, got important successes in the excavations of two main temples of Early
Bronze IVA‐B with a unique succession of several sacred buildings on the Acropolis and in
the Lower Town and in the continuation of a long work on the Royal Palace E‐F in thewestern sector of the Acropolis, that is the great palatial building of Middle Bronze I‐II. The
discovery of the cult buildings of Areas D and HH shed light on the history of the religious
architecture during the last centuries of IIIrd and the beginning of IInd millennium BC, while
the work in the Areas E and F of the Acropolis revealed important hints for the topographic
extension and planimetric structure of the Royal Palace E: it is now clear that the palatial
sectors till now recovered were only a limited part of a very large architectural complex thatcertainly was a real Royal Citadel, destroyed at the end of Middle Bronze II and largely re‐employed during the Late Bronze I, when the function was no more a palatial one."34

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Session

EBLA/TELL MARDIKH (IDLIB)Frances PINNOCK
Co‐Director, Ebla Expedition, Sapienza Università di Roma (Italy)

Title:The Archaeological Park of Ebla. A Long‐Term Plan for the Site and its Region.
Abstract:
The Italian Archaeological Expedition at Ebla started a long‐term restoration program
developing in different stages, and with different techniques. At the beginning, in fact, ouraim was only to protect the structures brought to light, whereas only since the Nineties oflast centuries, thanks to a strong economic support by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
it was possible to launch a more ambitious project, aiming at restoring all the main buildingsof the ancient town, at creating an itinerary for the visit, and at promoting the traditional
activities in the Ebla region.

35

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Session

TELL AFIS (IDLIB)
Stefania MAZZONIUniversità di Firenze (Italy)

Title:
Tell Afis: Late Bronze and Iron Age (13th‐7th cent. B.C.).
Abstract:
Tell Afis is a multi‐phase site: thanks to its favourable position it was settled continuously
from the Late Chalcolithic to the late Iron Age. The last excavations were concentrated on
the acropolis, where a residential quarter dating to two phases of Late Bronze II (13th cent.),
and a sequence of superimposed temples with their annexes, dating from Iron I (11th cent.)
to Iron III (7th‐6th cent.), were brought to light. Architecture and material culture from thislong sequence of occupation give evidence of three distinct cultural horizons, with theirregional orientations; these can be connected with the transformations of the social andpolitical scenario of North‐Western Syria in this period.
The paper will discuss chronology and cultural traits of the Afis LB‐Iron sequence.

Publication since 2010
S. Soldi, Notes on the Glazed Funnels from the Iron Age Temple AI at Tell Afis, in R.
Matthews and John Curtis (eds.), Proceedings of the 7th International Congress on the
Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Wiesbaden 2012, pp. 459‐477.
S. Mazzoni, Temples at Tell ‘Āfīs in Iron Age I‐III, in J. Kamlah (Ed.), Temple Building andTemple Cult: Architecture and Cultic Paraphernalia of Temples in the Levant (2.‐1. Mill.
B.C.E.), Abhandlungen des Deutschen Palaestina‐Vereins 41 (Wiesbaden 2012), pp. 23‐40.
A. Archi, Hittites at Tell Afis: the Cuneiform Tablets: Orientalia 81.1 (2012), pp. 32‐55.
F. Venturi, New evidence of cultural links between Syria and Anatolia through analysis of
Late Bronze Age II Tell Afis material culture: Orientalia 81.1 (2012), pp. 1‐31.
A. Archi, The Texts from Tell Afis: Evidence from the Periphery of the Hittite Empire: Origini
XXXIV (2012), pp. 413‐420.
A. Di Michele, Fortification and burial grounds in Tell Afis (Syria) between Middle Bronze Ageand Late Bronze Age, in F. Borrell Tena, M. Bouso García, A. Gómez Bach, C. Tornero Dacasa& O.Vicente Campos (eds.). Broadening Horizons 3. Conference of Young Researchers
Working in the Ancient Near East, Barcelona, 2012, pp. 169‐182.

G. Carenti, Tell Afis (Syria): Ritual Meals and Foundation Ceremonies. Findings from the
2009–2010 Excavation Campaign, in Ch. Lefèvre (ed.), Proceedings of the General Session ofthe
11th International Council for Archaeozoology Conference (Paris, 23–28 August 2010), (BAR
International Series 2354), Oxford: Archeopress, 2012, pp. 183‐190.

36

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Session

C. De Gregorio, M. Pepe, D. Aureli, The Italian Prehistoric Survey in the Jazr (Idlib district ‐north west Syria), Preliminary Investigation of human occupation from Palaeolithic to
Chalcolithic times, in F. Borrell Tena, M. Bouso García, A. Gómez Bach, C. Tornero Dacasa &O.Vicente Campos (eds.). Broadening Horizons 3. Conference of Young Researchers Working
in the Ancient Near East, Barcelona, 2012, pp. 19‐32.
D. Giannessi, Tell Afis and the northern Orontes region in the Post‐Ubaid period, in C. Marro(ed.), After the Ubaid: Interpreting Change from the Caucasus to Mesopotamia at the Dawn
of Urban Civilization (4500‐3500 BC). Papers from the Post‐Ubaid Horizon in the Fertile
Crescent. International Workshop held at Fosseuse, 29th June‐1st July 2009 (Varia Anatolica
XXVII), Paris 2012, pp. 261‐274.
S. Mazzoni, Tell Afis: History and Excavations: Near Eastern Archaeology 76/4 (2013), pp.
204‐213.
A. Archi, F. Venturi, Tell Afis in the Thirtheenh Century B.C.E. under the Rule of the Hittites:
Near Eastern Archaeology 76/4 (2013), pp. 214‐222.
S. Mazzoni, S. Soldi (eds.), Syrian Archaeology in Perspective. Celebrating 20 Years of
Excavations of Tell Afis (Ricerche di Archeologia del Vicino Oriente 4), Pisa 2013.
S. Mazzoni, Tell Afis and the Early‐Middle Bronze Age Transition in S. Mazzoni, S. Soldi (eds),
Syrian Archaeology in Perspective. Celebrating 20 Years of Excavations at Tell Afis (Ricerche
di Archeologia del Vicino Oriente 4), Pisa 2013, pp. 31‐80.
F. Venturi, The Transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age at Tell Afis, Syria(Phases VII‐III), in K. Aslihan Yener (ed.), Across the Border, Late Bronze‐Iron Age Relations
between Syria and Anatolia. Proceedings of a Symposium held at the Research Center ofAnatolian Studies, Koç University, Istanbul May 31‐ June 1 2010, Leuven‐Paris‐Walpole, MA,
2013, pp. 227‐244.
F. Venturi, The “Transitional” 12th Century Bc. The Beginning of the Iron Age, In Syria
and in the Eastern Mediterranean, in S. Mazzoni, S. Soldi (eds), Syrian Archaeology in
Perspective. Celebrating 20 Years of Excavations at Tell Afis (Ricerche di Archeologia delVicino Oriente 4), Pisa 2013, pp. 117‐138.
S. Soldi, Red Slip Ware from the Acropolis of Tell Afis: The Evidence of Area G, in S. Mazzoni,
S. Soldi (eds), Syrian Archaeology in Perspective. Celebrating 20 Years of Excavations at Tell
Afis (Ricerche di Archeologia del Vicino Oriente 4), Pisa 2013, pp. 199‐217.
G. Carenti, G. Minunno, The Role of Birds in Tell Afis (Syria): Sacrifices and Rituals in a
Temple Area during the Iron Age, in L. Bombardieri, A. D’Agostino, G. Guarducci, V. Orsi and
S. Valentini (eds), SOMA 2012. Identity and Connectivity. Proceedings of the 16th Symposium
on Mediterranean Archaeology, Florence, Italy, 1‐3‐ March 2012. Vol. I (BAR International
Series 2581), Oxford 2013, pp. 119‐122.
Mazzoni, S., Tell Afis in the Iron Age: The Temple on the Acropolis: Near Eastern Archaeology
77.1 (2014), pp. 44‐52.

37

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Session

Cecchini, S.M. 2014. Tell Afis in the Iron Age: The Official Buildings in the Eastern Acropolis:
Near Eastern Archaeology 77.1, pp. 58‐63.
Amadasi, M.G., 2014. Tell Afis in the Iron Age: The Aramaic Inscriptions: Near Eastern
Archaeology 77.1, pp. 54‐57.
Venturi, Fabrizio, The Late Bronze Age Sequence at Tell Afis, Baffi Francesca, Fiorentino
Roberto, Peyronel Luca (eds), Tell Tuqan Excavations and Regional Perspectives. Cultural
Developments in Inner Syria from the Early Bronze Age to the Persian/Hellenistic Period.
Proceedings of the International Conference May 15th‐17th 2013, Galatina (Lecce) 2014,
Congedo Editore, pp. 297‐323
Mazzoni, Stefania, 2014. The Archaeology of Tell Afis and the Iron Age II‐III in Syria: A
Reassessment, in Baffi Francesca, Fiorentino Roberto, Peyronel Luca (eds), Tell Tuqan
Excavations and Regional Perspectives. Cultural Developments in Inner Syria from the Early
Bronze Age to the Persian/Hellenistic Period. Proceedings of the International Conference
May 15th‐17th 2013, Galatina (Lecce) 2014, Congedo Editore, pp. 343‐390
D’Amore, Paola, 2015. Iron Age Clay Figurines from Tell Afis, in P. Ciafardoni and D.
Giannessi (eds), From the Treasures of Syria. Essays on Art and Archaeology in Honour ofStefania Mazzoni (PIHANS. Publications de l’Institut historique‐archéologique néerlandais deStamboul CXXVI), Leiden, pp. 261‐286.
Venturi, Fabrizio, 2015. Storage Jars and Household Storage Methods in Tell Afis Between
Late Bronze Age II and Iron Age II, in P. Ciafardoni and D. Giannessi (eds), From the Treasuresof Syria. Essays on Art and Archaeology in Honour of Stefania Mazzoni (PIHANS. Publications
de l’Institut historique‐archéologique néerlandais de Stamboul CXXVI), Leiden, pp. 75‐108.

38

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Idlib Session

TELL MASTUMA (IDLIB)
Shigeo WAKITA, Shin NISHIYAMA
Ancient Orient Museum, Tokyo (Japan), Chubu University (Japan)

Title:
Tell Mastuma, Idlib: Rise and fall of an Iron Age rural settlement in northwest Syria.
Abstract:
Tell Mastuma is a middle‐sized tell (200 m) site located 5 km south of the city of Idlib, innorthwest Syria. The site was excavated by the Japanese mission from the Ancient Orient
Museum, Tokyo between 1980 and 1995. The most extensively investigated level was that ofthe Iron Age which may be dated from the 10th century to the early 7th century BC. Although
the excavation was closed in 1995, the mission returned to the site between 2004 and 2006.
During this period, 1) surface survey of the tell sites in the vicinity of Mastuma, 2) further
study of the excavated material including flora and faunal remains, and 3) obtaining
radiocarbon samples from the excavated layers. The result of these post‐excavation studies
reveals that the Iron Age settlement of Mastuma was self‐independent and well‐planned
settlement using the local resources effectively. In the Iron II period, the settlement
expanded to its maximum size with a local “temple” structure built near the southern gate.
After the late 8th century BC, the settlement started to diminish rapidly and finally abundantby the end of 8th or early 7th century BC. The paper summaries what has been newly
understood from the analysis of excavated data since 2000.

Publication since 2010
Tsumoto, H. 2010. Achaemenid period at Tell Mastuma, northwest Syria: Some remarkablefinds and the character of the remains at Stratum 0, Bulletin of the Ancient Orient Museum,
29/30, 51‐64. (In Japanese)
Adachi, T. 2010. Considering the Neo‐Assyrian influence on ceramic bowls in the Iron Age
Levant, Bulletin of the Ancient Orient Museum, 29/30, 33‐50.
Wada, H. 2011. Houses and settlements in Northwest Syria: from the cases of Tell Mastuma,
Kodai (Journal of the Archaeological Society of Waseda University), 125, 47‐68. (in Japanese)
Nishiyama, S. 2012. A local temple in the Iron Age village? Reassessing a building complex at
Tell Mastuma in the northern Levant, Orient (Reports of the Society for Near Eastern Studies
in Japan) 47, 91‐124.
Tsumoto, H. 2014. Neighbor of ancient Israel: Archaeology of the kingdom of Hamath, in S.
Hasegawa (ed.) Festschrift for Prof. Akio Tsukimoto, vol. 2: Biblical world seen fromarchaeology, Seikokai Shuppan: Tokyo, 144‐183. (In Japanese)

39

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Hasake Session 1

MIDDLE KHABUR
Frank HOLE
Yale University (USA)

Title:
Ubaid sites on the Middle Khabur River.
Abstract:
In the Late Ubaid, immigrant groups settled several sites along the Middle Khabur Rivervalley. Excavations and small‐scale sampling reveal initial occupation on a virgin landscape,and then abandonment after some 500 years. The principal sites are Mashnaqa, Ziyadeh,
Kuran and Beydar III.

40

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Hasake Session 1

TELL FEKHERIYE (HASAKE)
Dominik BONATZ
Freie Universität Berlin (Germany)

Title:
Tell Fekheriye/Ras el‐Ain in Northeastern Syria: A Short Report on the
Archaeological Site and its Neighboring Town Before and After the Political Crisis.
Abstract:
A joint Syrian‐German excavation project involving the Syrian Department of Antiquities andMuseums and the Freie Universität Berlin was carried out at Tell Fekheriye in northeastern
Syria from 2006 to 2010. These investigations have considerably broadened our knowledgeof this important archaeological site, as they have produced valuable new evidence linked
primarily to the early Neolithic, Mitanni, Middle Assyrian, and Roman‐Byzantine periods. As
for other archaeological sites in Syria, the research at Tell Fekheriye became interrupted
after the political crisis started in 2011.
The paper will provide a short overview of the latest excavation results from Tell Fekheriyeand collect information about what has happened with this site after 2010. In addition tothat it will report on news about the battle for control of the neighboring town of Ras el‐Ain
which is now mainly in the hand of Kurdish separatists. As the historical importance of Tell
Fekheriye is in some way linked to this struggle, the paper also discusses how archaeology inthis region is drawn upon for recent political agendas.

Publication since 2010
Bonatz, D., “A Middle Assyrian Centaur from Tell Fekheriye”, in: P. Ciafardoni and D.
Giannessi (Hg.), From the Treasures of Syria. Essays on Art and Archaeology in Honour ofStefania Mazzoni, PIHANS, vol. 126 (2015), 153‐162
Bonatz, D., “Tell Fekheriye in the Late Bronze Age. Archaeological Investigations into the
Structures of Political Governance in the Upper Mesopotamian Piedmont”, in D. Bonatz (Hg.),
The Archaeology of Political Space. The Upper Mesopotamian Piedmont in the Second
Millennium BC, edited by D. Bonatz. Topoi. Berlin Studies of the Ancient World, Berlin:
DeGruyter (2014), 61‐84.
Bonatz, D., “Tell Fekheriye: An Introduction in the Current Stage of Research”, in: D. Hulinek/ P. Valent (ed.), Archaeology at Three Continents, 2006‐2011. Slovakian Archaeological andHistorical Institute (SAHI). Bratislava (2013), 7‐24.
Bonatz, D., Tell Fekheriye – Renewed Excavations at the “Head of the Spring”, in: D. Bonatz /L. Martin (eds.), 100 Jahre archäologische Feldforschungen in Nordost‐Syrien – eine Bilanz,
Schriften der Max Freiherr von Oppenheim‐Stiftung 18, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz (2013),
209‐234.

41

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Hasake Session 1

TELL ARBID /JEZIREH
Piotr BIELIŃSKI
Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology / the Institute of Archaeology, University of
Warsaw (Poland)

Title:
IIIrd Millenium BC city on Tell Arbid ‐ structure of a middle sized urban center in theJezireh.
Abstract:
There is no evidence suggesting presence on Arbid of a settlement‐predating period of
Ninevite 5 culture. During the Early Jezireh I and II periods the city achieved climatic stage in
its history. Remains representing this phase are present in every part of the site andaccumulation of layers containing them exceeds 12m. Regardless of the changes in several
forms of material culture in most of the investigated sectors were found clear indices ofstability in spatial organization of the city with only few exceptions. The streets layout andlocalization of shrines are the best examples.

42

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Hassake Session 1

TELL HALAF (HASAKE)
Abd el‐Masih BAGHDO, Lutz MARTIN, Mirko NOVAK
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)
Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin (Germany), University of Bern (Sweiterland)
Presented by Mohamad FAKHRO, Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Tell Halaf ‐ Guzana ‐ (excavation project 2006 ‐ 2010).
Abstract:
The Tell Halaf, ancient Guzana, is situated on the Djirdjib River, one of the sources of the
Khabur, in northeast Syria. Nearby the settlement mound, around three kilometres east, lies
the modern town Ras al‐Ain. Directly north of the Tell runs the legendary Baghdad railway,
today this forms the border between Syria and Turkey. The ancient settlement is divided
into a town complex with an almost rectangular citadel measuring six hectares in area andsome 20 metres in height, and another, also almost rectangular, lower town, approximately
60 hectares in size.
It was in the citadel that Cologne banker’s son and later imperial Ministerresident Max vonOppenheim (1860–1946) discovered strange‐looking monumental sculptures during a briefsounding in 1899. Regularly excavations were carried out under his direction between 1911
and 1913 and 1929. After an interruption of 77 years a joint mission of the Museum of theAncient Near East in Berlin and the Direction Générale des Antiquités et des Musées inDamascus, in cooperation with the Universities of Halle, Tübingen and Bern continued the
explorations in 2006. Five excavation campaigns were carried out between 2006 and 2010.
What is known about the ancient settlements on Tell Halaf? The first small settlements
were established around 8,000 years ago. The brightly‐coloured ceramics produced duringthat time are considered typical of an era during the Late Neolithic period. Today, this era is
known as the Halaf period. At the beginning of the 1st millennium BC, the Aramaic rulingdynasty known as Bit Bachiani founded their principality’s capital on the prehistoric
settlement mound. The name of the city, Guzana, was first mentioned in an Assyrian text
dating from 894 BC. The most important ruler of Guzana was presumably Kapara, during
whose reign in the late 10th to early 9th century BC the Western Palace was erected.
Oppenheim called this building Temple Palace, whose façade he had uncovered in hissoundings in 1899. In architectural terms, it is a so‐called bīt hilani, the Assyrian name for anorthern Syrian type of palace consisting of two parallel long rectangular rooms andfeaturing a colonnaded portico at the entrance.

43

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Hasake Session 1

TELL MOZAN‐URKESH (HASAKE)
Giorgio BUCCELLATI, Marilyn KELLY‐BUCCELLATI
Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles and the International
Institute for Mesopotamian Area Studies (IIMAS) (USA)
Presented by Samer ABDEL GHAFOUR, Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums(Syria)Title:
Urkesh: Widening the Chronological Spectrum in the Past and Safeguarding theSite for the Future.
Abstract:
A stunning new element emerged during our last season of excavations, in 2010. Just below
the surface, near the top of the tell, the corner of a niched building appeared, almost
certainly the fourth millennium precursor of the later temple complex. We only have theexternal corner of the structure, which echoes the architectural template of southern
Mesopotamia, such as the temple in Eridu, but the date is certain because of both the glyptic
and ceramic evidence, and because of 14C determinations. The stratigraphic seal just above
the structure is firm (it was the solid glacis of the later Temple terrace), and it seems most
likely that the rest of the building is fully preserved. In 2010, we could not reach the level ofthe original inside floor, which we had hoped to excavate in 2011, a project unfortunately
left in abeyance ever since. But there is also good evidence that this structure rested on topof what was already a very high Temple terrace, about 22 meters above the plain level,
implying the existence of a large city that could support the presence of such a monumental
structure. ‐‐ Before hostilities began, we had set in place an effective system of conservationand site presentation. It continues to date. In spite of our enforced and protracted physicalabsence from the site, we have been able to sustain without interruption preservation workat the site, through direct supervision of the work done by two guards and four assistants,
and by providing the necessary materials. As a result, the site is in excellent shape,
documented by means of a thorough photographic and descriptive record.

44

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Aleppo Session 1

DEDERIYEH CAVE, AFRIN (ALEPPO)
Takeru AKAZAWA, Yoshihiro NISHIYAKI, Youssef KANJOU
Kochi University of Technology (Japan), University of Tokyo (Japan), Directorate General of
Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Dederiyeh Cave, Afrin.
Abstract:
Dederiyeh Cave is located on the left bank of Wadi Dederiyeh at the northern edge of theLevant, 60 km NW of Aleppo, northwest Syria. It is a Palaeolithic cave site, measuring 60 by
15–20 m and is 10 m high. Wadi Dederiyeh transects the hilly limestone plateau (450 m asl)of the Jabaal Samman and leads to the Afrine Valley, which eventually runs into theMediterranean Sea. The survey located a dozen Palaeolithic caves in the Afrin Valley, among
which Dederiyeh was intensively excavated in 1989‐2011 (Akazawa and Muhesen (eds),
2002; Kondo et al., 2006; Akazawa et al., 2009; Nishiaki et al., 2011, 2012). The excavations
revealed a long cultural sequence spanning late middle to latest Pleistocene deposits
containing a succession of Lower, Middle and Epipalaeolithic cultural layers. In addition,well‐preserved Neanderthal remains were recovered in association with Middle Palaeolithic
faunal and lithic assemblages. These discoveries have established Dederiyeh Cave as a prime
locale for defining Palaeolithic and palaeoanthropologic events in the northern Levant.

Publication since 2010
T. Akazawa and S. Muhesen (eds) 2002 Neanderthal Burials: Excavations of the Dederiyeh
Cave, Afrin, Syria. Kyoto: International Research Center for Japanese Studies.
Y. Nishiaki, Y. Kanjo, S. Muhesen, and T. Akazawa (2011) Newly Discovered Late
Epipalaeolithic Assemblages Lithic Assemblages from Dederiyeh Cave, the Northern Levant.
In: E. Healey, S. Campbell, and O. Maeda (eds.) The State of the Stone Terminologies,
Continuities and Contexts in Near Eastern Lithics, pp. 79‐88.
Y. Nishiaki, Y. Kanjo, S. Muhesen, and T. Akazawa (2012) The Temporal Variability of Late
Levantine Mousterian Lithic Assemblages from Dederiyeh Cave, Syria. Eurasian Prehistory,
9(1‐2): 3‐27.

45

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Aleppo Session 1

TELL QARAMEL (ALEPPO)
Youssef KANJOU, Ryszard F. MAZUROWSKI
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria), University of Warsaw (Poland)

Title:The Archaeological Excavations at Tell Qaramel 1999 ‐2011, Aleppo, north Syria.
Abstract:
Tell Qaramel located 25 km North of Aleppo on the right bank of the Queiq River. The Syrian
Polish joint mission started the excavations on the site from 1999‐2011. The oldest Period
uncovered dated back to the Neolithic period, around the beginning of 11,000 BC until theend of 9,000 BC. (Proto‐neolithic to Pre‐Pottery Neolithic (PPNA)).
The excavations lead to the discovery of 5 circular towers (the oldest in the world) and a
Shrine / Communal house. In addition, 28 graves were discovered, between them individual,
collective graves and a grave for skulls only.
In this presentation we will talk about the significance of the excavations result at Tell
Qaramel for the history of Levant and the beginning of humanity in particular what is relatedwith the development of architecture and mortuary practice.

Publication since 2010
Kanjou, Y. (2014) ‘An anthropological study of Neolithic graves in Tel Qaramel, northern
Syria’. Adumatu Journal, Saudi Arabia No. 30.
Kanjou Y., Kuijt, I., Erdal, Y. S., and Kondo O. (2013), ‘Early Human Decapitation, 11,700–
10,700 cal BP, within the Pre‐Pottery Neolithic Village of Tell Qaramel, North Syria’. In
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
Ryszard F., Mazurowski, R. Y. and Kanjou, Y. (eds.) (2012), “Tell Qaramel 1999‐2007:
ProtoNeolithic and early Pre‐pottery Neolithic settlement in Northern Syria. (Preliminary
results of the Syrian –Polish Archaeological Excavations in Seasons 1999‐2007)”. PCMA No.2.
University of Warsaw, Poland.

46

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Aleppo Session 1

ARSLAN TASH (ALEPPO)
Serena Maria CECCHINI
Director of the Syro‐Italian mission at Arslan Tash, University of Bologna (Italy)

Title:
La dernière fouille à Arslan Tash.
Abstract:
A Syro‐Italian archaeological expedition worked between 2007 and 2009 at Arslan Tash,where French excavations in 1928 by the Musée du Louvre, directed by F. Thureau‐Dangin,brought to light palaces, temples and city walls and their gates with inscriptions whichallowed for the identification of the site with the neo‐Assyrian city of Hadatu, a provincial
centre of Til Barsip/Kar Shalmanu‐asharedu. In the framework of a joint project of theGeneral Directorate of Antiquities and Museums of Syria, the University of Bologna and the
Musée du Louvre for the study and restoration of the Arslan Tash engraved ivories,
unearthed by the French archaeologists in the so‐called Bâtiment aux ivoires, newexcavations started with the aim of collecting the missing data relating to the archaeologicalcontext of the discoveries from the 1928 season. The first two campaigns were devoted to
the relocation of the ancient buildings excavated in 1928 (and now disappeared under the
new city buildings) through a topographical and geo‐physical survey of the site. During the2009 campaign a small sounding was made in the area of the Bâtiment aux ivoires, revealing
walls of this palace and two more ancient Neo‐Assyrian building phases.

Publication since 2010
Serena Maria Cecchini, Il viaggio di Melqart, in G. Bartoloni et al. (edd.), Tiro, Cartagine,
Lixus: nuove acquisizioni. Atti del Convegno Internazionalein onore di Maria Giulia Amadasi
Guzzo. Roma, 25‐25 novembre 2008, Roma 2010 (=Quaderni di Vicino Oriente IV [2010]), pp.
73‐87.
Serena Maria Cecchini, I porta‐köhöl di Tell Afis, originale esempio di artigianato siro‐ittita, in
R. Dolce (ed.), Quale Oriente? Omaggio a un Maestro. Studi di arte e archeologia del Vicino
Oriente in memoria di Anton Moortgat a 30 anni dalla sua scomparsa, Palermo 2010, pp.
411‐430.
Serena Maria Cecchini, “Disegni e modelli”, dal Levante al Mediterraneo occidentale , in P.
De Vita, F. Venturi (edd.), Da Tell Afis a Mozia, Lugano 2011, pp. 77‐91.
Serena Maria Cecchini, Un sigillo neo‐assiro con scena di culto da Arslan Tash, in C. Lippolis, S.
de Martino (edd.), Un impaziente desiderio di scorrere il mondo. Studi in onore di Antonio
Invernizzi per il suo settantesimo compleanno (Monografie di MESOPOTAMIA, XIV), Torino
2011, pp. 85‐90.
Serena Maria Cecchini, Loomweights and the textile industry in north Syria in the Early Iron
Age, in V. Karageorghis and O. Kouka (eds.), On cooking pots, drinking cups, loomweights
and ethnicity in Bronze Age Cyprus and neighbouring regions. An International
Archaeological Symposium held in Nicosia, November 6th – 7th 2010, Nicosia 2011, pp. 195‐
202.

47

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Aleppo Session 1

Serena Maria Cecchini, Fabrizio Venturi, A sounding at Arslan Tash. Re‐visiting the “Bâtiment
aux ivoires”, in R. Matthews, J. Curtis et alii (eds.), Proceedings of the 7th International
Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (12 April – 16 April 2010, the British
Museum and UCL, London), Volume 3, Wiesbaden 2012, pp. 325‐341.
Serena Maria Cecchini, La stele di Breyg, in A. M. Arruda (ed.), Fenícios e Púnicos, por terra emar. Actas VI Congresso Internacional de Estudios Fenicio Punicos (Lisboa 2005), Lisboa 2013,
pp. 275‐283.
Serena Maria Cecchini, The Official Buildings on the Eastern Acropolis, in TELL AFIS: History
and Excavations: Near Eastern Archaeology, 77:1 (2014), pp. 58‐63.

48

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Aleppo Session 1

TELL AHMAR/TIL BARSIB
Guy BUNNENS
Université de Liège (Belgium)

Title:
Unfinished work at Tell Ahmar/Til Barsib.
Abstract:
Archaeological research at Tell Ahmar on the Euphrates came to an abrupt end in 2010. The
excavation season planned for Spring 2011 could never be organized and, therefore,
important aspects of the research programme could not be completed. The last phase of the
3rd millennium funerary complex known as the “Hypogeum” was beginning to emerge aswell as its relation to 2nd millennium stratification. A third millennium temple could be only
partially excavated. A 2nd millennium tomb consisting of a small stone chamber was about tobe entirely exposed. The paper will report on these findings and comment on the
preliminary conclusions that can already be drawn from the results obtained in 2010.

Publication since 2010
Tell Ahmar III = JAMIESON, Andrew S., Neo‐Assyrian Pottery from Area C, Ancient Near
Eastern Studies Supplement 35, Louvain–Paris–Walpole 2012.
BACCARIN, Cristina, “Burial practices in the middle Euphrates area during the early Bronze
Age: The contribution of the hypogeum of Tell Ahmar (North Syria),” Broadening Horizons 3.
Conference of Young Researchers Working in the Ancient Near East, ed. Ferran BORRELL
TENA, Mònica BOUSO GARCÍA, Anna GÓMEZ BACH, Carles TORNERO DACASA & Oriol
VICENTE CAMPOS, Bellaterra (Barcelona), 2012, pp. 137‐149.
BACCARIN, Cristina, “The Hypogeum of Tell Ahmar: An analysis of the monumental burial
complex in the context of the Early Bronze Age funerary practice,” Ancient Near EasternStudies, 51 (2014), pp. 213‐225.
BACCARIN, Cristina, “Child burials from Tell Ahmar (North Syria): A few examples from the
Early and Middle Bronze Age, » Akkadica, 136/1 (2015), pp. 1‐16.
BUNNENS, Guy, “Tell Ahmar in the Middle and Late Bronze Age,” Proceedings of the 6thInternational Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, May, 5th‐10th 2008,“Sapienza” ‐ Università di Roma, Volume 2, Excavations, Surveys and Restorations: Reports
on Recent Field Archaeology in the Near East, ed. Paolo MATTHIAE, Frances PINNOCK,
Lorenzo NIGRO & Nicolò MARCHETTI, with the collaboration of Licia Romano, Rome, 2010,
pp. 111‐122.
BUNNENS, Guy, “Sealing Practices at Neo‐Assyrian Til Barsib: Cylinders – Stamps – Sissiktu –Seal Box,” The Ancient Near East, a Life! Festschrift Karel Van Lerberghe, ed. Tom BOIY,
Joachim

49

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Thursday 3rd December

Aleppo Session 1

BRETSCHNEIDER, Anne GODDEERIS, Hendrik HAMEEUW, Greta JANS & Jan TAVERNIER,
Leuven–Paris–Walpole, MA, 2012, pp. 75‐89.
BUNNENS, Guy, "Looking for Luwians, Aramaeans and Assyrians in the Tell Ahmar
stratigraphy," Syrian Archaeology in Perspective Celebrating 20 Years of Excavations at TellAfis, ed. S. MAZZONI & S. SOLDI, Pisa 2013, pp. 177‐197.
BUNNENS, Guy, "Til‐Barsib. B. Archäologisch," Reallexikon der Assyriologie, 14/1‐2 (2014), pp.
38‐42.
BUNNENS, Guy & John M. RUSSELL, "A bit‐hilani at Til‐Barsib? Clarifications and further
evidence," Ugarit‐Forschungen, 43 (2011 [2013]), pp. 31‐35.
JAMIESON, Andrew, “Processes of Assyrianisation: Identity and connectivity manifested in
Neo‐Assyrian ceramics and the Tell Ahmar Area C pottery,” Identity and Connectivity, SOMA
2012, ed. L. BOMBARDIERI, A. D'AGOSTINO, G. GUARDUCCI, V. ORSI & S. VALENTINI, Oxford
2013, pp. 75‐85.
PERINI, Silvia, "Frequency and distribution of ceramic functional categories at Tell Ahmar(Syria) during the Middle Bronze Age II (c. 1800‐1600 BC)," Proceedings of the 7thInternational Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East 3, ed. Roger MATTHEWS& John CURTIS, Wiesbaden 2012, pp. 235‐248.

50

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Homs Session

MISHIRFEH ‐ QATNA (HOMS)
Michel AL‐MAQDISSI
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Syrian Excavations in Mishirfeh‐Qatna.
Abstract:
Excavations at al‐Mishirfeh‐Qatna site started in 1994 and lasted until 2011 by a Syrian team.
The excavations led to the discovery of architectural structures dated to the 3rd millennium,
the 2nd millennium and the first half of the 1st millennium BC.
Focus in the past years has been directed towards exploring a section of a residential
neighborhood dating to the Iron Age II (900‐720 BC) and located in a low area south‐west of
the hill (Area S). The section is comprised of a number of adjacent dwellings, as well as
pottery products, including Aramean clay jars used for storage and clay pots painted red(Red Slip). The western gate (Area E), previously discovered by R. du Mesnil du Buisson, wasalso investigated. It was established in the mid‐2nd millennium BC and was used during theLate Bronze Age. It was also used in the Iron Age II.
Other surveys carried out in the vicinity of the site indicated that extensive humansettlement at the site started in the mid‐3rd millennium BC and continued until the Iron AgeII.
However, during the Iron Age III and the classical periods, the region witnessed majorchanges and became very marginal as political focus and attention were shifted towards
Aritusa city on the Orontes River during the Hellenistic period and Emesa city during theRoman and Byzantine eras.

51

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Homs Session

EL KOWM (HOMS)
Jean‐Marie LE TENSORER
University of Basel (Switzerland)

Title:The Lower Palaeolithic of the El Kowm Area (Central Syrian) and the question of thefirst inhabitants of the Syrian Desert.
Abstract:
Today, the oldest traces of human cultures are found in Eastern Africa. New discoveries set
anew the questions about human and animal dispersal into Eurasia. Issuing from Africa, thefirst humans migrated at different periods. During these dispersal phases, the Levant playeda leading role as a crossroads between the three continents. In fact, for over 1.8 million
years, humans have been present in Syria. An extensive program of surveys and excavationsin the region of El Kowm, in the Syrian Desert have been carried out over 30 years by theInstitute for Prehistory and Archaeological Science of the Basel University, together with the
General Directorate of Syrian Antiquities; these studies showed that this part of the world
was also a very ancient land of settlement. The oldest site, Aïn al Fil, was excavated in 2008
and 2010. It shows remarkable similarities with the oldest African assemblages. Together
with the neighboring sites Hummal and Nadaouiyeh, these levels would be the oldest tracesof human presence ever found in Syria. They show that first humans not only occupied
favorable zones but regularly ventured deep into less welcoming environments suggesting
an astonishing flexibility in their behavioral and survival skills.

Publication since 2010
Jagher, R. 2011. Nadaouiveh Aïn Askar ‐ Acheulean variability in the Central Syrian Desert. In The
Lower and Middle Palaeolithic in the Middle East and Neighboring Regions, ed. J.M. Le Tensorer, R.
Jagher & M. Otte, ERAUL 126. Liège: University of Liège Press, pp. 209‐24.
Jagher, R. & Le Tensorer, J.‐M. 2011. El Kowm, a Key Area for the Palaeolithic of the Levant in Central
Syria. In The Lower and Middle Palaeolithic in the Middle East and Neighboring Regions, ed. J. M. Le
Tensorer, R. Jagher & M. Otte, ERAUL 126. Liège: University of Liège Press, pp. 197‐208.
Le Tensorer, J.‐M. 2015. Regional Perspective of early human populations in Syria: the case of El
Kowm. In Human Evolution: Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments UNESCO World Heritage,
Thematic Pro, ed. N. Sanz. Paris: UNESCO.
Le Tensorer, J.‐M, Le Tensorer, H., Elsuede, H., Martini, P., Schmid, P, & Villalain, J.J. (in press) The
Oldowan site Aïn al Fil (El Kowm, Syria) and the first humans of the Syrian Desert. L’Anthropologie,
Special Issue of the XVII World UISPP Congress 2014 in Burgos, Session B33 ‐ Environmental andcultural development during the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic in the Syrian Desert.
Le Tensorer, J.‐M., von Falkenstein, V., Le Tensorer, H. & Muhesen, S. 2011. Hummal: a very long
Palaeolithic sequence in the steppe of central Syria – considerations on Lower Palaeolithic and the
beginning of Middle Palaeolithic. In The Lower and Middle Palaeolithic in the Middle East andNeighboring Regions, ed. J.‐M. Le Tensorer, R. Jagher & M. Otte, ERAUL 126. Liège: University of Liège
Press, pp. 235‐48.

52

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Homs Session

HUMMAL, EL KOWM (HOMS)
Dorota WOJTCZAK
University of Basel (Switzerland)

Title:The long Paleolithic sequence of Hummal (Central Syria).
Abstract:
The spring of Hummal, which is located in the region of El Kowm, is a reference site for the
Paleolithic of the interior Levant due to its long archaeological sequence with Lower toUpper Paleolithic deposits. It is alike Tabun, one of the longest Pleistocene stratigraphy of
the Levant. The site demonstrate that the steppe regions between the Mediterranean coastand the Euphrates river were favorable zones for prolonged and continues humansettlement and allow us to reconstruct the human dispersal and technological innovations
during the Pleistocene in subsequent Paleolithic periods.
Research at the well‐site of Hummal was carried out by a joint Syro‐Swiss team until 2010.
An in‐situ succession of limnic and terrestrial sediments and soil formation processes
overpasses 15 meters, preserving more than 60 archaeological levels.
This paper presents the place of Hummal within Paleolithic deposits in the Middle East area
and the techno‐typological trends in stone tools production between all major Paleolithic
cultural complexes discovered on the site and in the region.

53

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Raqqqa Session

RESAFA (RAQQA)
Dorothée SACK (2006‐2012), Michaela KONRAD (since 2013), Martin GUSSONE(Technical Director of the Mission since 2006)
Technical University of Berlin (Germany), University of Bamberg (Germany),
Assigned by the German Archaeological Institute Damascus/Berlin (DAI).

Title:
Resafa, a multidisciplinary approach to reconstruct the development of the city.
Abstract:
Based on previous research since the 1980s a comprehensive project with five sub‐projects(TP 1‐5) was launched in 2006 to analyse the development of the site intra and extra muros(10 field campaigns, since autumn 2011 on going reprocessing of the results and preparationof the final publication):‐ TP 1: Archaeological Map: Reconstruction of the building phases of all known
monuments to explain the history of the city (1st–13th cent.) with its recent village(founded after 1952)‐ TP 2: Archaeology and Prospections: multidisciplinary researches mainly in theresidential settlement‐ TP 3: City Wall: researches with the methods of Bauforschung to understand theconstruction and the development of the city wall
‐ TP 4: Heritage Conservation: Works of consolidation and restoration mainly in Basilica A
as well as Bauforschung and archaeological research in the Tetraconch Church(Zentralbau) to prepare a demanded partial anastylosis.
‐ TP 5 Site Management: development of a masterplan to provide up to date explanations
for visitors (information boards, flyer and guide book).
The multidisciplinary approach gives the basis to reconstruct the development of the city ofpilgrimage of St. Sergius (since 5th cent) and the caliphal residence, founded by the Umayyad
caliph Hisham b. Abd al‐Malik (reg. 724‐743) as well as the last reoccupation of the site in
the Ayyubid period (12th/13th cent) and the foundation of the village (mid 20th cent.).

54

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Raqqa Session

TELL HWEJET HALAWEH (RAQQA)
Ayham AL‐FAKHRI
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Tell Hwejet Halaweh
Abstract:
Located on the left bank of Lake Assad, near a village named after it, 90 km west of Raqqa
governorate center, about 15 km from al‐Jurniyeh town and adjacent to Tell Mumbaqa, Tell
Hwejet Halaweh consists of two parts separated by a water body.
Its archaeological layers date back to the Early Bronze Age (300 BC), as well as the Romanand the Byzantine eras.
Excavation missions at the site in 2011: a mosaic, with an area of 58 square meters, wasdiscovered beneath the wall of Hwejet Halaweh school. It is an extension of a mosaic
previously uprooted by the Belgian mission in the mid‐1970s. In addition, it is part of a niche
located on the east side of a church discovered earlier. An area, 12 meters long and 7 meters
wide, within and outside the wall of the school, was probed. A hole no more than 60 cm
deep led to unearthing the mosaic, which has various geometric shapes including red andblack squares surrounded by red and black triangles.
The mosaic was fixed on white stone foundations, which were uprooted from the rocks
surrounding the banks of the lake. An entrance leading to what is believed to be a church
was discovered to the south. The niche of the church was uncovered on its east side.
Moreover, this mosaic is considered part of the church as well as other mosaics, which were
uprooted and displayed in Raqqa Museum.
The mosaic dates back to the 6th century BC and is considered, along with similar ones
discovered in the Euphrates valley extending from Tell Abu Saeed in the south to Tell Abyad,one of the abundant mosaics in that region which represent the Byzantine art.

55

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Hama Session

ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE HAMA REGION
Karin BARTL
German Archaeological Institute Damascus/Berlin (DAI) (Germany).

Title:
Archaeological Investigations in the Hama Region.
Abstract:
The work of the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) in Damascus during the years 2003 to2010 focused on the Hama region, one of the central settlement areas in western Syria,
which had been investigated only sporadically after the extensive Danish excavations at theancient settlement tall of Hama in the 1930s.
The DAI/DGAM research program covered various issues relating to general settlement
development as well as on individual aspects of the Neolithic, Hellenistic‐Roman andOttoman periods.
Numerous new research data were generated by archaeological surface investigations in
the region between ar‐Rastan and Shayzar, excavations in the Late Neolithic site of Shir,geophysical prospecting in the Roman legionary fortress and city Raphaneae, soundings at
the Hellenistic‐Medieval settlement of Shayzar / Larissa and architectural/historical studies
on the Ottoman old town of Hama.
The results of these activities attest a complex settlement for the Hama region in all
periods since the Paleolithic with a special focus on the Bronze Age and the Roman/Late
Roman periods. In addition, the structure of an important settlement site of the hitherto
largely unknown Late Neolithic period (7th mill. BCE) could be determined. The work at theHellenistic‐Roman sites of Shayzar / Larissa and Raphaneae added new information to these
historically known places, while the studies in the old town of Hama supplemented earlier
research undertaken in the frame of the excavations of the 1930s.

Publication since 2010
Orontes Survey
Bartl K., al‐Maqdissi M.
2014 Archaeological Prospecting on the Middle Orontes River: Survey Work between ar‐
Rastan and Qal´at Shayzar. In: K. Bartl, M. al‐Maqdissi (eds.), New Prospecting in the Orontes
Region. First Results of Archaeological Fieldwork, Orient‐Archäologie 30, 61‐77.
Shir
Bartl K., Farzat A., al‐Hafian W.
2012 The Late Neolithic Site of Shir, Zeitschrift für Orient‐Archäologie 5, 168‐187.
Bartl K., al‐Hafian W.
2014 Shir – Settlement and Environment of the 7th millennium BC in the Northern Levant.
In: K. Bartl, M. al‐Maqdissi (eds.), New Prospecting in the Orontes Region. First Results ofArchaeological Fieldwork, Orient‐Archäologie 30, 149‐161.

56

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Hama Session

Raphanea
Gschwind M., Hasan H.
2013 Investigating the castra hiberna of legio III Gallica: Ground Penetrating Radar Surveys
conducted in Raphaneae in 2008, Zeitschrift für Orient‐Archäologie 6, 130‐143.
Gschwind M., Hasan H.
2014 The Legionary Fort and Roman City Raphaneae: Topographical, Archaeological andGeophysical Survey Work conducted in 2005‐2007. In: K. Bartl, M. al‐Maqdissi (eds.), New
Prospecting in the Orontes Region. First Results of Archaeological Fieldwork, Orient‐
Archäologie 30, 119‐129.
ShayzarGrawehr, M.
2014 Putting Larissa on the Map. In: Bartl, M. al‐Maqdissi (eds.), New Prospecting in the
Orontes Region. First Results of Archaeological Fieldwork, Orient‐Archäologie 30, 131‐126.
Hama
Bartl K., Farzat A. (Hrsg.)
2013 Qasr al‐´Azm. Ein osmanischer Gouverneurspalast in Hama. Baugeschichte undhistorischer Kontext, Damaszener Forschungen 15, Verlag Philipp von Zabern, Mainz.
Ahmad, A.
2014 Survey of the Old Town of Hama: Documentation of Monuments. In: New
Prospecting in the Orontes Region. First Results of Archaeological Fieldwork, Orient‐
Archäologie 30, 137‐145.

57

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Hama Session

WESTERN SYRIA AND LEBANON PALAEOENVIRONMENTS
Jacqueline ARGANT, Frank BRAEMER, Bernard GEYER, Philippe SORREL
Maison de l’Orient et de la Méditerranée, Lyon (France)

Title:
Holocene Palaeoenvironments and Settlement Patterns in Western Syria andLebanon.
Abstract:
The PaleoSyr/PaleoLib program, that took place from October 2010 to October 2014, had
the aim to integrate what we know about palaeoclimate and palaeoenvironment with ourknowledge of the land use and development during the Holocene in the northern Levant.
The challenge was to better define the genuine roles of (1) climatic variations and theirimpact on environmental dynamics including landscape evolution, and (2) the consequencesof human activities on changes in settlement pattern and landscapes, in this region who
played a key role in the development of agriculture, urbanization, state formation.
This research includes numerous temporal and spatial scales aiming to: (1) refine theregional scheme and to build a relevant geo‐historical setting at the regional scale, (2) model"social climate" systems for periods of environmental crisis and/or periods of stability, (3)model periods of change induced by human activities, and to characterize ruptures innatural ecosystems.
To do this, we used integrating methods of sedimentary analyses to those of archaeology
and geoarchaeology in order to build models of human‐environment interactions.
For Syria, the main results cover 1) the assessment of human settlements at the sub‐continental scale: Western Syria / Lebanon Archaeological Database and GIS, from the
Paleolithic to the 19th century spatial; identification of landscape entities according to theiragro‐pastoral potential. 2) Sedimentology of sediment cores: High resolution age models
based on a multi‐proxy dating approach (14C, OSL, palaeomagnetism); Climate change andland cover change: Syrian coast 6000‐2500 cal BP, Syrian arid 1400‐400 cal BP.

58

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Hama Session

AL‐RAWADA (HAMA)
Nazir AWAD, Corinne CASTEL
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria), CNRS‐Université Lyon 2, (France)

Title:Al Rawda: A city dating to the third millennium on the edge of the Syrian Desert.
Abstract:
The site was discovered during an archaeological geographical and environmental survey ofthe dry edges of the desert of al‐Salamiyah city by a Syrian‐French mission in the spring of
1996. The site was dated back to the Early Bronze Age according to the investigatedpotsherds.
A geographic topographic and environmental presentation:
Al‐Rawada is located in central Syria on the northern slopes of the Palmyrene mountains,
150 km from the Mediterranean. It is a circular hill with a height of 3‐4 meters and has anarea of more than 15 hectares including the city walls.
The city was founded on a low land where a number of large and important valleys,
originating from al‐Bilaas mountains, such as al‐Amour, al‐Zourib and al‐Qastal valleys,
formed altogether a vital vein for the city.
Moreover, the city is located in a fayda, a landform sunken or depressed below thesurrounding area, formed by Wadi al‐Qastal valley and surrounded by a number of plateaus.
The site can only be seen from those plateaus, which provide it with natural fortification anddefense.
The layout of the city indicates that the original founders of the city had extensive
knowledge of and experience in city planning and in choosing the right location at thecrossroads of ancient routes.
Excavations:Excavations at the site started in 2000 and were carried out by a Syrian‐French mission
aiming at uncovering the nature of urban planning of the site, highlighting and analyzing thearchaeological data and studying the defensive fortifications and ways of employing theenvironment and the production systems in this dry climate during the third millennium BC.
This also aimed at shedding light on the nature of the urban communities settling in theregion and the relationships between them at the time.
The results:
The results of the excavations and archaeological studies revealed that the site was a city
defended by a double rampart and two ditches. It was accessible through fortified gates. The
necropolis is situated outside the city to the west.
The temple, discovered north‐west of the city within the city walls, was home to the rites
and offerings of different and various faiths.
In addition, excavations revealed parts of residential dwellings and gave a clear idea of theplans of the houses within the residential neighborhoods. Numerous potteries andagricultural tools as well as daily use machines and cylinder stamp seals were also unearthed.

59

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Hama Session

Economic activities:
Studies of the agricultural activities at the site indicated that barley was the most cultivatedcrop along with vegetables, fruit and wheat.
Furthermore, the mission carried out an archaeological survey around the site, which led tothe identification of small settlements that were part of the city in addition to the discoveryof several animal traps and ways of organizing and exploiting water resources around thesite. All of that has given us much deeper understanding of the nature of economic life of
the city's population.
Sites that have similar patterns:
Geophysical surveys of the site have revealed a clear picture of the circular street patternthat finds parallels in sites located in a similar environment dating to the same era such as
Tell al‐Shuaerat, Tell Chuera and Tell Kherbet al‐Qasr as well as Mari and the third
millennium Qatna.
The great wall:
The advanced location of al‐Rawda site, adjacent to the ancient great wall stretching on theedge of the desert from north to south along a distance of about 220 km poses manyquestions as regards the function of this wall on the one hand and its association with al‐
Rawda city on the other hand.

60

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Hama Session

QALAAT AL MUDIQ (HAMA)
Mathilde GELIN, Shaker AL SHBIBCNRS‐Institut Français du Proche‐Orient (France), Directorate General of Antiquities andMuseums (Syria)

Title:
Qalaat al‐Mudiq, citadel of Apamea: past and present.
Abstract:
The Syrian‐European mission of Qalaat al‐Mudiq ‐ citadel of Apamea worked in 2004 and2005 for emergency consolidations and restorations on the medieval fortifications settled on
the top of the hill.
A coring was realised to verify the underground stability, and showed that the entire hill is
an archaeological tell.
Preliminary archaeological soundings have been realised at the foot of the zones to beconsolidated, which showed ancient fortifications belonging to Bronze Age and Hellenistic
periods.
The consolidations and restorations were lead on three main endangered places, including
a whole medieval tower.
After these scientific and preservation works, today the site and all the places we restored
have been partly touched or destroyed. Worst, it is the totality of the tell which isendangered.

Publication since 2010
Al Shbib Shaker, Gelin Mathilde, (in press) «Qalaat al Mudiq, citadel of Apamea, excavations
and restorations», One hundred sites tell us the history of Syria, ed. Y. Kanjou and A. Tsuneki,
University of Tsukuba.
Gelin Mathilde, «Note sur le rempart "de l’âge du Bronze" à Qalaat el Mudiq, citadelled’Apamée de l’Oronte», Un "cœur syrien", Mélanges dédiés à la mémoire d’Antoine
Souleiman, Studia Orontica 11, 2013, pp. 129‐142.
Gelin Mathilde, «Conservation et mise en valeur du patrimoine archéologique au Proche‐
Orient: quelques réalisations de missions archéologiques», Journal of Historical, Philologicaland Cultural Studies 27‐1, En l'honneur des 75 ans de Guénnadi Andréïévitch Koshelenko,
Académie des Sciences de Russie, Moscou‐Magnitogorsk‐Novossibirsk, 2010, pp. 62‐84, pl.1.

61

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Hama Session

TELL AL NOUHAS (HAMA)
Komait ABDALLAH
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:The preliminary results of the excavation in Tell Al Nouhas in Massyaf region.
Abstract:
Tell Al Nouhas is situated in 3 km in the east of the city of Massyaf in the Hama province. In
2013, the directorate of the Antiquities at Damascus had consisted a mission for prospecting
the Tell, energised as archaeological site in 2010. The prospection allowed us to know there
is a roman street that links Apamea and Homs, near the Tell. In addition, there are a remainsof a building near the river that passes near the Tell, and some rests of walls dispersed above
it. The potteries collected show that they belong to the Hellenistic period and to the Iron
Age and Bronze Age. Then, the mission has begun to do some surveys to know thestratigraphy of the tell. These surveys showed many periods of occupation and abandon.
The most ancient belong the Bronze Age 4 (2200‐2400 BC), there is also an occupation fromthe second Iron Age (900‐700BC. The last period of occupation belongs to the earlyHellenistic period (3 and early 2 centuries BC). The two last seasons of excavation in 2014
and 2015 revealed several structures built in stone, and tombs dating probably between 900
and 700 BC. For this congress we will present the results of our excavation in Tell Al Nouhas.

62

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Hama Session

MASYAF (HAMA)
Haytham HASSAN
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Masyaf Castle
Abstract:
Masyaf Castle is one of the most important castles in western Syria. It is located 45 km westof Hama city and east of modern Masyaf city, which stretches on the eastern edge of the
Coastal Mountain Range (Jabal Bahra in the Medieval Period). Excavations and restoration
works, funded by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture Historic Cities Support Programme incooperation with the Directorate‐General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), started in
the castle in 2000. An archaeological team from the DGAM was formed to carry out
systematic archaeological studies in order to preserve the castle and the unearthed artifacts.
The national archaeological team, including Syrian young cadres, conducted a number of
excavation seasons between 2000 and 2013, leading to significant archaeological findings
regarding the history of the city and that of Syria in the Middle Ages. Excavations anddiscoveries indicated that the castle was occupied between the 10th and the 20th century
AD, during which the castle was converted from a fort, where the Emirs of Banu Munqhid
spent the summer, into the headquarters of the Nizari Ismailis in Syria and finally theheadquarters of some local leaders under the Ottoman rule. These excavations highlighted
the importance of studying a local rural community that lived in isolation in the history ofthis city and its castle.

63

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Hama Session

TELL MAKSOUR (HAMA)
Abdul Wahab ABU SALEH
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Tell Maksour.
Abstract:
Tell Maksour is located in al‐Ghab plain, Hama governorate, on the left bank of the Orontes
River. The site consists of four tells, A, B, C and D. Emergency excavations at the tell started
in 2009 by a national mission; in 2012, another national team was formed and directed by
Abdul Wahab Abu Saleh. Those excavations led to the discovery of layers, south‐east of thetell, dating to the classical periods. The discoveries included a wall dating back to thebeginning of the Roman era in Syria, in addition to several rooms decorated with mosaics
and frescos.

64

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Aleppo Session 2

JEBEL KHALID (ALEPPO)
Graeme CLARKE, Heather JACKSON
Australian National University (Australia), University of Melbourne (Australia).

Title:A Commercial Area at Seleucid Jebel Khalid?
Abstract:
The Hellenistic site of Jebel Khalid‐on‐the Euphrates has been excavated by an Australianteam since 1985. The Governor’s Palace, the Temple, the Main Gate and the Housing Insula
have all been published, but this huge site has more to reveal. No agora has been found, but
Area S, excavated anew in 2006‐2010, is possibly a Commercial Area, situated at the head ofa wadi that leads down to (and up from) the Euphrates. An imposing building withcolonnaded façade was the first to be excavated and was thought at first to be a stoa, but its
length of only 18 meters disqualifies it. Its possible function and that of the surrounding
buildings and courtyards, is the focus of discussion in this paper. The complex contains twolarge courtyards facing east; they are adjacent but non‐communicating. Each was originallyenclosed with a protected entry. Along the northern perimeter is a series of large rooms that
do not appear to be shops. Along the western perimeter, with no access to the road, areseveral narrow rooms whose contents suggest they were working areas. An extensive
database has been composed listing the artefacts and pottery associated with each room,
which will be used to interpret this site.

Publication since 2010
Final Reports on the Excavations at Jebel Khalid on the Euphrates
Volume One: Report on Excavations 1986 to1996, by G. Clarke. P.J. Connor, L. Crewe, B.
Frohlich, H. Jackson. J. Littleton, C.E.V. Nixon. M. O’Hea, D. Steele, Mediterranean
Supplement 5, Sydney 2002, xi + 335pp and plates I‐VIII (colour), 1‐51 (b&w). (ISBN 0‐9580265‐0‐5)
Volume Two: The Terracotta Figurines, by H. Jackson, Mediterranean Archaeology
Supplement 6, 2006, xi + 246pp, 59 figures, plates I‐VIII (colour), plates 1‐44 (b&w). (ISBN978‐0‐9580265‐2‐9)
Volume Three: The Pottery, by H. Jackson and J. Tidmarsh, Mediterranean Archaeology
Supplement 7, Sydney 2011, xxxi + 554pp and plates I‐IV (colour), 1‐36 (b&w) (ISBN 978‐0‐9580265‐3‐6)
Volume Four: The Housing Insula, by H. Jackson, Mediterranean Archaeology Supplement 9,
Sydney 2014, xxix + 646pp, 5 large plans, 485 figures, 1 DVD. (ISBN 978‐0‐9580265‐5‐0)
Volume Five: Report on Excavations 2000–2010, by G. Clarke, H. Jackson, L. Jose, C.E.V.
Nixon, J. Tidmarsh, K. Wesselingh, forthcoming as a Mediterranean Archaeology Supplementin 2016.

65

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Aleppo Session 2

Publications on Jebel Khalid since 2010
G. Clarke, H. Jackson, ‘Evaluating cultural and ethnic identities from archaeological remains:the case of Hellenistic Jebel Khalid’, in Richard Alston and Sam Lieu (eds), Aspects of the
Roman East. Papers in Honour of Professor Sir Fergus Millar FBA, vol. 2, Studia Antiqua
Australiensia 7, (to appear), reprinted, in abbreviated form, as ‘Can the Mute Stones Speak?’in: Humanities Australia vol. 2, Canberra (2011), 16‐30.
H. Jackson, ‘A late Seleucid Housing Insula at Jebel Khalid in North Syria: Archaeological
Evidence for Chronology and Lifestyle’, in K. Erickson and G. Ramsey (eds), Seleucid
Dissolution: the sinking of the anchor (2011), 133‐48.
N. Wright, ‘The last days of a Seleucid city: Jebel Khalid on the Euphrates and its Temple’, in
K. Erickson and G. Ramsey (eds), Seleucid Dissolution: the sinking of the anchor (2011), 117‐
32
H. Jackson, J. Tidmarsh, Jebel Khalid on the Euphrates, Volume 3: The Pottery =Mediterranean Archaeology Supplement 7 (2011), xxxi + 554pp and plates I‐IV (colour), 1‐36
(b&w)
G. Clarke—H. Jackson, ‘Cultural and ethnic identities from archaeological remains: the case of
Hellenistic Jebel Khalid’, in Pierre Leriche (ed), Art et Civilisations de l’Orient Hellénisé (2014),
97‐110.
M. Mottram, ‘Emerging evidence for the pre‐Hellenistic occupation of Jebel Khalid’,
Mediterranean Archaeology 26, 2013, 43‐65
G. Clarke, A. Dusting, K. Grant, H. Jackson, L. Jose, M. McConchie, C. E. V. Nixon, M. O’Hea, W.
Reade, J. Tidmarsh, K. Wesselingh, ‘Jebel Khalid Report 2009‐10’, Mediterranean Archaeology
24, 2011, 131‐81 and Plates XIII‐XX
H. Jackson, J. Tidmarsh, ‘Pottery Imports to Hellenistic Jebel Khalid on the Euphrates’, in N.
Fenn and C. Römer‐Strehl (eds), Proceedings of the Conference Networks in the Hellenistic
World according to the Pottery in the Eastern Mediterranean and Beyond, held in Cologne,
February 26‐27 2011, BAR International Series 2539 (2013), 329‐38.
H. Jackson, 'The Housing Insula at Hellenistic Jebel Khalid, in C. Hope and A. di Castro (eds),
Proceedings of the Conference on Ancient Housing and Habitat in the Mediterranean, held in
Prato 29th June to 2nd July 2011, 153‐62 (to appear).
H. Jackson, 'Domestic cult or culture? Figurines from a Hellenistic housing insula in northSyria', in A.Müller, S. Huysecom‐Haxhi (eds), Figurines en contexte: iconographie et fonction.
Procédures du 35th symposium international organisé par Halma‐ Ipel à l'Université deCharles de Gaulle, Lille, 7‐8 décembre, 2011 (to appear)
G. Clarke, ‘The Jebel Khalid Temple: Continuity and Change’, in Michael Blömer, Achim
Lichtenberger and Rubina Raja (eds), Religious Identities in the Levant from Alexander to
Muhammid: Continuity and Change (2015), 142‐55

66

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Aleppo Session 2

G. Clarke, H. Jackson, C. E. V. Nixon, J. Tidmarsh, ‘The Trading Links of a Seleucid Settlement:
Jebel Khalid on the Euphrates’, in Roland Oetjen, Frank Ryan (eds), Seleukeia: Studies in
Seleucid History, Archaeology and Numismatics in Honor of Getzel M. Cohen (to appear) .
G. Clarke, H. Jackson, ‘Djebel Khalid’, in K. U. Mahler, D. Kocak (eds), Corpus of Ancient
Marble Statuary from Syria (to appear)
H. Jackson, C. E. V. Nixon, J. Tidmarsh, ‘Jebel Khalid 2010 Campaign Season’, Chroniquearchéologique en Syrie, 6, 2012, 213‐30
G. Clarke, ‘The significance of the palaestra at Hellenistic Jebel Khalid on the Euphrates inNorth Syria’, Near Eastern Archaeological Foundation Bulletin no.56, April 2013, 11‐13.
H. Jackson, Jebel Khalid on the Euphrates, Volume 4: The Housing Insula, Mediterranean
Archaeology Supplement 9 (2014), xxix + 646pp and 5 plans, 1 DVD
M. Mottram, ‘Settlers, hermits, nomads and monks: evolving landscapes at the dawn of theIslamic era’, in R. Matthews and J. Curtis (eds), Proceedings of the 7th International Congressof the Ancient Near East, 2012, 533‐49
M. O’Hea, ‘A Lion‐Bowl and other Worked Stone Objects from Jebel Khalid’, Mediterranean
Archaeology 26, 2013, 67‐80 and Plates 11‐19
G. Clarke, ‘Jebel Khalid Area C: The Palaestra’, Chronique archéologique en Syrie 7, 2013 (toappear)N. L. Wright, Divine Kings and Sacred Spaces: Power and Religion in Hellenistic Syria (301‐64
BC) (2012), (BAR International Series 2450) xi +167pp
M. McConchie, Jebel Khalid of the Euphrates. Report Volume 6: The Metals, Mediterranean
Archaeology Supplement (forthcoming)
J. Tidmarsh, ‘Uncovering Alexander’s ‘Lost’ Cities’, TAASA Review 22 no.1, 2013, 4‐6
H. Jackson,'The case of the Persian riders at Seleucid Jebel Khalid on the Euphrates ‐ thesurvival of Syrian tradition in a Greek settlement', in M. Eliadou, D. Michaelides, G.
Papantoniou (eds),Hellenistic and Roman Terracottas: Mediterranean Networks and Cyprus.
Proceedings of a colloquium held in the Archaeological Research Unit, University of Cyprus,
Nicosia, June 3‐5, 2013 (to appear)
H. Jackson, 'Green‐glazed wares at Hellenistic Jebel Khalid; imitation, innovation orHellenization?' in S. Japp, C. Römer‐Strehl (eds), Traditions and Innovations: Tracking theDevelopment of Pottery from the Late Classical Tracking to the Early imperial Periods.
Proceedings of the 1st conference of the International Association for Research on Pottery of
the Hellenistic Period, held in Berlin November 7‐10, 2013 (to appear).
H. Jackson, 'An Egyptian at Hellenistic Jebel Khalid? A rare faience amulet', in A. Michalewicz‐
A. Robinson (eds), Festschrift for A. Sagona (title TBA, forthcoming)

67

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Aleppo Session 2

CYRRHUS – NEBI HOURI (ALEPPO)
Jeanine ABDUL MASSIH, Shaker AL SHBIB
Lebanese University (Lebanon), Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Results of 2006‐2011 Research Program on the site of Cyrrhus.
Abstract:
From 2006 to 2011, the Syrian (DGAMS), Lebanese (Lebanese University) Archaeological
Expedition had worked in Cyrrhus, investigating the territorial occupation of the city intra
and extra muros, the fortifications and the evolution of the town planning through theanalyses of the apparent monuments. The implementation of the research program wasmade following the analysis of the remains visible on site partly uncovered by the previous
mission (French Mission – 1952 to 1995 ‐ led by Edmond Frézouls from Strasbourg
University) and nearly unpublished.
Kyrrhos/Cyrrhus established during the Hellenistic period is known as a Seleucus Nicator
foundation even if no written evidence mentioned the city before 220 BC. In 64 BC, Cyrrhus
and the Cyrrhestique are annexed to the Roman Province of Syria. In the mid of the 3rd
century, the several and repetitive incursions of the Parthians and Sassanids caused a debutof the decline of the city. In his writings, Theodoret (423‐466), Bischop of Cyrrhus describes
the depreciation of the city and its major monuments. During the 5th century, the city
became an important center of Christianity and will recover its importance in the 6th century
under the reign of Justinian (565‐527). In 637, the Arab armies conquer the city that isreoccupied by the Byzantine in the early 11th century, and re‐conquered and dismantled in
1150 AD by Nur al‐Din al Zengui.
In this paper the latest results of the Syrian‐Lebanese research program will be presented
as a brief synthesis of the established problematic that must be developed in the future.

Publication since 2010
VolumesAbdul Massih J., 2012, Cyrrhus 1, Le théâtre de Cyrrhus, d’après les archives d’EdmondFrézouls, BAH 196.
Al Hajj M., 2015, Les fresques de la maison romaine de Cyrrhus, Mémoire de Master 2,
Lebanese University.
Al Shbib Sh., 2015, Les fortifications de Cyrrhus — Nabi Houri — de la période hellénistique àla reconstruction par Justinien, Thèse de doctorat Paris 1.
ArticlesAbdul Massih J., 2013, “The Roman House of Cyrrhus‐ the restoration project”, ICAANE 2012
Warsaw, p.19‐32.
Abdul Massih J., 2013, «Cyrrhus à la période byzantine» Studia Orontica XI, p.159‐172.

68

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Aleppo Session 2

Abdul Massih J., 2012, «La mission archéologique libano‐syrienne de Cyrrhus, bilan destravaux 2006‐2011 », Comptes rendus de l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles‐Lettres, Paris,
Janvier‐Mars, p.303‐330.
Abdul Massih J., Kinnawi A., 2012, «Rapport des travaux de la mission de 2011 à Cyrrhus, leprogramme de recherche et l’étude du temple au sud du théâtre», Chroniques, p.350‐380.
(In Arabic)
Abdul Massih J., 2012, «La mission archéologique française de Cyrrhus», dans Cyrrhus 1, Le
théâtre de Cyrrhus, d’après les archives d’Edmond Frézouls, BAH 196, p.11‐76.
Abdul Massih J., 2010, «Notes préliminaires sur l’étude du système défensif méridional de
Cyrrhus, Campagnes 2007‐2008», Chroniques 2008, Damas 2010, p.109‐218
Abdul Massih J., and Gelin M., (in press), “The fortifications and town planning in Kyrrhos:
the Hellenistic origin and its evolution”, in Conference on the Research of Ancient
Fortifications 6‐9 December 2012 at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
Alpi F., 2011, «Base de statue de Justinien ornée d’une inscription métrique (Cyrrhus,
Euphrastésie)», Syria 88, p. 341‐349.
Al Shbib Sh., 2012, «Les fortifications de la ville de Cyrrhus, étude préliminaire», Territoires,
Architecture et Matériel au Levant, Doctoriales d’archéologie syrienne, Paris Nanterre, 8‐9
décembre 2011, A. le Bihan, P.‐M. Blanc, F. Braemer, J. Dentzer‐Deydy, F. Villeneuve (éd.).,Presse de l’IFPO, Beyrouth.
Benech C., Abdul Massih J., Gelin M., 2009, “First results on the city planning of Cyrrhus(Syria)”, ArchéoSciences, revue d’archéométrie, Suppl.33, pp. 201‐203.
Bessac J.‐C., 2016, à paraître, «Les pierres de construction de Cyrrhus (Syrie): repères
techniques et économiques», dans : Cyrrhus 3 (2007‐2011), J. Abdul Massih (dir.).
Bessac J.‐C., 2016, à paraître, «Les pierres ornementales utilisées à Cyrrhus (Syrie)», dans :Cyrrhus 3 (2007‐2011), J. Abdul Massih (dir.).

69

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Aleppo Session 2

TELL GINDARIS (ALEPPO)
Ammar ABDULRAHMAN
Damascus University (Syria)

Title:
Genders in the Classical period.
Abstract:
Tell Gindaris is located north‐west Syria in the Umuq plain between Sam’an mountain in theeast and Amanus mountain in the west. The top of the tell covers about 14 hectares, andcontains several levels dating from classical period tell at least early Bronze Age.
The excavation by Syrian mission carried out in the western mound of the tell, which called
area “A”. We have uncovered an area of 800 m² squares A1‐A8 each one 10x10 m, with deepof 2.5m. The fieldwork of 2009 concentrated on three squares A5, A7, A8. And we revealedin square A8 under the surface level the traces of building with mosaic floors and dates backto Byzantine period (early sixth century). And due to recent destruction, we could only
recognize three mosaic pieces, the first one is the bigger and measures 2X3m, withgeometric pattern colored by white and black to form black squares with white background.
The other two pieces is formed from only white stones but they were organized to show
flower from 8 plates, and what rest from the second piece measures 2X1.75m. but the thirdis badly damaged and contain only white stones.
This structure is obviously important, and we try to define its function, especially when we
relate it with the adjacent canalization system. So the most appropriate function is to be abath (hammam), and not as we assume as a Villa. Plenty of finds has been discovered suchas: two censer from limestone, and candleholder from metal with four legs, coins and lamps,
also some colored beads. Level two return back to the roman period and have beenrecognized structures of temporary residence represented by poor architecture. It has been
noticed the available of big amount of stone weight and pottery such as dishes and jars. The
third level has no structure traces but we refer it to the Hellenistic period, according to thepottery and coins that has been discovered on the floor.

Publication since 2010
Dietrich Sürenhagen, Prelimuary Scientific reports from Tell Djāndaris (93‐2001),
Norbert Kraemer, 2006, Gindaros in the North West of Syria (Arabic translation Damascus
2007)

70

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Aleppo Session 2

HIERAPOLIS (MENBIJ), NABGHA
Justine GABORIT
UMR 8167 Orient & Méditerranée, Lyon (France)

Title:New Evidences from Euphratesia: survey and excavation project in Hierapolis area
(Menbij) in the right bank of the middle Euphrates.
Abstract:
From 2009 to 2011, the archaeological survey on the Cyrrhestic area (J. Gaborit, Ifpo‐ H.
Saad, DGAMS) has highlighted new evidences for the organization of the city of Hierapolis
and its surroundings. Emergency excavations were realized in modern Menbij: 1) on thefortification, a stratigraphy sounding period was conducted from Hellenistic to medieval
levels; 2) in the Mankuba area, the remains of a church were found and confirmed that thepavement of mosaic, first discovered by the department of DGMAS‐Alep, belongs to a huge
Christian complex; 3) on the supposed location of the sacred pond of Atargatis, theexcavations revealed also features of Late Antiquity. All this new data must be added to therestitution of the occupation the Northern part the proto‐byzantine province of Euphratesia,
in relation with the results of the previous survey in the Middle Euphrates (Gaborit 2015)
and the discovery of the oldest syriac inscription (Briquel Chatonnet & Desreumaux 2011) inthe site of Nabgha, (DGAMS 2009).

Publication since 2010
Briquel Chatonnet & Desreumaux 2011: Briquel‐Chatonnet, F. et Desreumaux, A., "Oldest
Syriac Christian inscription discovered in North‐Syria", Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies 14,
2011, p. 45‐61.
DGAMS 2009: Direction Générale des Antiquités de Syrie, Le martyrion Saint‐Jean dans lamoyenne‐vallée de l’Euphrate : Fouilles de la Direction générale des antiquités à Nabgha au
nord‐est de Jarablus, Documents d’archéologie syrienne 13, Damas.
Gaborit 2015: Gaborit, J., La Vallée engloutie : géographie historique du Moyen‐Euphrate (duIVe s. av. J.‐C. au VIIe s. apr. J.‐C.), tome 1 ‐ synthèse, tome 2‐ catalogue des sites, Beyrouth,
Bibliothèque archéologique et historique BAH 199, Presses de l’Ifpo.

71

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Aleppo Session 2

QINNASRIN (ALEPPO)Marie‐Odile ROUSSET, Youssef KANJOU
CNRS‐University of Lyon (France), Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Qinnasrin / Chalcis: Main results of 2008‐2010 archaeological work.
Abstract:
The city of Qinnasrin / Chalcis was founded at the end of the Hellenistic period, on the edgeof the Limestone Massif of Northern Syria, zone of contact between this fertile region andthe steppe of the Arid Margins. Archaeological work conducted on the site from 2008 to2010 revealed the extension of the different occupations and their chronological succession.
After an important development during the roman period, the agglomeration reached its
maximum size in the byzantine period. Capital of the administrative district created as aborder zone with the Byzantine Empire, its morphology was modified following the comingof the Muslims. One of the main discoveries of theses campaigns was a fortress, erected
atop of the mountain, which overlook the town, in the early Islamic period.

Publication since 2010
Book
M.‐O. Rousset (dir.), Al‐Hadir. Étude archéologique d’un hameau de Qinnasrin (Syrie du Nord,
VIIe‐XIIe siècles), Qinnasrin 1, Travaux de la Maison de l’Orient n°59, 2012, 256 pp.
ArticlesM.‐O. Rousset, “La céramique abbasside d’al‐Hadir”, al‐Rafidan, vol. 32, 2011, pp. 214‐231.
M.‐O. Rousset, A. Mohammed, Y. Bière, M.‐C. Bosert, M. Bovagne, C. Kepinski, A. Othman,
M. Rochette, «Travaux de la mission syro‐française de Qinnasrin en 2009»,Chroniquearchéologique en Syrie V, 2009, Damas, 2011, p. 207‐218.
M.‐O. Rousset, «Chalcis/Qinnasrin: from Hellenistic city to the jund capital of North Syria», in
Roger Matthews and John Curtis, with Michael Seymour, Alexandra Fletcher, Alison
Gascoigne, Claudia Glatz, St John Simpson, Helen Taylor, Jonathan Tubb and Rupert
Chapman (eds), 7ICAANE. Proceedings of the 7th International Congress on the Archaeologyof 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, Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden, 2012, pp. 551‐567.
M.‐O. Rousset, Y. Kanjo, J.‐Cl. Bessac, Y. Bière, M.‐C. Bosert, M. Bovagne, S. Elaigne, M.
Rochette, V. Vezzoli, «Travaux de la mission syro‐française de Qinnasrin en 2010 »,Chroniquearchéologique en Syrie VI, 2010, 2012, pp. 271‐284.
M.‐O. Rousset, «Traces of the Banu Salih in the Syrian steppe? The Fortresses of Qinnasrin
and Abu al‐Khanadiq», Levant 45, 2013, pp. 69‐95.

72

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Aleppo Session 2

J. Studer, D. Genequand et M.‐O. Rousset, «Environmental influence on animal exploitationand consumption during the Early Islamic Period in Syria. A case study from Qasr al‐Hayr al‐
Sharqi and al‐Hadir», , in B. De Cupere, V. Linseele & Sh. Hamilton‐Dyer (eds),
Archaeozoology of the Near East X. Proceedings of the Tenth International Symposium on the
Archaeozoology of South‐Western Asia and Ajacent Areas, 2013, pp. 265‐282.
M.‐O. Rousset, De Chalcis à Qinnasrin, in Villes et campagnes aux rives de la Méditerranée
ancienne. Hommages à Georges Tate, Topoï Supplement 12 (2013), 2014, pp. 311‐340.
M.‐O. Rousset, M. Rochette, «Des bains à Qinnasrin / al‐‘Is (Syrie): premier rapport
préliminaire», in: M.‐Fr. Boussac, S. Denoix, Th. Fournet et B. Redon (éds), Le bain collectif en
Orient, Actes du colloque Balnéorient, Damas 2009, IFAO‐IFPO, Études urbaines 9, Le Caire‐
Beyrouth, 2014, pp. 519‐534.
M.‐O. Rousset, «Deux sites fortifiés au début de l'époque islamique au Bilād al‐Šām:Qinnasrīn et Abū al‐Ḫanādiq», in: M. Eychenne, S. Pradines et A. Zouache, La guerre dans leProche‐Orient médiéval (Xe‐XVe s.). Etat de la question, lieux communs, nouvelles approches,
RAPH 37, Ifao, Le Caire, 2014, pp. 193‐229.

73

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Latakia Session 1

RAS IBN HANI (LATAKIA)
Michel AL‐MAQDISSI
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Syrian Excavations in Ras Ibn Hani (2011)
Abstract:
In 2011, a Syrian mission started excavations at Ras Ibn Hani site, in the field located halfway
between the Northern Palace and the Southern Palace, as a follow‐up to the excavations of
the Syrian‐French mission in 1978, headed by Dr Adnan al‐Bounni and Mr Jacques Lagarce.
During these excavations, successive layers were studied, and a large hole was discovered.
The hole, dated back to the Hellenistic period, contained various potteries and clay lanterns,
in addition to a number of local and imported clay dolls.
Other holes dating to the end of the Iron Age III were also discovered. They contained
potsherds belonging to the Greek traditions and a number of clay dolls bearing Persianfeatures.
During the Iron Age II, the remains of a building were placed above the Late Bronze layer.
The building, believed to have a religious nature, consisted of two connecting rooms withthe entrance located in the first room, whereas the second room contained a small altar
made of stone.
Besides, a dwelling dating to the Late Bronze Age had an extension reaching the easternwall of the site.
It is worth mentioning that this dwelling standing on the ground has some Ugaritic featuresin terms of the architectural techniques. It also contains a number of local potteries placedon the floors. Moreover, wooden materials were used in building some walls and doorways
between the rooms.

74

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Latakia Session 1

TELL NAHR AL‐'ARAB (LATAKIA)
Ahmad DEEB
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Results of the latest archaeological excavations in Tell Nahr Al‐'Arab‐Latakia
Abstract:
Tell al‐Shameyeh (Nahr Al‐'Arab) is located in the north‐east of Latakia on a rocky mountnear al‐'Arab river, which passes near al‐Shameyeh village, 3 km from the tell.
This tell has an equilateral triangle form of about 6 hectares of 240 m of the eastern‐western axis and 250 m of the northern‐southern axis. The satellite pictures of the tell show
crossed lines dividing the tell into unequal sections. In the last years, the tell was affected bymany contraventions, especially on the northern and southern slopes and a part from thewestern side, what led to a semi‐complete destruction in the slopes. As well as, there were
big contravention in the eastern‐northern foot, which was affected by destruction andplundering works of the cemeteries in the region, which the recent excavations showed that
dated to the Late Bronze Age.
History of the archaeological researches in the site:
In 1932, many archaeological soundings were occurred in the tell by the French scientist
Claude Schaeffer, who described the tell, which located on the bank of Al‐'Arab river, anddefined their dimensions in that time of 190 m of the eastern‐western axis and 140 m of thenorthern‐southern axis. He worked according to four soundings on the surface of the tell,which showed existence of architectural remains and regular stair dated to the third Iron
Age. As well as, it was discovered a red Greek ware colored with black and an Egyptianscarab, in addition to various pottery fragments dated to Iron and Middle and Late Bronze
Ages. Gebraeel Sa'adah also mentioned the tell many times in his studies about the coast
especially Ugarit kingdom.
The archaeological surveys were occurred within the general works of survey, which were
executed by the concerned archaeological authorities in Latakia under a supervision of Dr.
Bassam Jamous and Dr. Jamal Haidar. As well as, in 2001, the Syrian‐Japanese mission undera supervision of Dr. Bassam Jamous and Dr. Jamal Haidar from the Syrian side and Dr. Akira
Tsuneki from the Japanese side executed archaeological surveys works in the site, whichshowed existence of pottery fragments and archaeological elements dated to many periods(Iron Age, Roman and Byzantine periods).
In 2010, archaeological excavations and researches began in Tell al‐Shameyeh by thenational mission under a supervision of Dr. Bassam Jamous, in the time Dr. Michel Al‐
Maqdessi was the field supervisor and Dr. Antoine Sulaiman was the scientific supervisor.
The results of excavations and soundings works in this season:
 Existence of architectural elements dated to the Hellenistic age without forming
integral architectural unit.
 Existence of architectural masses dated to the Third Iron Age (Phase IV).
 Existence of architectural remains dated to the Middle Bronze Age and plunderedtombs digged in the rock of a well type dated to the same period.
 The soundings in this season through the pottery remains indicated to an existenceof a level dated to the third Bronze Age.

75

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Latakia Session 1

Excavation works were resumed in Tell al‐Shameyeh in 2012 till 2015. A national team fromthe Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums executed works of excavations, whichshowed architectural remains dated to the third and second Iron Ages and Late Bronze Agein addition to cemeteries dated to the Middle and Late Bronze Ages.

Publication since 2010
Deeb, Ahmad, 2015, First report on the results of 2012 of the excavation in Tell nahral‐'arabseason, Chronique Archéologique en Syrie.
Deeb, Ahmad, 2010‐2011, "Puits d’entèrrement du bronze final à Tell Nahr el Arab (alChamyieh)", Annales Archéologiques, Arabe, Syrienne.

76

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Latakia Session 1

TELL KAZEL (TARTUS)
Leila BADRE
Archaeological Museum, American University of Beirut (Lebanon)

Title:
Tell Kazel: Major Results.
Abstract:
The Tell Kazel site is located in the Syrian Akkar plain 28 km south of Tartous. It occupies avery important strategic location on the main passage between the Mediterranean coastand inland Syria at the unique break point between the mountain chains. It is identified with
Sumur or Simyra of the Amarna tablets (14th c BC), not yet attested by the discovery of awritten document. The continuous excavations, by the American University of Beirut
Museum, on that site (1985 – 2010) have brought to light successive layers from the Middle
Bronze to the Hellenistic period. The major period is that of Late Bronze II which has mainly
yielded two superimposed temples with very offerings rich and cultic material. This material
is both of local and imported origins. It includes pottery, bronze and faience objects. Thevery rich pottery, published recently (in press), will be of a considerably valuable
contribution to the material culture of the Northern Levant.
The destruction of this late period is marked by a fierce fire. We date this fire level to thetransition period between the LB II and the beginning of the Iron Age, a period whichcorresponds to the movements of the Sea Peoples at the beginning of the 12th c. BC.

Publication since 2010
Badre, L. 2009. “The Religious Architecture in the Bronze Age: Middle Bronze Beirut and Late Bronze
Tell Kazel”. in Interconnections in the Eastern Mediterranean, Lebanon in the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Proceedings of the International Symposium, Beirut 2008. Hors‐Série, BAAL Vol. VI, 2009, pp. 253‐270.
Badre, L. 2011. “The Cooking Pot Tradition at Tell Kazel” in On Cooking Pots, Drinking Cups,
Loomweights and Ethnicity in Bronze Age Cyprus and Neighboring Regions. An International
Archaeological Symposium held in Nicosia, November 6th‐7th 2010. Nicosia, pp.149‐166.
Badre, L. 2011. “Tell Kazel (Sumur ?) à l’âge du Bronze”. L’archeo thema n.15 : 24‐27.
Badre, L. 2012. “Tell Kazel” contribution to “Dizionario Enciclopedico della Civiltà Fenicia”, Roma.
Badre, L. 2013. “Tell Kazel – Sumur et le Royaume d’Amourrou” Académie des Inscriptions et Belles
Lettres, Paris.
Badre, L. 2015. “Les Pays d’Ugrarit et les Pays d’Amurru ne font qu’un”, Semitica et Classica, 8, Paris.
Badre, L. and Capet, E. 2015. “La Céramique du Akkar au Bronze Récent (64 p. and 42 pl.)”, Paris, (inpress).

77

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Latakia Session 1

RAS SHAMRA, UGARIT (LATAKIA)
Valérie MATOÏAN
Maison de l’Orient et de la Méditerranée, Lyon (France)

Title:The Syro‐French archaeological Mission of Ras Shamra – Ougarit.
Abstract:
Since 2000, the field activities (archaeological and geo‐environmental) undertaken by the
Syro‐French archaeological Mission of Ras Shamra – Ougarit comprised researches on the
Tell of Ras Shamra and on several coastal sites (Ras Bassit, Ras Ibn Hani, Tell Sukas, Nah res‐Sinn). New excavations at Ras Shamra (areas “Grand‐rue”, “Rempart”) and completion ofprevious operations (“Résidence Nord”, “Palais Sud”, “Maison d’Urtenu” and the unique“Bridge‐dam” on the Nahr ed‐Delbe) improve our knowledge concerning the Late Bronze
Age city of Ugarit. And the publications of the old excavations undertaken by Schaeffer(temples of the Acropolis…) further increase our understanding of this Mediterranean
capital, a major centre of exchanges and cultural interconnections during the second
millennium BC. In parallel, a diachronic approach (sounding near the “Temple of Dagan”)
gave new data on the first steps of the history of the city. The studies of archaeological andepigraphic materials, based on multidisciplinary researches and numerous collaborations(CNRS, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Louvre, Collège de France, Centre de Recherche
et de Restauration des Musées de France…), continue. The results are published within theframe of the joined reports of the mission (revue Syria) and the serie Ras Shamra – Ougarit(ten volumes edited since 2000, two in press and two more in preparation for 2016). Then,the mission co‐organized three exhibitions, one in France (Lyon) and two in Damascus, which
provided the opportunity to publish bilingual, catalogues (in French and in Arabic).

78

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Friday 4th December

Latakia Session 1

RAS SHAMRA, UGARIT (LATAKIA)
Khozama AL‐BAHLOUL
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:The result of excavations works at fortification area (Ugarit), Syrian team.
Abstract:
The excavation of Syrian team at fortification area had started since 2005 up now. It is
located on the southern western side. Our objective is to: Verification of the presence of fortifications in this area
 Check for housing on the wall.
It has enabled us overall excavations during the last seasons of the substantiation of thedesired objectives, in particular, the existence of the city‐wall on the south‐western slope
which is an extension of the fortifications in the West End, as, we were able to detect a large
important building, which had built directly on the top of the city wall, we call it (the great
Building). This building had built in a hard technical architect during the Late Bronze Age II
and continued his activities of restorations and the closure of some of rooms and change
their functions during the Late Bronze Age III.
The importance of this building is coming from: Strategic location, which opens on the Royal Street directly off the southern palace,on one hand.
 and architectural and organization of the building and the nature of thearchaeological finds unearthed the remains of furniture as the existence of furniture fromelephant ivory and stele of god Baal, in other hand.
All this evidence, are leaders these directories to divide the building into two sections: aservice part and ritual part. We can also say that, this building belongs to the one of royalfamily or member of it.

Publication since 2010
Michel al‐Maqdissi, Khozama al‐Bahloul, et al. 2007.
Rapport préliminaire sur les activités de Ras Shamra‐Ougarit en 2005 et 2006 (65 et 66 campagnes)
Syria.
Michel al‐Maqdissi, Khozama al‐Bahloul, et al. 2009
Rapport préliminaire sur les activités de la mission Syro‐Français de Ras Shamra‐Ougarit en 2007‐2008(67‐et 68 campagnes) Syria.
Michel al‐Maqdissi, Khozama al‐Bahloul, et al. 2013
Rapport préliminaire sur les activités de la mission Syro‐Français de Ras Shamra‐Ougarit en 2009‐2010(69 et 70 campagnes) Syria.
Khozama al‐Bahloul. 2015
Preliminary report on the excavations works on Ras Shamra (area D‐fortification area) Syrian team.
Season 2012. Chronique archcheologique en Syria (In Arabic).

79

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Hasake Session 2

TELL SHAEER (QAMISHLI)
Suleiman ELIAS
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Tell Shaeer.
Abstract:
Tell Shaeer is located 23 km east of al‐Qamishli city and 2 km north of the road leading fromal‐Qamishli to al‐Malikiyah. Excavations at the site started in 2006 under the direction of Dr
Suleiman Elias; however, in 2011, those excavations came to a halt due to the prevailingsecurity situations in Syria. Systematic excavations at the site resulted in some important
findings indicating that human settlement at the site lasted sporadically from the 6th
millennium BC (Hassuna period) to the Ayyubid period. The major layers discovered at thesite include: Hassuna period: it contains a small settlement west of the tell.
 The Chalcolithic period
 Nineveh period Hurrian period Mitanni period
 1st millennium BC Islamic period
The archaeological layers cover an area of about 6 hectares, more than 30 meters high. The
tell rises 454 meters above sea level. It has an oval shape stretching from north to south. The
tell is situated 7 km south of Taurus Mountains in a fertile red‐soiled land with an averageannual rainfall of more than 500 mm. In addition, groundwater is close to the earth's surface.
It is also historically well‐known for its rain‐fed agriculture. Excavations in the first season of2006 included a topographic survey, dividing the tell into a network of squares (5×5 m). In
addition, the starting point was located on the top of the tell, and a probe was conducted 20
meters east of the starting point and down the tell. The most important discoveries at Tell
Shaeer during 6 excavation seasons included a floor paved neatly with white stones, 5
meters wide and 11 meters long. A drainage canal paved with red bricks and covered withlarge white stones was also discovered beneath that floor. Thus, we believe that this could
be the entrance to a huge architectural structure that has not been identified yet. Besides, ahuge defensive wall, 4.7 meters wide (the discovered part measures 5 meters long and 2
meters high), was discovered 20 meters east of that floor. Moreover, the numerous
unearthed artifacts included human and animal shaped dolls made of clay, potteries, bronze
tools such as spearheads and knives, bracelets, arrowheads made of stone, spindles made ofclay and stone, impressions of cylinder stamp seals made of clay, a cylinder seal made ofblack stone, dating to the Nineveh period and containing geometric shapes, and a seal madeof clay, dating to the Mitanni period. Furthermore, a number of tombs dating to the 4th, 3rd
and 2nd millennia BC as well as a large number of old Islamic tombs were discovered at thesite. Hence, this entails us to say that Tell Shaeer used to be a large settlement that lasted
from the end of the 3rd millennium to the mid‐2nd millennium BC.

80

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Hasake Session 2

TELL SEKER‐AHEIMAR (HASAKE)
Yoshihiro NISHIAKIThe University Museum, The University of Tokyo (Japan)

Title:The Pre‐Pottery to Pottery Neolithic settlement of Tell Seker‐Aheimar, Hassake,
Syria: Excavations from 2000 to 2010.
Abstract:
The Neolithic settlement of Tell Seker‐Aheimar, Hassake, represents one of the oldest
farming villages in the Upper Khabur Basin. It was occupied over a period of ca. 7300 to 6500
BC. Excavations between 2000 and 2010 revealed a range of previously unknown aspects ofNeolithic cultural developments in this western part of Upper Mesopotamia, including somenever yet reported from the Levantine region. Particularly important discoveries include: (1)sophisticated bullet‐core technologies for flint blade production comparable to those of theUpper Mesopotamia and Zagros Neolithic; (2) solid stratigraphic and architectural records on
the transition from the Pre‐Pottery to Pottery Neolithic phase, showing links with thetraditions of Upper and Middle Mesopotamia; (3) a unique symbolic system using female
figurines in the Pre‐Pottery Neolithic period, perhaps persisting into the Pottery Neolithic
further to the east; and (4) a large water well of the Pre‐Pottery Neolithic, at which somesymbolic activities may have occurred on the occasion of its construction, use, orabandonment.

81

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Hasake Session 2

TELL TABAN (HASAKE)
Hirotoshi NUMOTO, Shigeo YAMADA
Kokushikan University (Japan), University of Tsukuba (Japan)

Title:
Excavations at Tell Taban
Abstract:
Tell Taban is located in Hasake Dam Salvage Area, south of Hasake, in the north‐eastern partof Syria not far from the border with Iraq. In the excavations of the site in 1997‐1999, about
70 clay objects bearing cuneiform texts dating to the Middle Assyrian period (13th‐11th
centuries BC) were discovered. These documents have proved that the site is identified with
“Tabetu,” the ancient city of strategic importance in the region. Later in the excavations
from 2005 through 2010, further about 500 inscribed clay tablets and other objects were
unearthed; they are mostly dating to the Middle Assyrian period (13th‐11th centuries), but
tens of them originate from the Old Babylonian period (18th century BC). The discovery oflarge number of cuneiform documentary sources for the first time by Japanese mission, as
well as their decipherment and study by Japanese researchers, attracted attention as one ofthe outstanding achievements of Japanese archaeological work in western Asia.

Publication since 2010
H. Numoto, D. Shibata, S. Yamada (2013) ‘Excavations at Tell Taban: Continuity andTransition in Local Traditions at Ṭābatum/Ṭābetu during the Second Millennium B.C.’, in: D.
Bonatz and L. Martin (eds), 100 Jahre archäologische Feldforschung in Nordost‐Syrien,
Schriften der Max Freiherr von Oppenheim‐Stiftung 18, Harrassowitz Verlag: Wiesbaden, pp.
167–17982

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Hasake Session 2

TELL BARRI/KAHAT (HASAKE)
Raffaella PIEROBON BENOIT
Università di Napoli Federico II (Italy)

Title:
Tell Barri/Kahat 2000‐2010: the contribution of ten years’ excavations to thehistory of Upper Mesopotamia (3000 B.C/ 900 A.D).
Abstract:
Since their opening (1980) excavations at Tell Barri revealed a long sequence of humanoccupation. The succeeding years precised the chronological history of the site, inhabitedwithout significant interruptions on the ‘longue durée’. An increase of knowledge on thepolitical and administrative nature and settlement’s quality of the site was obtained since
2000: a sacred area (EJ II‐III) cleared the first phases of Kahat; royal graves housed in thepalace of AdadNirari I confirmed the role of the site in MA period, offering new glimpses to
his international relations. Pottery and other artifacts confirmed the growing power of thesite during the NA phase. Tell Barri was still occupied in the next centuries, becoming astronghold of the Parthian empire; this role continued after the sasanian conquest.
Excavations showed in the succeeding centuries a change in the spatial organization of thesite exploiting ‐as before‐ the agricutural and pastoral ressources and developing
craftmanship activities.
The main result of the last researches concerns the contribution to the debate on crisis andcontinuity/discontinuity in the succession of powers in the region: buildings, siteorganization and overall pottery, showed that at least in Tell Barri the political events did’not
produce devastating changes.

Publication since 2010
R. Pierobon Benoit, Frontiere e identità nazionali: il contributo dell’archeologia, in M.
Cavalieri ed., Industria Apium. L'archéologie: une démarche singulière, des pratiques
multiples – Hommages à Raymond Brulet, PUL, Louvain la Neuve, 2013, 355‐374.
R. Pierobon Benoit Tell Barri: recherches 2006 – 2010, in D. Bonatz, L. Martin (eds) 100 Jahre
archäologische Feldforschung in Nordost‐Syrien, Harrassowitz Verlag. Wiesbaden 2013, 193‐
208.
R. Pierobon Benoit, Shrines, Offerings and Rituals at Tell Barri/Kahat in Religious Offerings
and Sacrifices in the Ancient Near East, 20‐22 July, 2015, Oriental Institute (University of
Oxford), ARAM in press.
Bibliography from Members of Tell Barri Team
A. D’Agostino, “Kilns and ovens from 2nd millennium BCE settlement of Tell Barri (Syria)”, in
R. Matthews, J. Curtis (eds), Proceedings of the 7th International congress on thearchaeology of the Ancient Near East: 12 April‐16 April 2010, the British Museum and UCL,
London. Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz 2012, 421‐446.

83

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Hasake Session 2

A. D’Agostino, The Tell Barri Sequence of Late Bronze Age Levels: Evolution Trends within
Late 2nd Millennium Ceramic Culture, in M. Luciani, A. Hausleiter (eds), Recent trends in the
study of Late Bronze Age ceramics in Syro‐Mesopotamia and neighbouring
regions: proceedings of the International Workshop in Berlin, 2‐5 November 2006,
Rahden/Westf., Leidorf, 2014, 235‐261.
C. Coppini, A. D’Agostino, Life at the edge of the settlement: the MBA‐LBA transition at thesouthern slope of Tell Barri (NE Syria), in AAVV, Proceedings of the 8th International Congresson the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East: 30 April‐4 May 2012, University of Warsaw,
Harrassowitz Verlag: Wiesbaden, 2014, 385‐410.
V. Orsi, Crisi e rigenerazione nella valle dell’Alto Khabur (Siria): la produzione ceramic dal
Bronzo Antico al Bronzo Medio, Firenze: Firenze University Press 2011.
R. Palermo, Traces de Destrution et Implications Historiques à Tell Barri, Actes de la Table
Ronde doctorale "Périodisation, territoires, architecture et matériel au Proche‐Orient, Paris,
8‐9 décembre 2011, consultabile a: www. book.openeditions.org/ifpo/2910.
R. Palermo, A Parthian Domestic Complex at Tell Barri (Syria), Proceedings of the 7thInternational congress on the archaeology of the Ancient Near East:12 April‐16 April 2010,
the British Museum and UCL, London, Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz 2012 637‐647.
R. Palermo, Evidence of Destruction at Tell Barri (Syria), Proceedings of the International
Congress "Destruction: Archaeological, Historical and Philological perspectives, Presses
Universitaires de Louvain, 2013, 473‐485.
R. Palermo, The Jaghjagh River Valley During the Roman Period (2nd – 4th cent. CE), in G.
Affanni et al. (eds), Broadening Horizons 4, Conference of young researchers working in theAncient Near East, Egypt and Central Asia, University of Torino, October 2011, B.A.R. 2698,
2015, 257‐263,
R. Pappalardo, The islamic common ware from Tell Barri (Syria): Preliminary study, in R.
Matthews, J. Curtis (eds), Proceedings of the 7th International congress on the archaeologyof the Ancient Near East: 12 April‐16 April 2010, the British Museum and UCL, London,
Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz 2012, 647‐657.
R. Pappalardo, The islamic relief‐moulded jugs from Tell Barri (Syria), in G. Affanni et al. (eds),
Broadening Horizons 4, Conference of young researchers working in the Ancient Near East,
Egypt and Central Asia, University of Torino, October 2011, B.A.R. 2698, 2015, 161‐168
M. Raccidi, Chariot Terracotta Models from Tell Arbid and Tell Barri. A Typological andFunctional Analysis, Proceedings of the 7th International congress on the archaeology of theAncient Near East: 12 April‐16 April 2010, the British Museum and UCL, London, Wiesbaden:
Harrassowitz 2012, 673–682.

84

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Hasake Session 2

M. Raccidi, The “hammer‐head” bowls in Syrian‐Jezirah: case‐study from Tell Barri, in G.
Affanni et al. (eds), Broadening Horizons 4, Conference of young researchers working in theAncient Near East, Egypt and Central Asia, University of Torino, October 2011, B.A.R. 2698,
2015, 89‐96
In Press
P. Cimadomo, “Lighting system in Roman Syria”, in Ex Oriente Lux. IV. International Congressof the International Lychnological Association, Ptuj 15‐19 May 2012.
R. Palermo, Settlement Patterns and Roads Network in Upper Mesopotamia during Roman
period. The support of the satellite images for historical the and archaeologicalreconstruction, Actes du colloque Échanges culturels dans la Syrie Romaine: le paraître etl’intime, Lyon, Maison de l'Orient Méditerranée, 4‐6 Maggio 2012.

85

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Hasake Session 2

TELL FERES (HASAKE)
Régis VALLET, Johnny BALDICNRS ‐ Institut Français du Proche‐Orient (France)

Title:
Tell Feres, new evidences on the development of proto‐urban societies in northern
Mesopotamia.
Abstract:
Recent researches on Chalcolithic Northern Mesopotamia have focused on the notion andmodalities of regionalized evolution processes. The evidence for local ways towards social
complexity has proven to be a major outcome of the excavations conducted in the last
decades in northern Syria and south‐eastern Turkey. To this respect, Tell Feres, in Syrian
Djezirah, is a key‐site for the identification of regional patterns within Northern
Mesopotamian chalcolithic developments, because of its long uninterrupted sequence andthe large surfaces exposed during the excavations. This paper briefly presents the main
results obtained after five excavation seasons at Tell Feres (2006‐2010).

86ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Damascus Session

TELL SAKKA (DAMASCUS)
Ahmad FARZAT TARAQJI
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Tell Sakka
Abstract:
It is one of the archaeological tells of the Ghouta of Damascus, 20 kilometers south‐east ofDamascus city. The tell has previously been subjected to several violations damaging it
severely in different positions; nonetheless, it still retains its archaeological and historicalimportance.
Tell Sakka was named after a nearby small village, 5 kilometers north‐west of Damascus
International Airport. The village was mentioned by some Arab explorers and historians in
the 12th and 13th centuries. Besides, it was home to a sixth‐century monastery of theJacobins, known as the Monastery of St Paul. It is needless to say that the word Sakka has an
Aramaic origin. Its fertile location made it a special place.
Excavations at the site, carried out by a national cadre between 1989 and 2012, have so far
uncovered the following five archaeological strata:
The first stratum: it contains Islamic graves dating mostly to the Mamluk and Ottoman
rules. These graves have no headstones or inscriptions indicating the deceased's names.
They are simple graves constructed with sun‐dried crude bricks, and most of them are mere
holes in the ground.
The second stratum: it contains graves dated to the classical periods (Seleucid, Roman andByzantine), from 300 BC to the 6th century AD. Some simple jewelry and metal and clay
tools were discovered inside many of the graves.
The third stratum: it dates back to the Late Bronze Age (1600‐1300 BC) and contains a
number of simple houses, built with sun‐dried crude bricks, which used to be dwellings
belonging to farmers who had some domestic professions, including knitting, weaving andpottery making, in addition to herding. Their houses, moreover, consisted of a small room
(4×4 m) and a courtyard or two rooms and a courtyard normally tiled with stones. The
thickness of the sun‐dried crude brick walls does not exceed 60 cm, and these walls do notcontain any ornaments or decorative elements. Besides, Egyptian commercial andadministrative influence was quite evident at the site.
The fourth stratum: it dates back to the Middle Bronze Age (1800‐1600 BC), and it is themost important stratum at the site. It led to the discovery of a large building consisting ofrooms and courtyards that have thick walls made of sun‐dried crude bricks (between 140
and 160 cm). Its floors were done in a highly sophisticated manner. Sewage disposal systems
in the building were taken care of. Its walls were coated with plaster and fresco techniquepaintings decorated with geometric and colorful themes. In addition, large clay jars used tostore grains were also found in the building. The walls of the building were designed inaccordance with the four cardinal directions. Its rooms have doorways with basalt
thresholds, which is similar to the Amorite architecture that can be seen in Mari, Alalakh andQatna. This building was an important part of a significant palace.
It is evident that the palace was destroyed during an invasion or a military attack, and its
walls were vandalized. The palace was also engulfed by fire as indicated by the remains offrescos scattered randomly on its floors.

87ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Damascus Session

The themes of the frescos at Tell Sakka dealt with the daily life of a ruling class, as well as
religious and mythological issues.
The most notable discovery is a small cuneiform tablet (4×4 cm) found on the floor of oneof the rooms of this building. It is a royal message sent to the king of Damascus.
Furthermore, in the season of 2010, another cuneiform tablet (measuring 4.5×9.5 cm),
preserved in a mud casing was unearthed. It contains a legal text that refers to a court rulingagainst a property owner who failed to pay taxes due to his traveling. This document leaves
no doubt that it was written at the same site.
The fifth stratum: it dates to the Middle Bronze Age I (2000‐1800 BC). A tomb, discovered
underneath one of the rooms, contains the remains and skeletons of two women and a child,in addition to a number of potteries.
The importance of Tell Sakka is attributed to its location on a direct trade route linking the
Middle Euphrates, Palestine and the Nile Valley and passing through the Damascus Ghouta
and across the Syrian desert. In addition, the discovery of cuneiform texts gave Damascus
access to the world of cuneiform tablets as those are the first and only cuneiform texts
unearthed in Damascus in particular and in southern Syria in general. Other discoveries
including frescos and murals gave special importance to the site due to their cultural
implications which filled a large gap in the history of Syria during the second millennium BC
at the time when the area of Damascus was known as Apum as mentioned in the Mari
archives, as well as the relation between this area with the other Amorite kingdoms in theLevant. We also believe that this site is full of important cultural surprises that will influence
our current knowledge of the history of Damascus in the second millennium BC.

88

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Damascus Session

TELL ASWAD (DAMASCUS)
Danielle STORDEUR, Rima KHAWAM
Directeur de recherche émérite CNRS (France), Directorate General of Antiquities andMuseums (Syria)

Title:
Tell Aswad.
Abstract:
Tell Aswad, located 30 km east‐southeast of Damascus, is a nearly 6 hectares tell, notexceeding 4.5 meters height. The whole stratigraphy of the site dates from 8200 to 7500 B.C.,
including the end of the Early PPNB, the middle PPNB, and the beginning of Late PPNB. The
environment is rich in natural resources. Plants and animals indicate the proximity of anancient lake. The cereals (emmer and barley) are cultivated. Herding (sheep, pigs, cattle, andprobably goat) is also in evidence throughout the whole sequence. The conception of thebuildings does not seem to follow definite geometric models. Houses, constructed withearth then with hand modelled bricks, are mostly rounded and in general undefined in form.
The site has provided rich funerary evidence. More than 119 individuals have been
excavated. Our results indicate the presence of a diachronic continuity of the funeralpractices throughout the occupation due to an ancestral tradition. At the same time, thespatial organization of the burials during the PPNB occupation of Tell Aswad reveals changes
in burial localization, from burials in the house inside the family unit, then later theestablishment of a specific area dedicated to funerary practices. The spatial organization ofthese areas becomes a supplementary testimony of the social organization in the site. They
reveal the use of simple burials but also specifically in the multiple burials by means of theskull removal. The variability in the skull treatment, including the modeled skulls,
corresponds to "ritual" and funerary practices of a highly developed culture. They reflect asocial order and a group integrity materializing one of the major features of the cultural
identity of Neolithic PPNB society in Tell Aswad.
The late adoption of quadrangular architectures and the practice of modelled skulls in the
PPNB are the most striking features that link Tell Aswad to the southern Levant. Tell Aswad
could be one of the most northern sites in the southern Levant traditional group. This site
could have played a role of relay between northern and southern Syria, in the middle PPNB.

89

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Damascus Session

TULUL EL‐FAR, TELL TAOUIL, TELL AL‐KHARAZE AND DAMASCENE (DAMASCUS)
Sophie CLUZAN, Ahmad FARZAT‐TARAQJI
Musée du Louvre (France), Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Tulul el‐Far, Tell Taouil, Tell al‐Kharaze and Damascene area during the Bronze Age.
Abstract:
Three sites of different sizes are named after Tulul el‐Far appellation. The three mounds are
situated at the South of Damascene oasis, nearby the river al‐A’ouaj, at the east end of its
course. The three mounds have been included in a shared project by DGAM and Louvre
museum, in order to characterize more properly the oasis during the Bronze Age period,
mainly Ancient and Middle Bronze Age. If the importance of the latter is already well known
due to the results of the Syrian expedition at Tell Sakka (Ahmad Ferzat Taraqji), the former is
not yet documented from excavations, except in very small portions of old Damascus city
(Michel al‐Maqdissi).
Out of the three campaigns conducted on two of the sites, some important results canalready be presented, noteworthy the inclusion of the settlements in the more global
network linking Egypt and Palestine to the North of Syria as well as to the East, reaching as
far as Euphrate and Jezireh. Moreover a regional study shows how Damascene settlements
do act as a local network in order to protect this exceptional area, which could already havebeen dominated by an important city.

90

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Damascus Session

JUPITER TEMPLE (DAMASCUS)
Houmam SAAD
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Temple of Jupiter in Damascus. New prespective.
Abstract:
Jupiter temple ruins in Damascus have been well studied by different specialists since theearly twentieth century. This temple has acquired a unique importance in the study andresearch of the city of Damascus with its function as a sacred place until today. The problem
exists which concerns the pagan sanctuary when he was transformed into a church and theninto a mosque that has lost much of its elements.
The last archaeological work in 2009, has uncovered important new construction wellpreserved in situ, inside a house near the present Umayyad mosque. This construction was
built with some architectural elements (pedestals, columns, ionic capitals, arch ... etc.), witha Greek inscription on one piedestal, it is a dedication to the god Zeus dated in 151AD.
The new results allow us in one hand to understand the organization inside the temenos
and also around the sanctuary (cella), and in the other hand, to have a new dating of thetemple. They also throw light on new results concerning the cult in the temple, which was
not known up to our time.

91

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Damascus Session

CITADEL OF DAMASCUS (DAMASCUS)
Edmond EL‐AJJI
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Citadel of Damascus: Possible earlier dating according to new discoveries.
Abstract:
Since the earliest of the 20th century several researches and studies projects were conductedon the Citadel of Damascus to investigate its history and architectural components in order,
to draw its chronological state in details and inhabiting state of the old Damascus in general.
We and most of the researchers believed that, an important city as Damascus, should has its
own defensive system since its erecting, such system couldn't be completed with the citywalls only may, it should has the military prestigious aspect which could be assured with thepresence of a fortress.
The occupation of the citadel courtyard and its buildings with recent structures (belonging
to the latest function of the citadel as a prison) impeded researchers to investigate it in deep.
Nowadays, after clearing the fortress of all these modern structures, it's possible to develop
more precise research project benefiting of the oldest researches and theories establishedsince the early beginning of the last century. Most of these theories agreed unanimously on
dating the origin fortress to the Islamic period, and more precise to the 11th century. Few ofit, kept a doubt about its earliest origin, wherein, we tried to justify that through several
investigation soundings conducted on the eastern walls of the inner enclosure (Seljuk
fortress) between 2013 and 2015. The results were surprising whereas, we find behind the
Seljuk‐blocks slice (the walls dating to the Seljuk fortress) a well built masonry wall of nearly2m thick with treated plaster on surface. On the top of this wall, a stabilized layer of mud
was made in order to lay successive courses of mud‐bricks (as an evidence to the fortress ofthe 10th century mentioned by Al‐Maqdissi) which still preserved on the top of tower 16th
(the southeast corner tower of the Seljuk fortress) and the two starts of the south and east
walls.
The most important discoveries was, the finding of the same treated masonry technique inthe deepest point of the sounding conducted around the inner corner pillar of tower 18 (onthe northeast corner of the Seljuk fortress), where we found also several blocks measures(1.2*0.6*0.5) could form a part of successive courses of fortified wall. The collected
potteries were few and couldn't date the erection of the masonry wall, but, a sample of theinner components of the walls were extracted in order to carry out the (C14) analysis which
could define the date of construction. The result should appear around November 2015, soshall it'll carry out a new dating for the origin of the Citadel of Damascus? We'll see.

92

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Damascus Session

SOUK AL‐SAGHA (DAMASCUS)
Ahmad DALLY
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
The future of the excavated sites in Damascus, Site Museum of Souk al‐Sagha.
Abstract:
Souk al‐Sagha is the modern name of a site in Old Damascus, adjacent to the southern wallof the Umayyad Mosque. In 1973, a national team started excavating the site, and theseworks lasted until 2013. The excavations resulted in a number of discoveries, including
several archaeological structures dating to various historical periods; the most notable andoldest are the remains of a Roman fountain, called the Temple of Water Nymphs, whichused to be an independent building within the Temple of Jupiter.
The importance of the project is manifested in shedding light on the discovered elements
and in establishing a site museum that gives the visitors, tourists and researchers theopportunity to take a tour at the site and learn more about the discovered ruins whichhighlight a significant phase in the history of Damascus city.
Besides, the project aims at safeguarding the archaeological discoveries at the site,
removing all foreign elements and rehabilitating and restoring the walls surrounding thediscovered structure, in addition to ensuring the safety of the visitors and developing anadequate plan to manage the site, including signboards and other services required at thesite.
Finally, we hope, through this project (the first time in Syria), to establish a model site
museum in Damascus city. This can also be done at other sites such as the tombs discoveredin Bab Sreejeh and the Roman era tomb discovered in the vicinity of al‐Mujtahid hospital.

93ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Daraa Suweida Session

BOSRA (DARAA)
Pierre‐Marie BLANC
CNRS Nanterre (France)

Title:The Town of Bosra.
Abstract:
The town of Bosra was never completely abandoned due to the spring. An oval tell, inwestern part, is surrounded by a polygonal stonework rampart (ca. 1750 BCE). It is the firsturban development after occasional episodes at the beginning of the sixth and third
millennia.
The Nabataean major phase (late‐first century BCE – 106 CE) was under king Rabbel II. The
Roman annexation in AD 106 led to a further phase of monumentalisation whichtransformed the city’s landscape around the main public buildings: theatre, hippodrome,amphitheatre, baths, temples, forum and market fed by an aqueduct that broughtpressurised water.
Military camp (legion III Cyrenaica ca. 120 AD) and the legion’s honorific arch are clear signsof the presence of a new power. The Christian period witnesses the building of several
churches. During this period, the city walls were restored and buildings were renovated or
rebuilt.
Whilst the beginning of the Islamic period does not seem to have brought about any majorchange, Al‐Omari mosque and the transformation of the South Baths into an hammam. The
earthquake of AD 749 would radically modify the city, causing the collapse of the majority of
the roads’ colonnades and the ruin of the more important ancient buildings. This event
caused the emergence of a new urban layout.

Publication since 2010
Blanc P.‐M. et Piraud‐Fournet P., 2010. La grande église à plan centré du quartier est de Bosra, in
Hauran V, BAH 191, pp. 275‐287.
Dentzer J.‐M., Blanc P.‐M., Fournet Th., Kalos M., Renel F., 2010. Formation et développement desvilles en Syrie du Sud de l'époque hellénistique à l'époque byzantine: les exemples de Bosra, Suweida
et Deraa. in Hauran V, La Syrie du Sud du Néolithique à l'Antiquité tardive, Recherches récentes,
volume I, Actes du colloque de Damas 2007, sous la direction d'al‐Maqdissi M., Braemer F. et Dentzer
J.‐M., BAH 191, Ifpo, Beyrouth 2010, pp. 139‐170.
Blanc P.‐M., Piraud‐Fournet P., 2010. L'église à plan centré du quartier Est de Bosra, in Hauran V, La
Syrie du Sud du Néolithique à l'Antiquité tardive, Recherches récentes, volume I, Actes du colloque deDamas 2007, sous la direction d'al‐Maqdissi M., Braemer F. et Dentzer J.‐M., BAH 191, Ifpo, Beyrouth
2010, pp. 275‐288.
Blanc P.‐M., Gazagne D., 2010. Les aqueducs de Bosra et ‘Adraha, in Hauran V, La Syrie du Sud duNéolithique à l'Antiquité tardive, Recherches récentes, volume I, Actes du colloque de Damas 2007,
sous la direction d'al‐Maqdissi M., Braemer F. et Dentzer J.‐M., BAH 191, Ifpo, Beyrouth 2010, pp.
335‐344.

94

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Daraa Suweida Session

Genequand D., Blanc P.‐M., 2013. Un moulin hydraulique omeyyade sur l'aqueduc de Bosra (article enarabe traduit du français par Hassan Hatoum), in Hauran V, La Syrie du Sud du Néolithique àl'Antiquité tardive, Recherches récentes, volume II, Actes du colloque de Damas 2007, sous la directiond'al‐Maqdissi M., Braemer F., Dentzer J.‐M. et Ishaq E., BAH 202, Ifpo, Beyrouth 2013, pp. 87‐96.
Braemer, F., Blanc, P.‐M., Dentzer, J.‐M., Dumont Maridat, C., Gazagne, D., Genequand, D., Wech, P.
2009. “Long term management of water in the Hawran : the history of a resource in a village‐based
region of the Fertile Crescent”, World Archaeology, 41‐1, pp. 35‐56.
Maqdissi M. al‐, Braemer F. 2010. «Villes (?) du Leja au 3e millénaire: Organisation et fonctions»,
Comptes rendus Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, 2008, pp. 1809‐1843.
Criaud H., Rohmer J. 2010 : Schémas d’occupation d’une enclave semi‐aride. Le Leja (Syrie du sud), del’âge du Bronze à la veille de l’annexion à Rome (3600 av. J.‐C. – fin du 1er s. ap. J.‐C.). In: Alarashi H.,
Chambrade M.‐L., Gondet S., Jouvenel A., Sauvage S., Tronchère H. (eds) Regards croisés sur l’étude
archéologique des paysages anciens. Nouvelles recherches dans le bassin méditerranéen, en Asie
centrale et au Proche et au Moyen‐Orient. Travaux de la maison de l’orient méditerranéen, vol. 56.
Maison de l’Orient, Lyon, pp. 43‐63.

95

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Daraa Suweida Session

QARASSA (SUWEIDA)Frank BRAEMER, J.J. IBANEZ, X. TERRADAS, M. GODON, T. STEIMERCNRS (France)

Title:
Leja/Qarassa.
Abstract:
The Qarassa site (Sweida Mohafazat, Syria) was excavated from 2007 to 2010 by a Syro‐
French‐Spanish team. The site was implanted on the southern fringe of the Leja basaltic
plateau at the junction with the Hauran plain. It presents an exceptional chronology ofoccupation preserved in stratigraphy divided between three distinct areas, from the
Natufian to the Iron Age. The Natufian settlement was on the rock surface 400 m to thenorth of a paleolake. The Northern tell yields Pre Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) to Final
Chalcolithic occupations, and the Southern one was occupied from the Early Bronze Age I to
the Iron Age. A huge Early Bronze Age megalithic necropolis spreads over 14 hectares on the
rocky area to the north of these living sites.
The Qarassa micro‐region itself, with perennial waters from a spring and its lake, and in thewadi Abu Dhahab, offers interesting possibilities to tackle the issue of environmental
changes throughout the Early Holocene in a region so far lacking such research.
Ultimately, the Qarassa excavations, connected to the 2002‐2006 Leja archaeologicalsurveys, are shedding light on regional archaeological evidence and cultural developmentsfrom the onset of Neolithisation to the rise of complex urbanism in a region so far practicallyneglected, at last merging the Jordan valley with the Northern Levant and Syria. The
knowledge gap in Southern Syria may thus be, if not completely, partially filled with the longterm Qarassa chronological sequence.

96

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Daraa Suweida Session

DARAA SURVEY (DARAA)
Ahmed DYAB
Damascus University (Syria)
Title:

Survey of Prehistoric Sites in Daraa, South of Syria.
Abstract:
The Department of Archaeology at Damascus University, in cooperation with the Directorate
General of Antiquities and Museums, conducted an archaeological survey of the prehistoricsites in Daraa, between May 9 and 16, 2010.
The survey included three adjacent regions in southern Daraa, namely Wadi Sharar, Wadi
al‐Khawabi and Kherbet al‐Shaiyah, which all flow into Wadi al‐Zaydi valley near Daraa city.
We collected 1212 stone tools found in 32 sites in these areas. These sites are situated on
the valley shoulders and the plateaus and were covered with flint masses and tools that
became blackish as a result of patina.
Wadi Sharar is considered the most important site in this survey due to the fact that its
surface is full of hundreds of manufactured stone tools, particularly hand axes. In addition,
the site undoubtedly consists of several accumulated layers that contain a large number ofmanufactured stone tools. Moreover, surface runoff and erosion contributed to uncovering
the deposition of archaeological layers as well as alluvium of various thicknesses reaching up
to two meters at one point in the valley shoulder, which makes it a very promising site.
The collected stone tools varied and, thus, included pointed hand axes (al‐Lataminah type)and almond‐shaped hand axes representing the Acheulean type, which was found in theregion for the first time. Levalloisian fragments representing the Mousterian style were also
discovered.
This is considered the first survey of prehistoric sites in southern Daraa conducted within alimited geographical area, including only two tributaries of Wadi al‐Zaydi valley.
Nevertheless, the area is abundant in numerous sites covered with hundreds of flint toolsthat require several excavation seasons to uncover.

97

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Daraa Suweida Session

TELL AL‐ASH'ARI (DARAA)
Qasem AL‐MUHAMMAD
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:The results of the latest excavations at Tell al‐Ash'ari, Hauran (during the Bronze
Age)
Abstract:
Excavations at Tell al‐Ash'ari, west of Hauran plain, 14 km north‐west of Daraa city, started
in 1998. These excavations have shed light on one of the most important tells in southern
Syria, dating back to the Middle Bronze Age, which can be associated with the old eastern
civilizations in ancient Syria. Through modern archaeological discoveries, these tells can also
be compared to sites being currently excavated, such as Tell Sakka in the Damascus basin,
Tell Debbeh and Tell al‐Matouneh in al‐Suwayda, Tell al‐Zaydi in Daraa and many others.
Besides, Tell al‐Ash'ari was one of the ten key cities in southern Syria, mentioned in several
historical sources and inscriptions as well as coins.
During the period from the end of the 3rd millennium BC to the first half of the 2nd
millennium BC, the west part of Hauran plain witnessed remarkable human growth giventhat people lived in rural communities.
As the ancient name of Tell al‐Ash'ari (during the Bronze Ages) is still undecided andarchaeological data regarding this period is insufficient, attempts to identify the site using
any of the names mentioned in those sources are nothing but mere speculations.
By means of a comprehensive survey conducted around the hill and on the surface layer
during the first excavation season of 1998, it was evident that human settlement at the sitebegan in the Late Stone Age. Moreover, the city walls, in addition to a huge basalt tower,
dating to the Bronze Age, are very similar in size and form to the circular walls of Tell Ashtara,
3 km to the north. As for the Bronze Age cemeteries of Tell al‐Ash'ari, discovered during twostages in 1992 and 2010, they are located outside the fortifications of the city on the easternside of the tell.
The burial methods at Tell al‐Ash'ari and in Daraa are based on the local methods of theLevant. These methods were practiced in the beginning of the Early Bronze Age (the 3rd
millennium BC). The tomb is accessed through a vertical round passage, 2 meters deep,
leading to a narrow passage, no more than 1 meter in diameter, which in turn leads to aburial chamber, which is sealed by a large rock or several medium and small rocks. Tombs
were carved in a layer of soft limestone. Furthermore, potteries, dating back to the Early
Bronze Age IV, the Middle Bronze Age I and the Middle Bronze Age II, are abundant at thesite. Numerous metal weapons and jewelry were contained in the tombs as well.

98

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Daraa Suweida Session

SAFAITIC INSCRIPTIONS (DARAA)
Ghazi ALOLO
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:A report on surveying the Safaitic inscriptions, east of al‐Namara and al‐Zuluf.
Abstract:
It is located 15 km east of al‐Namara and al‐Zuluf region, in the Wadi al‐Souh and Wadi Zuriq
valleys. The team started surveying and documenting the Safaitic inscriptions and texts. The
two valleys stretch south beyond the Syrian‐Jordanian borderline adjacent to a continuous
range of medium height hills, whose surfaces are covered with a layer of basalt. The Safaitic
people used to write their inscriptions on the rocks and boulders of the desert scatter, or on
the stones of cairns; those were used as a tomb whose stones function as an archive thatimmortalizes and reflects their current concerns, including memories, ideas, traveling,sadness and mourning. Moreover, Safaitic people always took pride in their clans and tribes,
and they also gave very detailed accounts of their family lines, mentioning in some cases 17
forefathers ending up with their tribes.
Moreover, they attempted to immortalize the kind of relationship between the membersof the same tribe and their relationship with the other tribes and neighboring peoples, aswell as to introduce us to the different aspects of their daily life extending from the first
century BC to the third century AD across an area stretching all over the Syrian desert andinto the Euphrates river. This resulted in more than six hundred Safaitic inscriptions together
with drawings, images, signs and symbols, in addition to one Greek inscription.
The topics of their inscriptions varied and, hence, included personal issues, historicalsubjects concerning the lives of important deceased people and incidents related todifferent nations and countries. It is also worth mentioning that the Safaitic people worked
in agriculture and used the iron plow drawn by oxen to cultivate their lands as seen in theimages accompanying the inscriptions. For example, one of the inscriptions shows a drawingof two oxen pulling a plow and mentions that the owner of the inscription was plowing his
land for cultivation. The Safaitic people practiced herding and owned sheep, camels, goats
and cows. The drawings also included their hunting activities, such as ostrich hunting anddeer hunting, as well as war themes, chivalry and dancing women.
Besides, religion had a major and key role in the life of the Safaitic people; thus, they
prayed to their gods and deities and asked for their support and assistance in issues related
to safety, vengeance and rain. Nevertheless, thousands of other inscriptions are still awaiting
to be discovered and exposed to the world.

99

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Damascus Region Session

TELL AL‐HUMIRA (DAMASCUS REGION)
Mahmud HAMUD
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Excavations at Tell Al‐Humira.
Abstract:
Tell Humira is located in the Qalamoun region, 100 km north of Damascus, near Deir Atiyahcity 12 km to the north. It measures 75×100×8 m and rises 1200 m above sea level. The site
has been subjected to violations and acts of vandalism by the villages that removed large
quantities of its soil to make mud bricks for their dwellings, which caused severe damage tothe site. An archaeological mission belonging to Rif Damascus excavated the site between
2008 and 2012 completing four seasons, during which the tell was topographically mapped,
and archaeological probes were conducted revealing that the oldest settlement at the sitegoes back to the end of the second millennium BC and the latest one to the 7th century BC.
Excavations at the site uncovered numerous architectural ruins and artifacts, including
round stamp seals and stamp seal impressions (Scarab) found on the necks of jars, inaddition to a large number of stone loom weights indicating that the site witnessed
successful industrial growth that lasted till it was abandoned. Nonetheless, the mostimportant discovery was a potsherd carrying an incomplete Aramaic text composed of a few
letters that probably refer to a temple, which gives a clear signal to the possible existence ofa temple at the site. We also believe that a part of the remains of the thick‐walled buildings
established on the hill could be the temple referred to on that potsherd. The importance ofTell Humira stems from the fact that it was a significant commercial hub on the roadbetween northern, central and southern Syria and into Palestine and Egypt.
The site was perhaps the most important stop between Damascus and Nazala (modern al‐
Qaryatayn) on the road leading from Palmyra and the Euphrates. Moreover, the site was a
key administrative and religious center on the edge of the Syrian Desert, as well as a
shopping and commodities exchange center between the inhabitants of the desert and thesite dealers who used to buy their goods from the trade caravans crossing this site in thefirst millennium BC. The Qalamoun Mountains were mentioned in a number of the Annals of
the Kings of Assyria (including Shalmaneser III, 859‐824 BC, Adad‐nirari III, 805‐782 BC, andTiglath‐Pileser III, 745‐727 BC) who passed through the area during their military campaigns
targeting Damascus and southern Syria. Besides, the names of other places in the Qalamoun,including Danabu, Khadara and Addrin, were mentioned. These places were once thesummer headquarters of the rulers of Aram‐Damascus, including Hazael. Some researchers
believe that Addrin is modern al‐Qutayfah and Khadara is modern Adra; thus, it is possiblethat Tell Humira is Danabu, which is what we are attempting to discover though future
excavations at this site, which has been subjected to severe damage.

Publication since 2010
M. Hamoud, & G. Abou Kahla, Tell Alumira (Dier Ateyeh), Chronique Archéologique en Syrie,
Vol. 6, Damascus, 2012, pp.77‐91.

100

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Damascus Region Session

TELL AL‐BAHARIYA (DAMASCUS REGION)
Ghada SULEIMAN
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Tell al‐Bahariya.
Abstract:
Tell al‐Bahariya is located in the Damascus basin, about 45 km from Damascus and 617.7
meters above sea level.
Archaeological strata:
Excavations have uncovered three historically successive archaeological strata:
 Phase 1: 6000 – 5000 BC
 Phase 2: 5000 – 4000 BC
 Phase 3: 4000 – 3500 BC
Discoveries:
Archaeological discoveries have indicated that human groups settled at the site starting in
the 6th millennium BC. They built their homes using molded building blocks, wooden andclay ceilings and limestone floors.
As for the first stratum, a circular house was discovered. As for the second stratum datingback to the 5th millennium BC, the foundations of old buildings were used to construct new
houses containing multifunctional rooms and floors tiled using molded blocks.
As far as the third stratum is concerned, it was erected on the ruins of the two earlier strata
as evidenced by the restoration layer there given that the whole settlement was engulfed byfire in the late 5th millennium BC.
The results:
The archaeological remains in Tell al‐Bahariya testify for the artistic development of theancient man. Hence, we can see several types of constructing residential dwellings, inaddition to development in pottery making in terms of style and color. Bull horns were also
found buried in one of the houses of worship discovered at the site. Clay balls used for
calculations were unearthed, too, in addition to flint tools made of imported obsidian. This
proves that there were cultural and commercial relations between the north and south andthe inner and coastal areas in ancient times.

101

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Damascus Region Session

MONASTERY OF ST ELIAN (DAMASCUS REGION)
Woroud IBRAHIM
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Al‐Qaryatayn in the heart of the Syrian Desert, Monastery of St Elian.
Abstract:
Al‐Qaryatayn is an ancient city dating back to the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC. Mentioned in
the Mari (modern Tell al‐Hariri) texts, it was known as Nazala. The Arameans called it Haser
Ayan, and during the Roman era, it was known as Qurada. Located in the heart of the Syrian
Desert on the road between Damascus and Palmyra, Al‐Qaryatayn was an important stop for
trade caravans and pilgrims. Al‐Qaryatayn’s most distinctive landmark is its archaeologicalhill 2 kilometers to the south (where ancient al‐Qaryatayn used to be). Dating to the mid‐second millennium BC, the hill contains on its top stone foundations of a temple thatbelongs to the Roman Palmyrene era during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.
Monastery of St Elian
It is located about 4 kilometers south of al‐Qaryatayn and was named after St Elian, who wasmentioned in several sources, such as the hymns of St Ephrem the Syrian. Excavations
aiming at studying the site historically and archaeologically started in 2001, and a Syrian‐
British mission was formed. In 2004, a Syrian national mission became in charge of the
excavations, directed by Woroud Ibrahim. The most important discoveries in the Monasteryof St Elian include the tomb of St Elian dating to the 4th century, which contains an
unembalmed corpse, which is still preserved (based on the samples taken from the corpse, it
is considered to be the first preserved corpse contained in a tomb). The Monastery also
housed a church that dates to the same era. In addition, a cemetery dedicated to priests,
dating to the end of the 14th century was uncovered. The Monastery chapel has an old door
that dates to the 7th century, which is currently displayed in the Classical Age wing at the
National Museum of Damascus; it is one of a collection of six rare wooden doors of
Byzantine churches. The Monastery has a small gate located within the southern wall andbeautifully decorated and ornamented.
Most excavations carried out in the Monastery have revealed several close historicalperiods. This was done by means of uncovering simple structures representing the nature of
the region and indicating the continuity of monasticism and religious rites. These periods
include the Byzantine era and the Islamic periods, including the Abbasid era and the Mamluk
period up until the Ottoman rule. In addition, this has introduced us to the Christianarchitecture and rituals followed in the Islamic period.

Publication since 2010
Woroud Ibrahim, 2011, The Monastery Mar Elian ‐ Results of Excavation 2001‐2009,
Chronique Archéologique en Syrie, p.107.
Woroud Ibrahim, 2011, Mar Elian al Cheikh, 2001‐2009 Campaigns, in The ArchaeologicalSites of Syria.
Woroud Ibrahim, 2009, Excavation 2000‐2007 at Mar Elian al Cheikh, Adiyat, Aleppo.
Woroud Ibrahim, 2008, Al Qaryatein in the Syrian Steppes, Deir Mar Elian al Cheikh, Journal
Mahd al Hadarat, Damascus.

102

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Saturday 5th December

Damascus Region Session

ST SERGIUS AND ST BACCHUS, SADAD (DAMASCUS REGION)
Nada SARKIS
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Frescoes of Church of St Sergius and St Bacchus, Sadad.
Abstract:
Frescoes in Syria have had a remarkable presence since the first fresco in the world datingback to the 9th century BC was discovered in Ja'adat al‐Maghara, in addition to other ones
containing various techniques and themes dating to several different eras. These weremeant to represent each age and way of life artistically and faithfully. Hence, the frescoes of
the Church of St Sergius and St Bacchus in Sadad have contributed to the richness of thehistory of frescoes in Syria and the world as a whole since they represent the Syriac churchand history by means of introducing all the saints they depict along with their intellectual
accomplishments. Thus, the walls of the church was ornamented with local and rare Syriac
paintings dating to the 18th century, which still have their unique charm and effect to date.
Eduard Sachau was the first to mention and describe these frescoes in a paper published in1883 following his visit to the town of Sadad on September 21, 1879. After that, manyarchaeologists visited the town to learn more about the place. In 2005, the first national
Syrian mission commenced its work in restoring these frescoes. Consequently, we learned
about their technical, artistic and archaeological history as well as the damage befallingthem due to climatic and human interventions. In addition, the restoration works helped
uncover several original artistic elements as well as the iconographic content of the frescoes.
The mission also documented all the stages of restoring the southern wall of the church in
the hope of completing the restoration works of the whole church in the near future.

103

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Sunday 6th December

Deir ez‐Zor Session

HALABIYA‐ZENOBIA (DEIR EZ ZOR)
Sylvie BLETRY
Université Paul‐Valéry, Montpellier 3 (France)

Title:The necropolises of Halabiya‐Zenobia.
Abstract:
Since Jean Lauffray campaigns and publication on Halabiya, a Syrian‐French mission, held
between 2006 and 2010, worked in situ, and undertook, among other things, a more
complete survey in the north and south necropolises surrounding the urban site than theformer one. This paper will summarize a few chapters of the incoming general publication of
our five seasons (October 2015).
When Lauffray identified about 50 tombs, we raised this number up to 164 funerarymonuments (indeed, most of them are collective tombs) in the north necropolis. When
Lauffray counted only 3 tombs in the south necropolis, we found 16 new ones.
These results let us renew Lauffray’s typology, and we could also make some assumptions
about the dating of these tombs, as this issue has never been studied by taking into accountthe total documentation. Only the tower tombs were mentioned in several former
publications, and even so, the propositions of dating were made by stylistic comparison withtower tombs from other sites (mainly in the Euphrates valley or in Palmyra). Now, thearchitectural data from Halabiya’s tower tombs show how original they were, as well as andthe other types of tombs. In addition, we are able to propose some hypothesises the about
the social organization of some sectors in both the necropolises.

Publication since 2010
BLÉTRY, S., et al., «Trois années de recherches à Zénobia‐Halabiyé (Syrie), ville forteresse
proto‐byzantine sur le limes oriental», Semitica et Classica, 3, 2010, 249‐264
BLÉTRY, S., «La campagne 2010 de la mission archéologique franco‐syrienne à Halabiya‐
Zénobia», Res Antiquitatis, Journal of Ancient History 2, 2011, 229‐258.
BLÉTRY, S., «Les nécropoles de Halabiya‐Zénobia, premiers résultats des observations etprospections menées en 2009 et 2010», Syria 89, 2012, 305‐330.
BLÉTRY, S., «Guerre et paix sur l’Euphrate entre Perse et Byzance au temps de Justinien: si
vis pacem, para bellum. Les apports de l’étude du cas historique et archéologique deZenobia», Hommages à Jean Bouffartigue et Pierre‐Louis Malosse, Revue d’Études Tardo‐
antiques (RET), 4, Supplément 3, 2014‐2015, 73‐101.
BLÉTRY, S., «Si vis pacem, para bellum, La politique de paix de Justinien avec l’empire perse.
L’exemple d’un cas historique et archéologique : Zénobia», Actes du colloque La fabrique dela paix, Montpellier, 2‐4 octobre 2013, Presses de l'Université Laval, Québec, 45‐66.

104

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Sunday 6th December

Deir ez‐Zor Session

BLÉTRY. S. (dir), Zenobia‐Halabiya, Habitat urbain et nécropoles, Cinq années derecherches de la mission syro‐française (2006‐2010), Cuademos Mesopotamicos 6, La
Coroña, 572 pages, 604 figures + CD. (sous presse)
BLÉTRY, S., «Les recherches de la mission syro‐française sur le site de Zénobia‐Halabiya,
2006‐2010», in Projet Khanuqa. Archéologie au défilé basaltique du Moyen Euphrate (Deirez‐Zor,Syrie), J. L. Montero (ed.), Bibliotheca Euphratica 2, Université de La Corogne, encours de publication.
BLÉTRY, S., «L’urbanisme et l’habitat de la ville de Zénobia‐Halabiya: résultats de la mission
franco‐syrienne (2006‐2010)», Actes de la table‐ronde «New Cities in Late Antiquity»,
Istanbul, 9‐10 novembre 2013, Bibliothèque de l’Antiquité Tardive, en cours de publication.

105

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Sunday 6th December

Deir ez‐Zor Session

TELL AS SIN (DEIR EZ‐ZOR)
Shaker AL SHBIB
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Tall As‐Sin, on the eastern limes.
Abstract:
Tell As‐Sin is located on the left bank of the Euphrates, 10 km southeast of Deir ez‐Zor. The
site corresponds to a Byzantine fortified town, consisting of an acropolis, a lower town and anecropolis that extends beyond the northern wall.
Three archaeological excavation campaigns were carried out on the site by a Syrian‐Spanish
archaeological mission in 2005, 2006 and 2007. This archaeological work permits us toobserve the following chronological details: two major phases can be distinguished in the
Byzantine occupation of the city and the necropolis of Tell As‐Sin. The first dates from theend of the 5th century and the beginning of the 6th century AD. A second phase would follow
which extended until the middle of the 7th century AD.
Under the hill of Tell As‐Sin, the city must be interpreted today within the historical context
of the Near East in the period from the 6th century AD to the arrival of Islam. By its
characteristics, it is a fortified city in the eastern border (limes) of the Roman Empire, an
exceptional site to study the defence system, the way of life, the socio‐economic
organisation and funerary beliefs, among other aspects, of a Byzantine community in the
Middle Syrian Euphrates valley.

Publication since 2010
AL SHBIB Sh, MONTERO J‐L. (in press), “Tall As‐Sin, the results of the Syrian‐Spanish mission
work 2005‐2007”, One hundred sites tell us the history of Syria, ed. Y. Kanjou and A. Tsuneki,
University of Tsukuba.
MONTERO FENOLLÓS, J.L., SHBIB, S., La Necropolis Bizantina de Tall As‐Sin (Deir ez‐Zor,
Siria): Memorias del Proyecto Arqueológico Medio Éufrates Sirio I, (Biblioteca del Próximo
Oriente Antiguo 4), CSIC, Madrid, 2008.
MONTERO FENOLLÓS, J.L, SHBIB, S., “La mission archéologique syro‐espagnole au Moyen
Euphrate. Première campagne à Tall as‐Sin (Deir er‐Zor, Syrie)”, Orient‐Express, 2006/1, pp.
3‐5.
MONTERO J‐L., AL SHBIB Sh., « Tell Qubr Abu al Atiq: From an Early dynastic city to a middle
Assyrian Fort », Aula Orientalis 28, 2010, pp. 73‐84.

106

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Sunday 6th December

Deir ez‐Zor Session

TELL AL‐KASRA (DEIR EZ‐ZOR)
Yaarob ALABDULLAH
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:The Works of the Syrian Mission in the Byzantine City (Tell Al Kasra) in Five Seasons(2006–2010)
Abstract:
Location and entomology:
Tell al‐Kasra is located on the left bank of the Euphrates river, about 40 km north‐west of
Deir ez‐Zor city. Its old name is still unknown; however, Antoine Poidebard called it Allan. It
has an area of 27 hectares. Its wall and urban design indicate that it was an old polis. In
addition, Tell al‐Kasra is believed to have been a significant site due to emperor Justinian's
policy regarding the reformation and reorganization of the military in the region. Besides, hededicated special attention to fortifying the suburbs of Mesopotamia. Hence, the site
witnessed several changes within its historical context beginning in the 5th century up until
the Islamic period.
Excavations at the site:
The site was first excavated in 1849 by the British mission, which was in charge of studying
the areas situated on the Euphrates, directed by Chesney. The site was also called Soor al‐
Humur.
Moreover, Tell al‐Kasra was studied and surveyed by Ed. Sachau in 1879 and Gertrude Bell in1909 who photographed it and called it Um al‐Rukuba. It was later mapped by Antoine
Poidebard during the French Mandate.
The site layout:
The hill is surrounded by a wall made of unbaked clay bricks, which can still be seen fromthree sides, whereas it was demolished to the north‐west. The western part of the site wassubjected to erosion as a result of rainfall forming a network of deep cracks gradually sliding
until they reach the river plain, which is 20 meters deep below the hill's surface. A new
cemetery is located in the western part of the hill, as well.
Important discoveries: The gate of the fort: it was discovered in the northern wall.
 The cemetery E2.
 The bathhouse and the mosaic.

Publication since 2010
BLANKE, L., “The Central Baths in Gerasa in Context” in M.F. Boussac; J.‐F.Salles, Bains d’outre
Jourdain. Actes du colloque Balnéorient de Amman, mai 2008, IFPO (forthcoming).
FOURNET, T.; REDON, B. (éds.), Le Bain Collectif en Egypte: Origine, Évolution et Actualité. Actes duColloque Balnéorient d’Alexandrie, Déc. 2006, IFAO, Le Caire, 2009.
FOURNET, T., “The ancient Baths of Southern Syria in their Near Eastern Context” (Extract from theProceedings of the International Frontinus‐Symposium on Technical and Cultural History of Ancient
Thermal Springs, Aachen, March 18‐22, 2009 (forthcoming).

107

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Sunday 6th December

Latakia Session 2

TELL TWEINI (LATAKIA)
Massoud BADAWI
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:
Excavations at Tell Tweini (Syrian Mission).
Abstract:
Tell Tweini is located 1.7 km north‐east of the modern city of Jableh and has an area of 11.6
hectares. Excavations at the site started in 1999 by a Syro‐Belgian interdisciplinary teamaiming at discovering the nature of occupation at the site and the name of the city during
the Late Bronze Age.
According to the discoveries of the mission, Tell Tweini was inhabited from at least the
middle of the third millennium BC until the end of the Iron Age. In addition, the site waspartially occupied during the classical and Byzantine periods which uncovered several
residential neighborhoods and facilities mainly dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages.
The importance of Tell Tweini is attributed to the uncovering of a layer dating to the Late
Bronze Age which included many residential buildings containing numerous potteries andsome cylinder stamp seals. Moreover, archaeological documents indicate that Tell Tweini
was in the dominion of Ugarit.
Another is the stratum of the Iron Age I, where a temple and some residential buildings
were discovered, indicating human settlement at the site following the invasion of the Sea
Peoples.
Besides, excavating layers, dating to the first millennium BC, resulted in the discovery ofarchitectural facilities dating mostly to the Iron Age II. These facilities were part of urban
designs that were uncovered by means of a geophysical prospection conducted on thecomplete surface of the tell, which introduced us to the urban plan of the city consisting ofseveral streets and roads, as well as residential districts and religious and civil buildings.

Publication since 2010
Al‐Maqdissi, M., Badawi, M., 2011. Rapport préliminaire sur la dixième campagne de fouilles
syrienne à Tell Toueini, Chronique Archéologique en Syrie, Volume V, Damas, p. (59‐66), (InArabic).
Massoud Badawi, (in press) Le Niveau Byzantin de Tell Tweini (Chantier B), Tweini II/Niveau
3108ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Sunday 6th December

Latakia Session 2

AMRIT (TARTUS)
Yaser YUSEF
Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria)

Title:The results of archaeological excavations in Amrit for 2003 and 2011.
Abstract:
Situated on the Syrian coast, 7 km south of Tartus city, Amrit has an area of about 6 square
km and is one of the most prominent cities of the Canaanite‐Phoenician coast. It is locatednext to the archaeological hill to the east of its temple dating to the Bronze Age.
Amrit spanned numerous historical periods starting in the Bronze Ages up until the
Byzantine era. However, its most distinctive feature was during the Phoenician period where
it prospered and thrived.
In addition, Amrit became one of the main cities on the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly
following the collapse of Ugarit Kingdom and the rise of Arwad Island (Amrit was in thedominion of Arwad).
Amrit's most significant archaeological monuments include a temple dedicated to the god
Melqart (the tutelary god), its famed Pre‐Olympic Phoenician Stadium and the burial towers,
including al‐Maghazil (the Spindles) and Azar cemeteries which stretch on an area of about
12 hectares, in addition to the rock‐carved religious house, the warehouse, the sacred springand its ancient harbor among others.
Moreover, Abu Afsah cemetery was discovered in 2003 and became one of Amrit's
important landmarks. It is a rock‐carved cemetery that can be accessed by stairs. It consistsof a rectangular‐shaped courtyard containing on both its sides rock‐carved silo‐type burials,
which include coffins, made of clay and lead. A platform, located in the central part of thecourtyard, contains a U‐shaped hall with coffins, so the visitors can move around freely. It
dates back to the late third century. Several other facilities have been discovered around thecemetery.
As for 2011‐2012 excavations, the foundations of a building dating to the 6th and 7th
centuries BC and several artifacts were discovered.

Publication since 2010
Yaser Yusef. Premier Report the National excavation in Amreet 2003 Cemetery of Abu
Houfssah. Chronique Archéologique en Syrie, Volume VII. 2015. p.97‐107
Yaser Yusef and Hassan Marwan. Amreet 2012. Premier Report about the National
excavation in Amreet 2012 the fifth section‐ the playground. Chronique Archéologique en
Syrie, Volume VII. 2015. p.109‐123

109

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Sunday 6th December

Latakia Session 2

AL‐MARQAB (LATAKIA)
Balázs MAJOR
Pázmány Péter Catholic University (Hungary)

Title:
Latest results of the al‐Marqab research project.
Abstract:
The Syro‐Hungarian Archaeological Mission has been conducting a joint research project inal‐Marqab Citadel (Tartous Governorate) since 2007 with many fields of enquiry including:archaeology, architectural history, art history, wall painting research, geophysical research,geology, archaeozoology, geoarchaeology, anthropology, seismology, several types oflaboratory analyses. The results of the combined research started to reveal the functions of
the various areas and spaces of the castle and shed light on the functioning of this importantmedieval site and its environs. The discovery of a new extensive medieval suburb outside al‐
Marqab Citadel and the unearthing of a hoard of medieval weapons inside the castle rank
amongst the most important latest discoveries, the processing of which continued in thepast couple of years unhindered. The paper is intending to present the latest results of thework done on the al‐Marqab material.

Publication since 20102014 Micromorphological and Geochemical Investigation of Formation Processes in theRefectory at the Castle of Margat (Qal’at al‐Marqab), Syria. Journal of Archaeological Science.
authors: Shillito, L.‐M., Major B., Almond, M., Anderson, E., Pluskowski, A. accepted
manuscript ‐ doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2014.07.031.
2014 A Medieval Burial in Qal’at al‐Marqab and its Facial Reconstruction.Hungarian
Archaeology – E‐Journal, Spring 2014 (4 ps.) author: Balázs Major
http://www.hungarianarchaeology.hu/wp‐content/uploads/2014/05/eng_mk_14TA.pdf

2014 Medieval “light construction buildings” on top of the vaulted halls of al‐Marqab
Citadel (Syria). Castelos das Ordens Militares. Direção Geral do Património Cultural Portugal.
Lisboa (p. 165‐181) author: Balázs Major
2014 Crusader and Mamlūk Hammāms in al‐Marqab. Balnéorient III. (ed. T. Fournet)
Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale. Caire. (ps. 40‐55) authors: Balázs Major & Gergely
Buzás
2013 Bathing in the Medieval Latin East. A Recently Discovered 13th Century Bathhouse in
al‐Marqab Citadel (Syria). Hungarian Archaeology – E‐Journal, Winter 2012. (7 ps)
http://www.hungarianarchaeology.hu/wp‐content/uploads/2014/01/eng_Major_13T.pdf
2013 Where has the Town of Valenia Gone? Historical and Archaeological Research (InHungarian) Peritia Linguarum. The Synod of Vienne and the Teaching of Languages.
Studia Philologica II. Piliscsaba. (p. 69‐84) author: Balázs Major

110

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)
Sunday 6th December

Latakia Session 22013 “Anklīs” – A Possible Trace of European Presence in the Medieval Syrian Vocabulary.
More Modoque. Festschrift für Miklós Maróth zum siebzigsten Geburtstag. Ungarischen
Akademie der Wissenschaften, Budapest. (p. 377‐384) author: Balázs Major
2013 “The Medieval Mill of Banyas and Some Notes on the Topography of the Town of
Valenia.” East and West in the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean II. Antioch from the
Byzantine Reconquest until the End of the Crusader Principality, K. Ciggaar & V. van Aalst(eds.) Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 199. (p. 367‐390) author: Balázs Major
2012 “Medieval Cranes in Qal’at al‐Marqab, Syria.” Hungarian Archaeology – E‐Journal,
Winter 2012. (5 ps) author: Balázs Major
http://www.hungarianarchaeology.hu/wp‐content/uploads/2013/02/eng_MajorB_12W.pdf
2012 “Archaeological and Fresco Research in the Castle Chapel at al‐Marqab: A
Preliminary Report on the Results of the First Seasons).” in: P. Edbury & H. Nicholson (eds.)
The Military Orders. V. Politics and Power. Ashgate. authors: Balázs Major & Éva Galambos.
(p. 23‐47)

111

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

ISCACH (Beirut 2015)

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS(In alphabetical order)
1 Abdel Ghafour, Samer
2 Abdulkarim, Maamoun
3 Abdul Massih, Jeanine
4 Abdulrahman, Ammar
5 Abou Saleh, Abdel Wahab
6 Akazawa, Takeru
7 Alabdullah, Yaarob
8 Al‐Asaad, Waleed
9 Al‐Bahloul, Khouzama
10 Al‐Fakhri, Ayham
11 Al‐Maqdissi, Michel
12 Al‐Muhammad, Qasem
13 Al‐Shbib, Shaker
14 Al‐Sulaiti, Fatema
15 Alhaje, Said
16 Alolo, Ghazi
17 Awad, Nazir
18 Badawi, Massoud
19 Badre, Leila
20 Baldi, Johnny
21 Bartl, Karin
22 Benech, Christophe
23 Blanc, Pierre‐Marie
24 Bieliński, Piotr
25 Blétry, Sylvie
26 Bonatz, Dominik
27 Braemer, Frank
28 Bunnens, Guy
29 Castel, Corinne
30 Cecchini, Serena Maria
31 Charpentier, Gérard
32 Clarke, Graeme
33 Dally, Ahmad
34 Deeb, Ahmad
35 Dyab, Ahmed
36 Eidem, Jesper
37 El‐Khoury, Moussa Dib
38 El‐Ajji, Edmond
39 Elias, Suleiman
40 Fakhro, Mohamad
41 Gaborit, Justine
42 Gelin, Mathilde

43 Gerouge, Tony
44 Geyer, Bernard
45 Gómez, Anna
46 Gussone, Martin
47 Haidar‐Boustany, Maya
48 Hamoud, Mahmoud
49 Hassan, Haytham
50 Ibrahim, Woroud
51 Ishaq, Eva
52 Jamous, Bassam
53 Jackson, Heather
54 Kanjou, Yousef
55 Khawam, Rima
56 Kutifan, Lina
57 Le Tensorer, Jean‐Marie
58 Majcherek, Grzegorz
59 Major, Balazs
60 Makhoul, Jeannette
61 Matoïan, Valérie
62 Matthiae, Paolo
63 Mazzoni, Stefania
64 Moustafa, Hala
65 Nishiaki, Yoshihiro
66 Nishiyama, Shin'ichi
67 Parandowska, Ewa
68 Parayre, Dominique Marie
69 Pierobon Benoit, Raffaella
70 Pinnock, Francis
71 Rousset, Marie‐Odile
72 Saad, Houmam
73 Sack, Dorothée
74 Saito, Kiyohide
75 Sarkis, Nada
76 Stordeur, Danielle
77 Suleiman, Ghada
78 Taraqji, Ahmad
79 Tsuneki, Akira
80 Waliszewski, Tomasz
81 Wojtczak, Dorota
82 Yamada, Shigeo
83 Yusef, Yaser

113