Archaeological Tombs Dating Back to Bronze Age discovered In Northern Syria (Syria)

Archaeological Tombs Dating Back to Bronze Age discovered In Northern Syria (Syria)

The American- Dutch archaeological expedition working at the site of Tal Om al-Mara, 50 kms to the east of Aleppo, has unearthed two archaeological tombs dating back to the Ancient Bronze Age 2800 B.C.
Several archaeological artifacts, a golden coin and ten skulls dating back to the same era were uncovered inside one of the tombs during the current season.
Chairman of the Excavations Directorate at Aleppo Department of Antiquities and Museums Yusuf Kinjo said that the unearthed tombs are located in the main area of tombs in Tal Om al-Mara, adding that they are the most important findings among the ten tombs discovered by the expedition up till now.
Kinjo said the tombs indicate that the city of Om al-Mara was part of the Methanic Empire that was destroyed by the Hittites later on. The expedition started to work at the site in 1994 where it has discovered four skeletons for animals similar to the zebra inside the central tombs.
The animals are thought to be hybrid about which Ebla inscriptions talks. The animals' skeletons indicate that they were only used for transportation and later in agriculture.
The American-Dutch expedition started its excavations for the current season on May 27 and finished its work on Wednesday. The findings will be displayed in Aleppo Museum. (SANA)

Fuente: Global Arab Network: http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/201007236645/Related-news-from-Syria/archaeological-tombs-dating-back-to-bronze-age-discovered-in-northern-syria.html

Archaeological Discoveries: Mosaics Documenting History and Civilization of Syria

Archaeological Discoveries: Mosaics Documenting History and Civilization of Syria

Daraa Province is a cradle of the most beautiful Mosaic paintings in Syria. They provide an important reference for researchers interested in Houran Region civilization in southern Syria.
Shedding light on the intellectual, economic, social and cultural development in the region, the number of mosaic paintings unearthed in Daraa Province reaches 25.Most of them are bath floors or murals in churches and royal palaces from Byzantine era.
Researcher Yasser Abu Nukta said the paintings reflect the aesthetic taste of its makers and give a hint about the various aspects of life in the 5th and 6th centuries.
The floral, animal and geometrical themes of paintings reflect the attempts of its creators to portray the nature of life and environment around. In some paintings, you can note that the human element is prevailing. Other works included documentary scripts on the region history, the researcher added.
Grapes, laurel and roses plants were the most depicted images while the animals included wolves, dears, horses, ducks and roosters. Other paintings portrayed aspects of traditional art and heritage particularly the straw plate.
Type, place, colors and stone sizes of the discovered paintings indicate the social and economic status of its inhabitants as a witness to life at that time
The small size of stones tells about creativity of its maker whose status enables him to afford high costs. The large size of stones indicates the economic deterioration in the Byzantine era and the decline of aesthetic taste in society which negatively affect the level of creativity.
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. Most mosaics are composed of plaster and lime floor upon which the scenes to be portrayed are drawn with special colors and paints.
Basalt stones are usually used to give the black color, limestone for the white color, alabaster for red color, granite for brown and reddish brown, shells for yellow and glass for other colors. Animal bones can also be used.
The largest mosaic painting was discovered in Nawa City in Daraa Province. It covers an area of 3 m3 and 13 cm. (SANA)

Fuente: Global Arab Network: http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/201007116510/Culture/archaeological-discoveries-mosaics-documenting-history-and-civilization-of-syria.html

Canadian Archaeologists: Jars Dating Back to the Bronze Age Unearthed in Syria

Canadian Archaeologists: Jars Dating Back to the Bronze Age Unearthed in Syria

The Canadian archaeological expedition working at Tal al-Asharena in Hama Province unearthed an archaeological building and some pottery jars dating back to the Bronze Age (1550 – 1250 B.C.).
The building is made of raw mud bricks. The discovered pottery jars were used to store food, Head of Hama Antiquities Directorate Abd al-Qader Farzat said in statement on Monday.
Nearby the building, an Iron-Age floor (1200 – 750 B.C.) was also found, he added.
Meanwhile, the Syrian-Swiss excavation expedition uncovered a painting of a man wearing traditional clothes, holding his sword with a small bird at Qasr al- Heir al-Sharki (The Eastern Walled-Palace) in Palmyra, central semi-desert province.
Some plaster fragments and coins dating back to 1980s and 1990s were also discovered.
The uncovered fragments with geometric and floral decorations are parts of the ornamentation of halls, balconies, rooms and entrances, Director of Palmyra Antiquities and Museums Walid Asa'ad said.
Excavation works at the area to the north of the Grand Palace uncovered brick houses on stone pillars. These houses are divided into dormitory rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, stores, drawers and wells, he added.
The expedition started excavation activities at the Small Mosque to the west of Palmyra Theatre to study the building and its role in the Islamic Age. (SANA)

Fuente: Global Arab Network: http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/201007066470/Culture/canadian-archaeologists-jars-dating-back-to-the-bronze-age-unearthed-in-syria.html

Archaeologists: Temple dating back to Hellenistic and Roman eras unearthed in Syria (Syria)

Archaeologists: Temple dating back to Hellenistic and Roman eras unearthed in Syria (Syria)

Syria (Damascus) - Archaeologists have unearthed an archaeological temple dating back to the Hellenistic and Roman eras /150 B.C/ in addition to a stone-made bridge dating back to the Roman era.
The findings were uncovered in the village of al-Bared River, 20 kms to the west north of Apamea, central Syrian Province of Hama.
Director of Hama Antiquities Department Jamal Ramadan said that the temple was built near a spring with a distinguished architectural style and a very huge size, adding that it was built of 210-centimeters long and 170-cenetimeters wide stones inscribed from their internal side.
The square-shaped temple includes a single hall. Studies showed that the temple was built over two different historical phases, the oldest of which is the Hellenistic Era as the temple was built according to the Hellenistic architectural style while the second stage is the Roman Era where many huge buildings were built.
The unearthed stone-made bridge dates back to the Roman Era. It consists of stone pieces. The rock bridge is 10-meter long and 3-meter wide. The bridge has three asymmetric arches.(SANA)

Fuente: Gobal Arab Network: http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/201006296398/Related-news-from-Syria/syria-archaeologists-unearthed-a-temple-dating-back-to-hellenistic-and-roman-eras.html