The archaeological Belgian expedition working at the city of Apamea in the central Syrian Province of Hama has unearthed the relics of archaeological walls and floors in addition to some clay pieces and bathtubs dating back to different historical ages.
Director of Hama Antiquities Department Jamal Ramadan said that the archaeological expedition has started excavations at two sites in 'Tekke Temple' through conducting a survey in the north-eastern side of the building to study the stones which collapsed in an earthquake which hit the area in the 12th century.
Ramadan added that the expedition drew a map on the way the stones collapsed to restore them to their previous situation in other excavation seasons after numbering and photographing them.
He indicated that the northern corner of the building is four-meter wide and 10-meter long, adding that after removing the upper layer and carrying in-depth excavations, the expedition unearthed walls built of small stones dating back to the Umayyad and Abbasid eras.
Ramadan said that the excavations also unearthed parts of a floor with stone slabs dating back to the Abbasid era in addition to another wall built of small stones which indicated that the region was inhabited during the Abbasid era.
He pointed out that small clay pieces with protruding drawings dating back to different historical phases were unearthed indicating that the site was used as a landfill as the remains of a clay-made oven dating back to the Abbasid era were also discovered.
He said that excavations at the western corridor of the building, which includes huge pillars, have indicated that the bases of the pillars in the main street were restored and rebuilt after an earthquake which hit the region in the sixth century.
Ramadan said the Belgian expedition completed its excavations at the Roman bathhouse in the north-eastern side of Aphamea city as it unearthed four bathtubs in addition to a big number of circular brick-made pillars with thermal channels under a clay floor, pointing out that the brick-made floor is still intact.
Apamea is located on the right bank of the Orontes, about 55km to the northwest of Hama. It overlooks the Ghaab plain. It was built by Saluqos Nikator, the first king of Seleucids in Syria in 300BC.He named it after his wife, Afamia.
Source: Global Arab Network