The Archaeological French expedition has unearthed a number of important archaeological mosaic floors, pillars and inscriptions at the famous archaeological city of al-Andareen, 80 kms to the north east of Hama (Central Syria).
Director of Hama Antiquities Department Jamal Ramadan said "More than 1,000 archaeological sites have been discovered by the French expedition. The studies conducted on the unearthed clay pieces and the inscriptions showed that the sites date back to the Byzantine Era."
He added that the expedition have unearthed a number of archaeological mosaic floors, pillars and inscriptions in the village of Tal Abdul-Aziz, adding that the Hama Antiquities Department will take all the required measures to preserve the finds due to their cultural and historical significance.
He pointed out that the conducted archaeological surveys focused on studying the geographical environment of the unearthed sites and water resources, particularly the old water channels in addition to studying the various historical stages the area passed through from the Neolithic Age to the Ottoman Era.
He indicated that the most important archaeological discovery in the area is a 210-km archaeological wall dating back to the second half of the third millennium BC. The wall extends from Mount Apisan (north of Mount al-Ahas) to Mount Jamra in Lebanon passing through Mount Albelaas. The wall served as a dividing line between the desert and the urban areas.
The expedition has also conducted archaeological surveys at the archaeological sites on the dry margins of the desert extending to the internal drainage basin of the valleys which flow into the central part of the desert where the archaeological city of al-Andareen is located.
Studies have recently proven that most of the unearthed sites were not used as military sites during the Byzantine reign, but they were used as agricultural facilities for breeding animals.
Source: Global Arab Network