The national archaeological mission working at al-Zelf archeological site in Sweida province unearthed a number of Arabic inscriptions dating back to the Ayyubid and Mamluki periods.
Head of the mission Hussein Zein-Eddin said the inscriptions included a historic inscription mentioning Palmyra during the reign of the Roman Caesar Hadrian.
Other inscriptions referred to the date when Hadrian came to Syria and to the names of some villages such as Sha'af, Is'ana, Busan and Rashida.
He added that working at al-Zelf site will last till December 15, pointing out that more than one thousand writings and stone inscriptions and drawings dating back to the second century BC were authenticated.
The mission also discovered a stone pillar adjecent to the castle's north wall, in addition to an entrance of a lobby leading to a cellar.
At Salkhad Castle, pottery fragments of different colors and thickness dating back to the Islamic period were unearthed, in addition to metal arrowheads, bronze coins,some beads and stone tablets with Arabic writings.
The national and foreign archaeological missions working at different archaeological sites in Deir Ezzor province discovered antique statues, pottery jars and iron findings.
Director of Antiquities and Museums Department in Deir Ezzor Ahmed al-Saleh said that the most important discoveries were a palace from the Umayyad Period and a pottery jar containing a bronze one inside, in addition to some iron keys and door bolts dating back to the Byzantine era.
The findings also included a limestone crown and an incomplete camel statue made of fired clay.
At Qaber Abu al-Ateek archaeological site, cuneiform inscriptions were unearthed while a Byzantine bath dating back to the sixth century A.D. was uncovered at Tel al-Kesra.
Author: R. Raslan | Source: Global Arab Network [December 10, 2010]