A contractor who discovers the 1500 -year -old Byzantine cemeteries northern Syria

In the city of Maarat al -Numan in Idlib Governorate, in northern Syria, recently, the underground of the Byzanti cemeteries complex, which is believed to be more than 1500 years old, is believed in an archaeological discovery that is one of the most prominent of what the region has witnessed in recent years, where some see in these monuments a spark of hope for tourism after the war.

This discovery came when one of the contractors was working to remove the ruins of a devastating house, to be surprised by the presence of two holes leading to two stone burial rooms under a brick builder.

Immediately, the Directorate of Antiquities, which sent a specialized team to secure the site, was informed in the field.

Each room included six stone graves decorated with clear patterns, most notably the brand of the crossed cross on top of one of the columns, as well as pottery and glass pieces dating back to the Byzantine era.

The director of antiquities in Idlib, Hassan Al -Ismail, said that the presence of these symbols and archaeological holdings confirms that the site belongs to the Byzantine era, adding that “this discovery enriches the Idlib record, which includes more than 800 archaeological sites, including a complete archaeological city.”

It is known that the Byzantine era began in the fourth century AD, as an extension of the Roman Empire, in which Christianity took an official religion.

The remains of Byzantine cities, or what is known as “dead cities”, are spread in northwestern Syria, where the ruins of homes, basilications and stone tombs can be seen still steadfast despite the succession of the centuries and wars.

Ma`rat al -Numan, which is the second largest city in Idlib, is located on the highway between Aleppo and Hama, which makes it an important strategic location, and the city witnessed widespread destruction during the war that lasted for about 14 years and finally ended with the fall of the previous regime last December.

Modern air photos showed that many houses are still existing, but with devastating bishop, while residents began to gradually return to the reconstruction of their homes. One of the residents, Ghaith Sheikh Diab, said that some were hiding the archaeological monuments under the rubble of their homes for fear of confiscating them, expressing his hope that the new government would compensate for property owners and enhance reconstruction efforts.

In spite of the great harm that affected the archaeological sites as a result of the war, whether due to the bombing or looting, this new discovery is seen as a symbol of hope, and one of the city’s residents, Abdel Jaafar, said: “Previously, tourists came from everywhere to visit these monuments, if we maintained and restored them, tourism may return and the region revive economically.” About ABC News Australia “

• Discovering two holes leading to two stone burial rooms under a brick builder.