The joint Syrian-Italian archaeological mission, during excavation and digging works at Tell al-Samhana in the village of Al-Bassa in the Latakia governorate, uncovered architectural features dating back to the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, approximately 4,000 years ago and earlier. These discoveries come within the framework of research aimed at studying the nature of ancient societies and their economic relations and trade exchanges on the Syrian coast near the kingdom of Ugarit.
The head of the mission from the Italian side, Dr. Lorenzo D'Alfonso, clarified in a statement to SANA on Monday that excavation works are proceeding well despite heavy rains that slowed the pace of work compared to previous years. He pointed out the discovery of excavation squares containing architectural features from the aforementioned eras, expressing hope to reach the floors of complete buildings and structures that would help clarify the nature of the ancient village and its urban development stages.
Precise Dating of Layers
Dr. D'Alfonso added that studying the archaeological levels in the excavation trenches, based on radiocarbon dating (14C) results completed last year, and analyzing archaeological finds including small statues, pottery, and stone tools, allowed for the precise determination of the time periods of the discovered layers. He noted that the mission is entering the last ten days of the current season, and its work focuses on uncovering the floors of Late Bronze Age buildings in the upper part of the tell.
Site Associated with Ugarit
For his part, the head of the Syrian mission at the Latakia Directorate of Antiquities, Muhammad Ridwan, confirmed that Tell al-Samhana represents a small settlement belonging to the kingdom of Ugarit, located on the banks of the Northern al-Kabir River near the coast. He highlighted the importance of the site within a vast agricultural plain that supplied the kingdom with agricultural products, especially wheat and olives, noting that excavation works began in 2015 and lasted for three years before being resumed in 2024 through a joint mission.
Ridwan explained that the excavations revealed three archaeological levels; the first dates to the Byzantine era, the second to the Late Bronze Age, and the third to the Middle Bronze Age. He pointed out cooperation with supervisors from the Latakia Directorate of Antiquities and members of the local community to protect the site, while the discovered archaeological finds are transferred for documentation and preservation in the National Museum warehouses.
Tell al-Samhana is located approximately 800 meters from the mouth of the Northern al-Kabir River, and the excavation works there fall under a broader study of societies that settled on the Syrian coast near Ugarit, aiming to understand settlement patterns and economic relations and trade exchanges between ancient sites.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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