New finds in the Euphrates archaeological sites

In 1989 a US expedition conducted archaeological excavations of different sites on the Euphrates the most significant being the al Jarf al Ahmar "red rift" which dates back 10,000 years.

In 1995, the joint Syrian - French expedition was led by archaeologist Bassam Jamous, the deputy director of excavations in the Syrian general directorate of museums and antiquities, and, on the French side, by Daniel Stordoremade, resumed its excavations.

The importance of the site emerges from its being one of the rare archaeological hills dating from the stone age. In the same year, the archaeologists unearthed a basal tablet on which an eagle was engraved, giving evidence that Syria was the first cradle of writing and symbols.

The excavations also resulted in unearthing other five basal stones on which animal and geometric images were engraved.

Jamous said that the finds at the site represent a revolution in the world of knowledge and history as some viewed them as the first attempt to document signs and symbols.

The tablets are still in need of study and research as they include complicated signs and images. About the existence of indications about socioeconomic life, Jamous said that archaeologists depend on the finds dug on the site to study these issues. The antiquities found showed that there was social and economic stability.

Laboratory experiments showed that the people of the area knew the plantation of cereals. The studies also showed that some animals like gazelles, dogs and pigs lived in the area during the early stone age. Other excavations throw light on the religious rites and other economic activities.

All the above mentioned finds indicate the early settlement in the area and its importance on the historical and archaeological levels.