The book “The Endangered World Heritage” by Dr. Mamoun Abdel Karim, recently published by the Sharjah Heritage Institute in Sharjah, covers more than 700 archaeological villages in northern Syria, known as “dead cities,” and they are located in several areas: (Jabal Samaan, Al-Halaqa, Barisha, Al-Ala, Al-Wastani, Al-Duwaili, and Al-Zawiya) and the author seeks to research the history and geography of these (sites – villages) dating back to the Roman and Byzantine eras, most of which were abandoned during the eighth century AD.
The book contains an introduction and several chapters, including: (the geographic and historical context, organizing and reclaiming lands in the limestone massif, registering ancient villages on the World Heritage List, and the eight archaeological parks).
Dr. confirms. Abdul Karim said that today, of these villages, there are 60 archaeological sites in excellent architectural condition, despite the effects of time and the negative effects of human activities, as well as the nature of the limestone from which they were built.
The book details the history of these villages, from historical, architectural and geographical aspects, and the traces they left over time. It monitors what was demolished, or restored, and what still remains to this day.
- Limestone block
In the first chapter of the book, Dr. Maamoun Abdul Karim The geographical framework of the limestone massif, which is a series of seven plateaus spread across northern Syria in the Aleppo and Idlib governorates, which extends 150 kilometers from the Turkish border in the north to the ancient city of Apamea in the south, and about 70 kilometers from the Al-Ghab Plain in the west to the plains of Aleppo and Qinnasrin in the east.
The height of these plateaus ranges between 400 meters and more than 900 metres, and they have a Mediterranean climate that allows for the cultivation of agricultural crops, as the local residents of these villages used to collect water and store it in large tanks dug into the rocks of various shapes and sizes.
This massif, as the book explains, includes Mount Simon in the north and Al-Zawiya in the south. The length of Mount Simon is 50 km from north to south, and its width is between 20 and 40 km, and its highest point from the south is at the peak of “Al-Sheikh”. Barakat” 876 metres.
The author of the book considered these sites to be villages, not cities, because they lacked the infrastructure associated with the city, such as fortifications and street planning. Therefore, the term “dead cities” was corrected, and the term “old villages” was replaced by the architect George Chalenko in the 1950s. On this basis, it was proposed This designation describes the region when it was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011.
The book describes these villages as irregular, extending in random directions, with buildings connected to baths, androns (a meeting place for men) or churches (which continued as the only assembly councils) that are still widespread in these villages, some of which were built at the expense of the wealthy farmers in the villages. The book studied the sizes of residential buildings in villages and their general characteristics, such as their plan consisting of two or more floors, and the rooms they contain. The ground floor was used to shelter livestock and store supplies, while the upper floor was allocated to the family. Some of the larger buildings are described as villas, and they have two-storey corridors. Facing it is a row of stone columns with ornate capitals and decorative carvings.
The book refers to the history of settlement and migration in this limestone massif, and the history of discoveries and archaeological studies in it that began in the middle of the nineteenth century, when many European writers and archaeologists visited it successively, who enriched the information with their studies, including (Waddington) through his book (Greek and Latin Writings in Syria). Collection and annotation). Research in the region continued with the formation of a (joint French-Syrian mission) with the participation of the author of the book on the Syrian side, as he held the position of Director General of Antiquities and Museums in his country. New studies were conducted on temples, churches, graves, baths, houses, and others.
The limestone block buildings were distinguished by the use of huge interconnected stone blocks, delicate carving and rich decoration inspired by the Hellenistic traditions of the Near East. Among the buildings and historical sites located within the boundaries of the parks is (Semaan Castle), an ancient monument of great importance that attracted tens of thousands of visitors. During ancient times, the castle was surrounded by ancient houses that were distinguished by their architecture and the rich decorativeness that adorned their facades. Some of these houses were found in an exceptional state of preservation, and these houses give a clear picture of the nature of residential architecture and its richness during the Byzantine era, where we see beautiful decoration on the facade of the house, as well as We find a wonderful variety in the capitals of the portico columns, which are also decorated with various floral decorations.
Among the landmarks of the limestone mass is the village bath, which is a landmark with special architectural features. It is located deep in the valley to the west of the village inn. The first person to study this bath was Count Melchior de Voguet in the middle of the 19th century. He left some drawings that contained some errors. Architecturally, Howard Butler after him studied this bathroom at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, relying on Du Voguet’s proposals regarding the existence of a single architectural complex that includes the previously mentioned buildings. He is credited with discovering a mosaic in the Great Hall, through which it was possible to date. This building, which dates back to the fifth century AD, specifically the year 473 AD, was one of the rich residents, named Julianus Ibn Talaios, who gave this generous gift to his village.
- Damages and infringements
The author of the book investigated the origin of the damage and encroachments that befell villages in the limestone region in northern Syria, especially (among the five ponds in Idlib Governorate) or (the other three ponds in Jabal Samaan in Aleppo Governorate) and attributed these challenges to a number of reasons, including: the settlement of people in Some archaeological villages, the use of some of their stones in construction work in other villages, the spread of slums and urban irregularities in some villages and regions, and several sites also suffering from illegal excavations and excavations, and bulldozing of lands surrounding archaeological sites with the aim of exploiting them to increase the area of agricultural areas. Numerous reports and data from analysis of satellite images concluded that much of the damage to cultural heritage was enormous.
The limestone massif consists of two mountain masses: Jabal Simeon in the north, and Jabal al-Zawiya in the south.
The second settlement in the limestone massif (550 – 330 AD) was characterized by growth and uninterrupted growth for more than two centuries.
The site of Kharab Shams is located on Mount Simon, north of Aleppo, and is surrounded by vast agricultural lands.
Al-Bara site is one of the most important archaeological sites in Jabal Al-Zawiya.
Sargilla houses consist of two to four rooms.
Jebel Ala features a landscape of cultivated valleys and ancient terraces.