US EditionSyrian contractor discovers ancient Byzantine tomb complex during construction
- On May 25, 2025, while carrying out reconstruction work in Maarat al-Numan, northern Syria, a contractor discovered the remains of a subterranean Byzantine burial site believed to date back over 1,500 years.
- The discovery took place during the reconstruction period following nearly 14 years of civil war, which concluded in December 2024 after a rebel offensive led to the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.
- The complex contains two burial chambers with a dozen stone tombs, marked by a cross engraving and pottery dated to the Byzantine era, reflecting the region’s rich heritage.
- Hassan al-Ismail, the director of antiquities in Idlib, explained that the tomb’s identification as belonging to the Byzantine period is supported by the discovery of a cross along with various pottery and glass artifacts.
- The tomb adds to Idlib’s archaeological wealth, which holds a third of Syria’s monuments and 800 sites, and may support cultural preservation and reconstruction efforts in the region.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Hidden Byzantine Tombs Found Beneath Houses in Syria - Archaeology Magazine
MAARAT AL-NUMAN, SYRIA—Construction workers clearing rubble from destroyed houses in Maarat al-Numan revealed the entrance to a mysterious subterranean tunnel. AP News reports that archaeologists from the Idlib Directorate of Antiquities were called to the area to investigate and discovered a hidden 1,500-year-old burial complex. The site contained two chambers, each featuring six rock-cut tombs. A cross was carved into the top of one of the col…
🌟The Bright Side: Ancient tomb complex discovered as Syria clears war rubble
A contractor found an underground Byzantine tomb believed to be more than 1,500 years old beneath the rubble of a war-damaged house in northern Syria. Since the fall of former Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad, residents are now returning and beginning to rebuild the places looted and demolished during the country's long civil war.
Ancient Byzantine Tomb Complex Discovered During Construction Work in Syria
A mosque in Maarat al-Numan, near the site of a newly discovered Byzantine tomb. Credit: Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0 A contractor clearing rubble from a destroyed home in northern Syria has uncovered a 1,500-year-old underground tomb complex believed to date back to the Byzantine era. The discovery took place in Maarat al-Numan, a town in Idlib province that sits along the historic route between Aleppo and Damascus. The town, once a key battle…
A contractor who excavated at the site where the rubble had been removed from a destroyed house in northern Syria came across a surprise: The remains of a complex of Byzantine underground tombs believed to be more than 1,500 years old. The discovery arose last month in the city of Maarat al-Numan, in the province of Idlib, which is strategically located on the route between the cities of Aleppo and Damascus. The community became a key point in t…
Contractor discovers Byzantine ruins under destroyed Syria house
A contractor digging into the earth where the rubble of a destroyed house had been cleared away in northern Syria stumbled across a surprise: the remains of an underground Byzantine tomb complex believed to be more than 1,500 years old. The discovery emerged last month in the town of Maarat al-Numan in Idlib province, which is strategically located on the route between the cities of Aleppo and Damascus. The community became a touchpoint in the n…
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