The Department of Antiquities and Museums in Raqqa has revealed a collection of tombs dating back to the Roman and Byzantine periods with "excellent preservation," found during an emergency excavation within the limits of the ancient city of Surra, in the countryside of the governorate.
Surra is an ancient city located on the banks of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, and its archaeological site today is about 25 kilometers west of the city of Raqqa and 35 kilometers north of Rassafa. During the Roman era, Surra was a fortified city within the Roman province of Syria, and later became part of the Euphrates province.
Jabbar Al-Abdullah, the director of the Department of Antiquities and Museums in Raqqa, explained in a statement to the Syrian Revolution newspaper yesterday, Thursday, that the excavation work began on November 11 of this month at the Durra site, which is connected to the ancient city of Surra, noting that the preliminary discoveries "include dual tombs, with the possibility of discovering triple or quintuple tombs in later stages."
The discovered tombs consist of a series of adjacent tombs, featuring embossed edges intended for their coverage, while limestone walls built with stones and covered with a layer of lime are constructed above them, according to meticulous building methods that reflect the architectural characteristics of that historical period.