Aleppo Citadel
Currently, excavations in the centre of the citadel are being carried out by a German team under the direction of Professor Kay Kohlmeyer (of the Fachhochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft, Berlin).
Although the team had left by the time of our visit, and had partly covered up their excavations to protect them, it was clear that they had (after several seasons) reached the Bronze and Iron Age levels of the mound. They had encountered at least two consecutive buildings, consisting of large upright limestone orthostats, of the sort often associated with palaces and temples in the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Examples of this type of architectural feature exist at numerous Syrian sites, including Ras Shamra, Ain Dara, Tell Halaf, Carchemish and Alalakh.
It is understood that the excavators have also uncovered many relief sculptures associated with the Aramaean or neo-Hittite buildings from the Iron Age. It is likely that these excavations will be of huge significance, particularly for the complex period following the withdrawal of the Hittite empire in the 12th century BC and the emergence of the Aramaean city states of the 1st millennium.
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The ‘Diabolical Strength’ at the Gates of the Citadel of Aleppo, early Summer, 1933 (H. H. Williams, 1933 PEF/P/TUFNELL/SYRIA |
| This photograph was probably taken by H.H. Williams. | |
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The Aleppo Citadel excavation trench at the close of the 2001 season
(J. Tubb, 2001) |
| A view of the excavations undertaken by Professor Kay Kohlmeyer (of the Fachhochschule fur Technik und Wirtschaft, Berlin) and his team on the Aleppo Citadel. It is possible to see two architectural phases, one following the other, and both using the tradition of stone orthostats.It is understood that, at present, these are thought to be the remains of two temples, the first dating to the Late Bronze Age, and the second to the Iron Age. The sandbags are used to protect fragile, partly excavated artefacts or architectural remains until the following season. | |
