Remains of walls and pillars, Mari (Tall al-Hariri)

Remains of walls and pillars, Mari (Tall al-Hariri)

Tall al-Mishrifa (Qatna) within its geographic area

Tall al-Mishrifa (Qatna) within its geographic area

Mari (Tall Hariri), a side of the architectural remains

Mari (Tall Hariri), a side of the architectural remains

Mari (Tall Hariri), a side of the architectural remains

Mari (Tall Hariri), a side of the architectural remains

Protection of archaeological site of Mari (Tall al-Hariri) with temporary coverage

Protection of archaeological site of Mari (Tall al-Hariri) with temporary coverage

Mari (Tall al-Hariri), the palace's cistern made of baked brick (beginning of 2nd millennium BC)

Mari (Tall al-Hariri), the palace’s cistern made of baked brick (beginning of 2nd millennium BC)

A side of the architectural remains, Mari (Tall al-Hariri)

A side of the architectural remains, Mari (Tall al-Hariri)

Mari (Tall al-Hariri), The Archive Hall in the Palace of Zimri lim

Mari (Tall al-Hariri), The Archive Hall in the Palace of Zimri lim

Village of Tall Hamidiyya with excavation house (left)

Village of Tall Hamidiyya with excavation house (left)

Tall al-Mishrifa (ancient Qatna), view of the historic citywall, within which the village is located

Tall al-Mishrifa (ancient Qatna), view of the historic citywall, within which the village is located

Safita, view from the Qal'a on at-Tall quarter

Safita, view from the Qal’a on at-Tall quarter

Mari (Tall Hariri), a side of the architectural remains

Mari (Tall Hariri), a side of the architectural remains

Raqqa - "East of Raqqa" site - Western Palace, Glazed pottery

Raqqa – “East of Raqqa” site – Western Palace, Glazed pottery

Raqqa, Grand Abbasid Mosque - Plan

Raqqa, Grand Abbasid Mosque – Plan

Raqqa - the excavations of the site "East of Raqqa" - Eastern Palace, pottery

Raqqa – the excavations of the site “East of Raqqa” – Eastern Palace, pottery

Raqqa - "East of Raqqa" site - Western Palace - Pottery

Raqqa – “East of Raqqa” site – Western Palace – Pottery

Raqqa, enclosure wall and arcade of al-Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq (Great Mosque)

Raqqa, enclosure wall and arcade of al-Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq (Great Mosque)

Part of the city wall of ar-Raqqa after the restoration

Part of the city wall of ar-Raqqa after the restoration

A coffee house and waiting service taxi in the center of the small frontier town

A coffee house and waiting service taxi in the center of the small frontier town

Mud bricks, prepared for the restoration of ar-Raqqa Wall

Mud bricks, prepared for the restoration of ar-Raqqa Wall

The minaret of Great Mosque of ar-Raqqa/ar-Rafiqa, 8th/12th c.

The minaret of Great Mosque of ar-Raqqa/ar-Rafiqa, 8th/12th c.

Minaret and exterior wall of the Great Mosque of ar-Raqqa/ar-Rafiqa, 8th/12th c.

Minaret and exterior wall of the Great Mosque of ar-Raqqa/ar-Rafiqa, 8th/12th c.

Remains of ar-Raqqa Wall built of mud brick

Remains of ar-Raqqa Wall built of mud brick

Tall al-Bi'a, Excavation at Dayr Zakka (monastery)

Tall al-Bi’a, Excavation at Dayr Zakka (monastery)

A wall painting from Zimri-Lim’s palace in Mari (Tall al-Hariri), which is known as "The Ordinator of the Sacrifice" (ca. 1780 BC) and hangs in the Louvre.

A wall painting from Zimri-Lim’s palace in Mari (Tall al-Hariri), which is known as “The Ordinator of the Sacrifice” (ca. 1780 BC) and hangs in the Louvre.

Raqqa, Qasr (Palace) al-Banat, an octagonal basin in the centre of the courtyard

Raqqa, Qasr (Palace) al-Banat, an octagonal basin in the centre of the courtyard

Raqqa, the archway of Baghdad Gate

Raqqa, the archway of Baghdad Gate

Ar-Raqqa, view of a side of city wall

Ar-Raqqa, view of a side of city wall

Raqqa, Northeast Complex, coin found during the excavation

Raqqa, Northeast Complex, coin found during the excavation

Raqqa - "East of Raqqa" site - Western Palace

Raqqa – “East of Raqqa” site – Western Palace