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)

Raqqa - "East of Raqqa" site - Tall Aswad, excavation in 1985

Raqqa – “East of Raqqa” site – Tall Aswad, excavation in 1985

Tall Brak, one of the earliest and largest cities in northern Mesopotamia during the 4th millennium BC [Original photo name:eye temple4]

Tall Brak, one of the earliest and largest cities in northern Mesopotamia during the 4th millennium BC [Original photo name:eye temple4]

Syriac tombs in Jabal ʿAruda

Syriac tombs in Jabal ʿAruda

In al-Hayat/Balikh valley, procedure for calcination of gypsum (1st step), fuel is placed on a natural gypsum layer

In al-Hayat/Balikh valley, procedure for calcination of gypsum (1st step), fuel is placed on a natural gypsum layer

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

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

Jabla, Mosque of Sultan Ibrahim, Quranic calligraphy

Jabla, Mosque of Sultan Ibrahim, Quranic calligraphy

Jabla, Mosque of Sultan Ibrahim, Arabic calligraphy,

Jabla, Mosque of Sultan Ibrahim, Arabic calligraphy,

Raqqa/Rafiqa, Wall decoration in the Iwan of Qasr al-Banat

Raqqa/Rafiqa, Wall decoration in the Iwan of Qasr al-Banat

Outside of the surrounding wall of Halabiyya fortress

Outside of the surrounding wall of Halabiyya fortress

A side from the ruins of Halabiyya-Zalabiyya

A side from the ruins of Halabiyya-Zalabiyya

Remains of arches in Halabiyya-Zalabiyya

Remains of arches in Halabiyya-Zalabiyya

Remains of fortifications in Halabiyya-Zalabiyya

Remains of fortifications in Halabiyya-Zalabiyya

Remains of fortifications in Halabiyya-Zalabiyya

Remains of fortifications in Halabiyya-Zalabiyya

Raqqa - "East of Raqqa" site - Tall Aswad - shard

Raqqa – “East of Raqqa” site – Tall Aswad – shard

Remains of walls in Halabiyya-Zalabiyya

Remains of walls in Halabiyya-Zalabiyya

In al-Hayat/Balikh valley, procedure of calcination of gypsum (2nd step): the fuel was lit

In al-Hayat/Balikh valley, procedure of calcination of gypsum (2nd step): the fuel was lit

In al-Hayat/Balikh valley: procedure of calcination of gypsum is finished and packed into sacks (3rd step): the natural gypsum stone was burned to produce gypsum as building material

In al-Hayat/Balikh valley: procedure of calcination of gypsum is finished and packed into sacks (3rd step): the natural gypsum stone was burned to produce gypsum as building material

Al-Jisriyya norias (water wheel), Hama

Al-Jisriyya norias (water wheel), Hama

Raqqa - finds discovered in the site "East of Raqqa", the Eastern Complex

Raqqa – finds discovered in the site “East of Raqqa”, the Eastern Complex

Raqqa, Qasr al-Banat, Northern Iwan

Raqqa, Qasr al-Banat, Northern Iwan

Raqqa - "East of Raqqa" site - Tall Aswad - glazed pottery

Raqqa – “East of Raqqa” site – Tall Aswad – glazed pottery

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

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

Raqqa - finds discovered in the site "East of Raqqa", the Eastern Complex

Raqqa – finds discovered in the site “East of Raqqa”, the Eastern Complex

Maps of Aleppo: functional zoning in the ancient city, 1982

Maps of Aleppo: functional zoning in the ancient city, 1982

Cooling bread in the street before storage

Cooling bread in the street before storage

A tablet-loom

A tablet-loom

A horizontal loom

A horizontal loom

Function of shafts or heddles

Function of shafts or heddles

A stand selling sandwiches in Damascus

A stand selling sandwiches in Damascus