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)

The Euphrates River near Tall Sabi Abyad

The Euphrates River near Tall Sabi Abyad

A shell of a new house with flattened domes in a village south of Tall Abyad

A shell of a new house with flattened domes in a village south of Tall Abyad

Tall Aswad near Raqqa, view to an outbuilding of a farmstead

Tall Aswad near Raqqa, view to an outbuilding of a farmstead

Tall al-Biʿa - Aerial photograph

Tall al-Biʿa – Aerial photograph

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

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

Tall Shaykh Hamad (Dur Katlimmu) - Excavations

Tall Shaykh Hamad (Dur Katlimmu) – Excavations

Raqqa, Tall Aswad, stucco

Raqqa, Tall Aswad, stucco

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]

Vicinity of Tall Abyad, shell of the house with flattened domes and opening in one dome

Vicinity of Tall Abyad, shell of the house with flattened domes and opening in one dome

Excavations at Tall Sabi Abyad

Excavations at Tall Sabi Abyad

In the southern part of Tall Abyad, remains of the church made of mud bricks

In the southern part of Tall Abyad, remains of the church made of mud bricks

Tall Brak, general view of the main mound

Tall Brak, general view of the main mound

Tall Brak (Nagar), ruins of Naram-Sin Palace, 3rd millennuim BC. [Original photo name: naram sin palace2]

Tall Brak (Nagar), ruins of Naram-Sin Palace, 3rd millennuim BC. [Original photo name: naram sin palace2]

Raqqa, Tall Aswad, section drawing of a pottery kiln

Raqqa, Tall Aswad, section drawing of a pottery kiln

Excavation work in Tall Brak

Excavation work in Tall Brak

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tall Brak (Nagar), ruins of Naram-Sin Palace, 3rd millennuim BC. [Original photo name: naram sin palace2]

Tall Brak (Nagar), ruins of Naram-Sin Palace, 3rd millennuim BC. [Original photo name: naram sin palace2]

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

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

Tall Abyad, House decoration to welcome the house owner after the pilgrimage to Mekka

Tall Abyad, House decoration to welcome the house owner after the pilgrimage to Mekka

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

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

Part of fortifications in Ebla (Tall Mardikh)

Part of fortifications in Ebla (Tall Mardikh)

View into a room in Palace G, Ebla (Tall Mardikh)

View into a room in Palace G, Ebla (Tall Mardikh)

Tall Halaf with the Khabur-valley, seen from the northeast during the rainy season

Tall Halaf with the Khabur-valley, seen from the northeast during the rainy season