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

The Valley of Tombs - sculptures of the deads who are buried in a tower tomb

The Valley of Tombs – sculptures of the deads who are buried in a tower tomb

Palmyra, Valley of the tombs

Palmyra, Valley of the tombs

Palmyra, view from the south, valley of tombs in foreground, Qalʿat Ibn Maʿn in background

Palmyra, view from the south, valley of tombs in foreground, Qalʿat Ibn Maʿn in background

Women and children (of a family of former nomads) in one of the Upper Euphrates Valley villages

Women and children (of a family of former nomads) in one of the Upper Euphrates Valley villages

View of a hill in the upper Euphrates valley (al-Furat al-Aʿla)

View of a hill in the upper Euphrates valley (al-Furat al-Aʿla)

A Bedouin family in one of the villages of the Euphrates Valley

A Bedouin family in one of the villages of the Euphrates Valley

View from the courtyard towards the northeastern side of the valley, Dayr Mar Musa al-Habashi

View from the courtyard towards the northeastern side of the valley, Dayr Mar Musa al-Habashi

Tomb of Elahbel in the Valley of the Tombs, interior view

Tomb of Elahbel in the Valley of the Tombs, interior view

Tomb of Elahbel in the Valley of the Tombs, facade

Tomb of Elahbel in the Valley of the Tombs, facade

Aerial photograph of Jibal Lubnan ash-Sharqiyya (Anti-Lebanon Mountains) with Barada valley

Aerial photograph of Jibal Lubnan ash-Sharqiyya (Anti-Lebanon Mountains) with Barada valley

Traditional house with reed hut ("sibat", arab.) in Euphrates valley at the national road 4/junction to ar-Raqqa

Traditional house with reed hut (“sibat”, arab.) in Euphrates valley at the national road 4/junction to ar-Raqqa

The historical centre of Maʿlula with St. Lawandius Church and hillside houses facing the valley

The historical centre of Maʿlula with St. Lawandius Church and hillside houses facing the valley

Maʿlula, traditional hillside houses with galleries opening to the valley during the 1960s

Maʿlula, traditional hillside houses with galleries opening to the valley during the 1960s

General view of Euphrates valley at Dayr az-Zawr countryside

General view of Euphrates valley at Dayr az-Zawr countryside

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

Salt production in extraction, possibly in as-Sabkha in the Euphrates Valley

Salt production in extraction, possibly in as-Sabkha in the Euphrates Valley

An artificial irrigation canal, al-Furat al-Aʿla (the Upper Euphrates Valley)

An artificial irrigation canal, al-Furat al-Aʿla (the Upper Euphrates Valley)

View over the floodplain of the Euphrates valley to the village on the eastern steep bank

View over the floodplain of the Euphrates valley to the village on the eastern steep bank

Irrigation canal, al-Furat al-Aʿla (the Upper Euphrates Valley)

Irrigation canal, al-Furat al-Aʿla (the Upper Euphrates Valley)

A view of the Barada valley showing the train rail

A view of the Barada valley showing the train rail

Manmade caves in the Euphrates valley near embouchure of Sajur-river close to al-Awshariyya

Manmade caves in the Euphrates valley near embouchure of Sajur-river close to al-Awshariyya

The village of al-Qirata on the northern slope of the Sajur valley, old lime-washed houses visible.

The village of al-Qirata on the northern slope of the Sajur valley, old lime-washed houses visible.

Valley of the Tombs, Tomb of Jambliku - facade decoration

Valley of the Tombs, Tomb of Jambliku – facade decoration

Valley of the Tombs, Tomb of Jambliku - decoration of the door lintel

Valley of the Tombs, Tomb of Jambliku – decoration of the door lintel

Upper Barada valley in Jibal Lubnan ash-Sharqiyya (Anti-Lebanon Mountains)

Upper Barada valley in Jibal Lubnan ash-Sharqiyya (Anti-Lebanon Mountains)

In the Orontes valley below the village of Qalʿat al-Mudiq is situated a 16th c Khan, which has become a Museum

In the Orontes valley below the village of Qalʿat al-Mudiq is situated a 16th c Khan, which has become a Museum

Picnic on the Euphrates bank, al-Furat al-Aʿla (the Upper Euphrates Valley)

Picnic on the Euphrates bank, al-Furat al-Aʿla (the Upper Euphrates Valley)

General view of the Orontes valley in the 1960s

General view of the Orontes valley in the 1960s

View of Orontes valley

View of Orontes valley