3 Roman-era burial chambers uncovered

Excavations carried out by Tartous Archeology Department uncovered three burial chambers dating back to the Roman era in Amrit, including a sandstone burial chamber containing 28 burial niches. Head of Tartous Archeology Department Marwan Hasan said that the second chamber is built of sandstone and has a domed ceiling with an entrance leading into a hall where burial niches are located, while the third chamber consists of a single level of niches. He said that several artifacts were found in the chamber, including pottery, glassware, a bronze bracelet, ring stones, an engraving depicting a winged child, bronze clasps, a gold leaflet, a broken bronze figurine depicting a stag or a rabbit, two broken jars, a glass decanter and bone fragments. Hasan added that work is underway in al-Kahef castle in Amrit, with excavations uncovering limestone walls forming small chambers, a well, a limestone basin, a small stone mortar and pestle, bronze coins, and pottery fragment dating back to the Islamic era. He said that a burial chamber dating back to the 13th century was uncovered in the western side of Margat castle, while excavations at the chapel uncovered parts of towers dating back to an earlier castle, adding that a water storage chamber was uncovered in the northern part of the castle along with a small living area and tiled floor dating back to the Middle Ages. Hasan pointed out that a Byzantine-era burial chamber carved in stone was also uncovered in Ram Tarza site, while sandstone walls and mosaic floor forming the foundations of temple were unearthed at al-Mintar site, along with 57 Byzantine gold coins, several bronze coins, clay lanterns and a marble slab bearing Latin inscription, in addition to a single grave east of the mosaic floor and some pottery.