Tell Afis Archaeological Site

Tell Afis Archaeological Site
Ancient City — 2nd Millennium BCE

Rising nearly twenty meters above the fertile plains of Idlib, Tell Afis stands as a silent sentinel, its layers concealing the secrets of ancient civilizations. Located approximately twenty kilometers west of Idlib city in northwestern Syria, the tell is more than an archaeological mound—it is a living archive of thousands of years of human presence in the agriculturally rich Jazr Plain, once renowned for its wheat and olives.

Excavations at Tell Afis began in 1970, when Professor Paolo Matthiae from the University of Rome initiated the first campaign to uncover its ancient strata. Subsequent excavations followed in 1972 and 1978. In 1986, Professor Stefania Mazzoni of the University of Pisa launched a joint project with the University of Bologna, continuing the work through 2010. These efforts revealed ten distinct archaeological layers, each representing a different chapter in the site’s long history—from the Chalcolithic period with its defensive walls and finely crafted pottery, to the flourishing urban center of the Middle Bronze Age, and onward to the fortified architecture, pottery workshops, and flint industries of the Iron Age.

Among the site’s most significant discoveries is a cuneiform tablet attributed to King Taklak, affirming Tell Afis’s role as a center of an Aramaean kingdom with ties to Mesopotamian traditions. Other finds include a temple possibly dedicated to Ishtar, fortified structures, and large-scale storage installations—all attesting to the city’s religious, strategic, and economic importance.

In the early 20th century, the French consul in Aleppo unearthed an Aramaic stele attributed to King Zakur of Hamath. Now housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, the stele has led many scholars to identify Tell Afis as the ancient city of Hazrik—though alternative theories suggest Hazrik may have been located in the Ghab Plain west of Hama.

Despite its historical significance, Tell Afis has faced modern threats. In 2013, illegal excavations caused considerable damage, including the removal of stones from the ancient temple. In response, the American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) recommended the urgent installation of protective fencing and a LiDAR survey to support conservation efforts.

Tell Afis is not merely a relic of the distant past; it is a vibrant cultural landscape that calls for both scientific preservation and community stewardship. Through modern technology and local engagement, the site continues to narrate the story of Syria’s deep historical roots—an enduring testament to the bond between land and civilization.