Tel Barri

According to Assyrian records, tel Berri 5 was regarded as a sacred city dedicated to the god (Kahat) Ninurta. The site features a grand lime-plastered staircase within the main temple, reflecting the ritual magnificence once practiced there. At the base of the stairway, a votive tablet bearing the seal of Assyrian king Shalmaneser I was discovered.

One of the site’s architectural highlights is an underground water drainage system with stone domes, showcasing an early advancement in civil engineering through channels that diverted rainwater away from the settlement.

In 2013, the site suffered severe damage due to illegal excavations in search of gold, which led to the collapse of several sections and the exposure of ancient water channels. Local teams later intervened to backfill the pits using lime-mud.