Tell Hariri (or Hariri Hill)

Mari (Tell Hariri) is an archaeological site of exceptional significance, located approximately 11 kilometers northwest of Al-Bukamal on the right (western) bank of the Euphrates River, and about 115 kilometers south of Deir ez-Zor. Positioned along the ancient trade route between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia, Mari’s strategic location granted it immense geographic importance and economic prosperity. Its status as a commercial hub drew the attention of rival kingdoms, ultimately leading to its conquest by Hammurabi of Babylon.
Mari played a crucial role in ancient international trade and was a major center for the bronze industry, with large quantities of bronze imported through trade routes connecting Mari to Iraq and Aleppo. The site was once the capital of a prominent Semitic kingdom in what is now Syria, flourishing between 2900 BCE and 1759 BCE. Due to its location on the Euphrates, Mari served as a vital intermediary between the Sumerian civilization in the south and the kingdom of Ebla and the broader Levant to the west.
The site was discovered in 1933, near the Iraqi border in eastern Syria, when a local Bedouin tribe unearthed a headless statue while digging in Tell Hariri in search of a tombstone. Upon notification, the French Mandate authorities initiated archaeological excavations, which officially began on December 14, 1933, led by a team from the Louvre Museum in Paris. Initial excavations revealed the Temple of Ishtar, paving the way for broader digs.
Archaeologists have since classified Mari as the westernmost outpost of Sumerian culture. Over 25,000 clay tablets written in Akkadian cuneiform script were uncovered, offering invaluable insights into political, economic, and religious life in the ancient Near East. Artifacts from Mari are now housed in institutions such as the Louvre Museum, the National Museum of Aleppo, the National Museum of Damascus, and the Deir ez-Zor Museum.
One of the notable restoration efforts at the site included the reconstruction of the southern façade of the “Palm Court” within the Palace of Zimri-Lim, including its painted wall panels. However, excavation work ceased in 2011 due to the outbreak of the Syrian civil war and has not resumed since. The site fell under the control of armed groups and suffered extensive looting. A 2014 official report revealed that looters had targeted key structures, including the Royal Palace, the public baths, the Temple of Ishtar, and the Temple of Dagan. Satellite imagery confirmed that looting activities continued at least until 2017.