Tell Rifaat Archaeological Site

Tell Rifaat
Tell Rifaat is an archaeological mound located in northern Syria, part of the Aleppo Governorate. It once served as the capital of the Aramean kingdom of Bit Agushi.
The mound rises approximately 30 meters and contains the remains of a massive stone wall dating back to the Aramean state in the 9th century BCE. The site features a double gate fortified with semi-cylindrical towers.
It is believed that an underground water tunnel helped the city withstand the Assyrian siege in 740 BCE, which explains its prolonged resilience.
Later, the Achaemenids transformed the site into a fortress, controlling the Anatolia-Damascus silk route, significantly increasing its strategic importance.
Today, a contemporary village bearing the same name surrounds Tell Rifaat. A protective fence has been erected around the site with international support to aid in its preservation.
Currently, the mound is undergoing photogrammetric documentation using drones to create a 3D model, which will be exhibited in the virtual Aleppo Museum.