Syrian obsidian discovery opens new chapter in Middle Eastern studies
An archaeologist from the University of Sheffield has revealed the origin and trading routes of razor-sharp stone tools 4,200 years ago in Syria. Ancient sites and cultural heritage are under threat in Syria due to the current conflict. An interdisciplinary research team hopes this new discovery, which has major implications for understanding the worlds first empire, will help to highlight the importance of protecting Syrias heritage. Read more
Hundreds of migrating gazelles would be funnelled into enclosures where they could be butchered en masse. This was the practice of communities living some 6,000 years ago in what is now north-eastern Syria. Archaeologists say they have unearthed the remains of animals forced into these killing zones. They tell the journal PNAS that is was an early example of over-hunting. Read more