Italian archaeological mission in Ebla resumes

Italy's Mission at the Archaeological Site of Ebla - Syria's thousand-year old city discovered by Italian archaeologist Paolo Matthiae in 1964 - has resumed, 12 years after its interruption, caused by the occupation of Al-Qaeda's rebel militias. The invasion lasted from 2014 to 2019, ravaging the site with tunnels, trenches and small barracks, and totally ruining the archaeological ground, especially in the Lower City of the large ancient urban centre, built between 2500 and 1600 BCE. The Syrian government recently secured the area, hence the excavations may resume in the Tell Mardik site, 55 km south of Aleppo.

The Mission is also supported by the funds allocated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which has hailed the liberation of the archaeological site and the return of Italian researchers. "The good news is that the site has never been bombed. But it's going to take at least three years and adequate funding to restore the excavation site", says archaeologist Paolo Matthiae, who claims the area has been badly damaged. That's why the Roman mission is devising what is being defined as a "rehabilitation" of the archaeological site.

Frances Pinnock and Davide Natali, the two professors of La Sapienza University who are at the helm of the Mission along with Matthiae, will reach the site in a few days' time to start studying the salvaged materials, now held at the Hama Archaeological Museum. The rediscovery of Ebla was a history-changing event, especially from 1975 onwards, when the excavations brought to light the almost intact Royal Archives (which date back to 2350 BCE, the city's most ancient period) and 17,000 inventory items carved on tablets with cuneiform scripts. It is an inestimable treasure providing information on the culture, language, trade, weddings, justice, relations with friendly and enemy peoples. According to archaeologist Matthiae, "what matters most is that, after many years of silence and destruction, a rebirth is beginning for Ebla".