Amrit (Syria) Safeguard and Promotion

Safeguard and Promotion

Safeguarding and Enhancement of the Site

The Site
The site of Amrit, located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean south of Tartus (Syria), has yielded archaeological evidence attesting to the area's use since the Neolithic period. The Phoenician settlement, established between the 2nd and 1st millennia BC, experienced a period of flourishing especially during the Persian and Hellenistic eras. After its abandonment in the 2nd century BC, the area was no longer densely inhabited; however, funerary evidence dating from the 3rd century AD attests to its importance during the Roman period.

The site, which has been under archaeological investigation since the 19th century (Renan 1864-74), presents numerous monumental remains. The vestiges of the Phoenician sanctuary (ma'abed) have been well preserved: the sacred complex is characterized by a pool with a small shrine (naos) at its center that protrudes from the water, and by a colonnaded portico on three sides. The monumental burials from the Achaemenid period (Meghazil), the rock-cut stadium, and the numerous Hellenistic and Roman burials characterize the extensive archaeological area.

The Project
The project for the documentation, enhancement, and study of the archaeological heritage of Amrit began in 2022 at the request of the Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities (DGAM) and is conducted by UNIFI in collaboration with CNR-ISPC of Milan and the DGAM of Damascus. The project, endorsed and funded by MAECI, UNIFI, and CNR, aims to monitor the conservation status, identify strategies for enhancement, and study the monumental Phoenician evidence from the Persian and Hellenistic periods. At the same time, the DGAM is carrying out archaeological excavations to gain a better understanding of the coastline and its occupation.

The primary objective of the activity is the monitoring, safeguarding, and restoration of the site in a spirit of cooperation for the benefit of the local communities, with the goal of recovering and protecting the cultural heritage in a territory affected by a deep economic crisis following the recent conflict.