Damaszener Mitteilungen, vol. 7.

• Author: Dunham, Sally

This beautifully produced volume contains ten articles concerning topics from the Paleolithic down through the medieval Islamic periods. These are arranged chronologically. Two contributions concern pre-Hellenistic periods. Sultan Muhesan gives a very useful survey of the present state of knowledge of the Paleolithic period in Syria (pp. 1-21). In his conclusions he notes problems still to be solved, such as the relations between the Sitt Markho and Khattab tool kits, and the lack of evidence for Upper Paleolithic occupation in the northern part of the Levant. Berthold Einwag makes some preliminary remarks on survey work carried out in the western Jezireh between the Qaramuh and Euphrates Rivers (pp. 23-43). The earliest finds belong to the Paleolithic Period (Tell Auhan). Neolithic settlements are in the Sarug plain or in wadis running towards the Euphrates. Halaf settlements of all sizes are very numerous, while Ubaid ones are very few. The Uruk Period is mostly attested on small tells. Early Bronze Age sites are again numerous, often overlaid with later occupation. While Middle Bronze is likewise well represented, the absence of Habur ware is striking. Einwag does not specifically mention whether Late Bronze was frequent or not, although he does illustrate a sherd of Nuzi ware found at Tell Hagib. Neo-Assyrian is well represented and includes the only excavated site in the survey area, Arslan Tash. Roman sites are also numerous and include several necropoleis, one of which had a nearly completely preserved tower tomb.

Four articles deal with the Roman and Late Antique periods. In a detailed examination of the architectural ornament of the Roman Temple at Isriye, Rudiger Gografe argues for a date in the Severan dynasty (193-235 A.D.) (pp. 45-61). He suggests that within the Roman architectural ornament used in Syria, Isriye reflects more western than eastern (Palmyrene) influence, perhaps from the important, but unfortunately extensively unknown, sanctuary of the sungod at Homs/Emesa. Klaus Freyberger examines the remains of the "Peripteral Temple" at Qanawat (pp. 63-79). The details of its architectural ornament suggest a date in the first third of the third century A.D. (Severan dynasty). To judge from the extant dedicatory inscriptions the temple was financed by local officials and dignitaries. Since the temple is located outside the walls of Qanawat, near the place where the road from Dionysias reaches the city, Freyberger suggests...