DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32867#0076
46
N ORTHERN CENTRAL SYRIA
roughly quadrangular in shape. The side walls of the dromos are often provided
with gutters, cut in the face of the roclc, which carried rain-water to a basin beside the
opening to the chamber. In a number of cases such a gutter is cut, in crudely arched
form, above the doorway, to divert surface-water
from the entrance. These chambers are large within,
but irregular in shape and of uneven height; occa-
sionally a natural pier has been left as a support to
the roof. Rock-hewn mangers against the side walls
are common, and provision seems to ha've been made
for the storage of fodder. In some localities, indeed,
the natives still employ these places for the storing
of their barley and chaff.
There can be little doubt that these excavated
places were used as stables and as storehouses at a
very early period. Whether they were ever em-
ployed as human habitations cannot be said definitely,
nor is it possible to determine whether they continued to house cattle after stables
were built above-ground. Chambers of this kind are found in all parts of Northern
Central Syria, though they appear to have been less common in the Djebel Riha than
in the more northern districts. Some of the most remarkable examples, besides those
cited above, were found at Kirk Beza, Kfer, and Kefr Kila in the Djebel il-A‘la,
and at Dehes, Nuriyeh, Kefr Finsheh, and Khurebat in the Djebel Barisha.
Djisr il-Madjdal, ancient Roman bridge on the road between Hama and Apamea, about two hours and a half north
of the former. *" The arches are each about 6 m. broad, and the roadway is 5.60 m. wide.
N ORTHERN CENTRAL SYRIA
roughly quadrangular in shape. The side walls of the dromos are often provided
with gutters, cut in the face of the roclc, which carried rain-water to a basin beside the
opening to the chamber. In a number of cases such a gutter is cut, in crudely arched
form, above the doorway, to divert surface-water
from the entrance. These chambers are large within,
but irregular in shape and of uneven height; occa-
sionally a natural pier has been left as a support to
the roof. Rock-hewn mangers against the side walls
are common, and provision seems to ha've been made
for the storage of fodder. In some localities, indeed,
the natives still employ these places for the storing
of their barley and chaff.
There can be little doubt that these excavated
places were used as stables and as storehouses at a
very early period. Whether they were ever em-
ployed as human habitations cannot be said definitely,
nor is it possible to determine whether they continued to house cattle after stables
were built above-ground. Chambers of this kind are found in all parts of Northern
Central Syria, though they appear to have been less common in the Djebel Riha than
in the more northern districts. Some of the most remarkable examples, besides those
cited above, were found at Kirk Beza, Kfer, and Kefr Kila in the Djebel il-A‘la,
and at Dehes, Nuriyeh, Kefr Finsheh, and Khurebat in the Djebel Barisha.
Djisr il-Madjdal, ancient Roman bridge on the road between Hama and Apamea, about two hours and a half north
of the former. *" The arches are each about 6 m. broad, and the roadway is 5.60 m. wide.