Restoration works of historic Afqa spring in Palmyra almost completed

Palmyra, SANA-The restoration and rehabilitation works for the historic Afqa spring in Palmyra are almost completed.

“The restoration works included removing rubble and debris from the river’s stream in addition to restoring the archaeological cave and its exit, which was damaged due to terrorist attacks,” Director of Antiquities Department in Homs Hossam Hamish said in a statement to SANA reporter.

He added that the restoration works also included the excavation of the entire main stair leading to the stream, the rebuilding of the wall above the archaeological cave using brocaded stones similar to ancient ones, and the discovery of some archaeological levels adjacent to the site of the spring in order to restore the historical site of the spring as it was before.

Hamish went on to say that the project, which is implemented by a Syrian-Russian archaeological team under the supervision of the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, is co-financed by the Russian Association for preserving Historical and Cultural Heritage “the Voluntary Exploratory Corps”, in addition to a number of archaeologists from the Heritage Institute in Moscow and the Kabardino-Balkaria Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian company OKN- Project.

The historical Afqa spring is an archaeological spring and cave engraved in rock about six thousand years ago and was sabotaged in the attacks of Daesh terrorist organization.

Bushra Dabin/ Mazen Eyon