Tell Aswad

Tell Aswad is a settlement mound on the southeastern edge of Damascus, measuring 274 by 250 meters and rising about 4.5 meters above the surrounding land. The mound covers an area of five hectares and preserves beneath its surface traces of the earliest farming communities in the region.

Henri de Contenson led excavations between 1971 and 1972, uncovering two layers of occupation dating from 7790 to 7690 BCE. These layers document the moment when people began to grow grain and keep animals instead of moving from place to place.

The name of this place comes from the dark color of the earth layers, created by ash and organic material. Visitors today can see the outlines of the earliest house structures that people built when they moved from gathering and hunting to settled life.

The site lies outside the city center and can be reached by local roads, though access may vary depending on local conditions. Anyone planning a visit should check current conditions beforehand and bring plenty of water and sun protection.

Excavators found remains of wheat and barley here that rank among the oldest evidence of deliberate crop cultivation in the Near East. Bones of goats and wild animals show that inhabitants began keeping animals while still continuing to hunt.