Minet el-Beida

Minet el-Beida is an archaeological site on the Mediterranean coast near Latakia featuring burial grounds and settlement structures from the Bronze Age. The remains reveal how this harbor town served the ancient city of Ugarit as a port and burial ground.

The settlement emerged in the late Bronze Age as a harbor connected to the major trading city of Ugarit. The site reflects how this coastal region functioned as a vital hub in Mediterranean trade networks.

Archaeological excavations between 1928 and 1935 uncovered numerous artifacts, including a Mycenaean high-footed cup from the 14th-13th centuries BC.

The site lies north of Latakia and requires advance planning as it remains an active research area for archaeologists. Visitors should check access conditions beforehand since ongoing excavations may limit entry.

Bronze Age craftspeople created finely made containers and artistic objects that were uncovered during excavations at the site. Some of these remarkable pieces now reside in museum collections far from the coast, illustrating the skilled artistry of ancient people who lived here.