Byzantine tomb complex discovered underneath ravaged city

• A 1,500-year-old Byzantine tomb complex has been discovered in Maarat al-Numan, Idlib, northern Syria, by a construction worker.
• The discovery occurred as residents return to rebuild following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in 2024, revealing stone openings that led to the ancient graves.
• The tomb complex includes two burial chambers, each containing six stone tombs, with a cross etched into one stone column, indicating its Byzantine-era origin.
• Idlib, rich in archaeological sites, holds a third of Syria's monuments, but years of war have caused significant damage through bombing, looting, and unauthorised digging.
• Local residents hope the discovery and restoration of antiquities will spur economic renewal and tourism, with calls for fair compensation to property owners where ruins are found.

IN FULL

Construction worker makes chance discovery of 1,500-year-old tomb complex