Arslan Tash Archaeological Site

Arslan Tash is an archaeological tell in northern Syria that preserves remains from the Iron Age and later periods, known for stone reliefs and exquisitely carved ivory fragments recovered from the site. The site provides evidence of near-eastern artistic production and imperial connections in the first millennium BC.

Excavations and surface finds produced decorated stone panels and a notable corpus of ivories and inlays that have been important for the study of Levantine art and craftsmanship. These small, portable objects are frequently cited in scholarship and illustrate the site’s cultural contacts.

Occupation levels at the tell include phases associated with Neo-Assyrian influence and regional Iron Age polities across the 1st millennium BC. The site was a local centre whose carved monuments and decorative objects reflect political and artistic ties to larger imperial traditions.

Arslan Tash sits on a low tell in the agricultural plains of Aleppo Governorate in northern Syria, in a landscape of fields and seasonal irrigation.

• Dispersed finds: Many portable finds from the site, including carved ivories, entered museum collections and academic study, so important material related to the site is dispersed in collections outside Syria.

What to See#

• Main tell: The main archaeological tell contains remains from the Iron Age with architectural fragments, carved stone panels, and stratified deposits reflecting occupation phases.
• Carved reliefs and ivories: A number of small carved reliefs and ivory inlays were recovered from surface contexts and excavations; these objects show fine craftsmanship and connections with wider Near Eastern art of the period.

Arslan Tash is in the Aleppo Governorate region. Access has been heavily restricted since the civil war; any approach must be coordinated with Syrian authorities and security advisories.

• Confirm security and legal access with local authorities before planning a visit; the site has been subject to conflict-related damage.
• Photograph any remaining reliefs from multiple angles - they have been documented by scholars and those records are worth comparing to the present condition.