A Syrian-Japanese archaeological team uncovered recently a 9 000-year-old cemetery in north-east Syria. The cemetery, found at Ein al-Karkh site in Idlib province, 330km north of the capital Damascus, represents "ancient Syrian society and the stage of transformation from big agricultural villages to the building of the first city", said Jamal Haider, the head of the Syrian side of the archaeological team. About 20 adult skeletons were found in the cemetery, with clay tools and stone bowls found near them.
     Excavation works, which started at the site ten years ago, led to the discovery of many agricultural villages and settlements that date back to the Neolithic (8000-5000 BCE).

Source: Iol.co.za (7 August 2007)