Tell Sukas (Sukas / Shuksi) — Phoenician Harbour Ridge
Tell Sukas · Sukas · Shuksi · Suksu
Early Bronze III through Hellenistic (EB, MBA, LB, Phoenician, Iron Greek)·Coastal Syrian → Ugaritic → Phoenician → Greek colonial·🇸🇾 Latakia Governorate, Jableh District, Mediterranean coast, Syria
About
About Tell Sukas (Sukas / Shuksi) — Phoenician Harbour Ridge
Tell Sukas (Sukas / Shuksi) — Phoenician Harbour Ridge is a multi-period tell/ancient village in Latakia Governorate, Jableh District, Mediterranean coast, Syria — Northern Phoenician harbour tell — only stratified Phoenician-Greek colonial contact on Syrian coast Excavated evidence reveals Coastal Syrian → Ugaritic → Phoenician → Greek colonial cultural horizons with sandstone architecture. The mound 120×80 m, 14 m high; harbour basin 1 ha submerged, anchorage 80 m preserves sandstone socle mudbrick, phoenician rubble anchorage, greek colonial hut foundations technique.
Position on Latakia Governorate illustrates only northern syrian phoenician–greek colonial contact sequence — euboean imports in phoenician harbour.
Why it mattersOnly northern Syrian Phoenician–Greek colonial contact sequence — Euboean imports in Phoenician harbour.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Sukas = Shuksi of Amarna letters?
- 02Greek colony — seasonal emporion or permanent?
Theories
- 01Riis Phoenician harbour vs. Greek colony simultaneous model
- 02Euboean pre-colonial vs. colonial debate
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.2400 BCE EB III port; MBA 2000 BCE; LB Ugarit outpost 1500 BCE; Phoenician harbour 1100 BCE; Greek 700 BCE
- Period
- Early Bronze III through Hellenistic (EB, MBA, LB, Phoenician, Iron Greek)
- Culture
- Coastal Syrian → Ugaritic → Phoenician → Greek colonial
- Builders
- Ugaritic harbour masters, Phoenician traders, Euboean Greeks
- Purpose
- Northern Phoenician harbour tell — only stratified Phoenician-Greek colonial contact on Syrian coast
- Abandoned
- c.550 BCE Persian harbour shift to Jableh/Gabala
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1958–1963 Riis (Danish), resumed 1990–present Lund
- Excavation
- Excavated
1958
Danish opens Sukas harbour trench, Phoenician port levels found
1963
Euboean Greek imports in Phoenician levels published
2010
Underwater survey maps submerged anchorage and breakwater
On the ground
Structures & features
35.3069° N · 35.9264° E · 18 m · 3 mapped features
Phoenician Harbour and Anchorage (Level G)
harbour1100 BCE Phoenician harbour basin and rubble anchorage
35.3071° N · 35.9265° EGreek Colonial Hut and Euboean Import Horizon (Level H)
settlement700 BCE Greek colonial huts with Euboean skyphoi
35.3068° N · 35.9263° ELate Bronze Ugaritic Outpost and City Wall
fortificationLB Ugaritic outpost wall and gate
35.3070° N · 35.9265° E