Ugarit Royal Palace North Court
Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE)·Bronze Age·🇸🇾 Latakia, Ras Shamra, Syria
About
About Ugarit Royal Palace North Court
Ugarit Royal Palace North Court in Latakia, Ras Shamra, Syria is a Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE) ancient city attributed to Bronze Age. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal walled area 12 ha and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 35.6010N 35.7830E controls access to Latakia resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey ancient city for Latakia, Ras Shamra, illustrating Bronze Age construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
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. 2800 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE)
- Culture
- Bronze Age
- Purpose
- Regional urban centre controlling trade and administration
- Rediscovered
- 1963 survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 2800 BCE
Initial construction of Ugarit Royal Palace North Court main structure
c. 1903
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
1963–2008
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Ugarit Royal Palace North Court) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
35.6010° N · 35.7830° E · 101 m · 3 mapped features
Ugarit Royal Palace North Court — Main Structure
structurePrincipal ancient city — Walled area 12 ha with diagnostic masonry/panel
35.6018° N · 35.7839° EUgarit Royal Palace North Court — Ancillary Complex
complexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature
35.6000° N · 35.7823° EUgarit Royal Palace North Court — Peripheral Feature
outlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial
35.6025° N · 35.7842° E