Duris, Lebanon

Duris (also Dūris, or Dûris[1] (Arabic: دورس‎), formally Doris[2] and also known by its French spelling Douris[3]) is a village located approximately 3 km (2 mi). southwest of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. It is the site of a 13th-century Muslim shrine and a necropolis from the late Roman Imperial period that is currently undergoing archaeological investigation.[3]

Duris
The Qubbat Duris in 1871]]
Shown within Lebanon
Alternative nameDoris
Douris
Location3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southwest of Baalbek, Lebanon
Coordinates33.983333°N 36.183333°E / 33.983333; 36.183333
History
PeriodsHeavy Neolithic, Shepherd Neolithic, Roman
CulturesQaraoun culture
Site notes
Excavation dates1957, 1966, 1997
ArchaeologistsM. Billaux, Henri Fleisch, Maurice Tallon, Lorraine Copeland
Public accessUnknown

History

An archaeological site which is not on the tell near the village exists 1 km (1 mi) southwest of Duris at the north of a vineyard that can be reached via a track from the road to Baalbek. This site was found to contain both Shepherd Neolithic and Heavy Neolithic material together, being unusual in this respect. It was found by M. Billaux in 1957 who showed it to two archaeologists who were also members of the Society of Jesus, Henri Fleisch and Maurice Tallon. The Shepherd Neolithic material was unpatinated and appeared similar to that of Maakne. The larger pieces were patinated to white, appearing to represent different periods. Three Levallois flakes were found in 1966 by Lorraine Copeland.[4]

The Qubbat Duris was built in AD 1243 (AH 641)[5] during the Ayyubid era.[3] Its sarcophagus was raised or left standing to serve as a mihrab, helping to direct prayer towards Mecca.[6] Its columns were probably removed from the ruins of nearby Baalbek and are assembled haphazardly, one being upside-down.[7]

In 1838, Eli Smith noted Duris as a Sunni Muslim and Maronite village in the Baalbek District.[8]

  • An engraving of the qubbat with Duris in the background (c. 1878)[6]

See also

References
  1. Robinson (1856), p. 504.
  2. "Doris Municipality", Baalbeck Municipalities Union.
  3. "Late Antique Necropolis in Baalbek Douris (Lebanon)", Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Berlin: German Archaeological Institute, 2015.
  4. L. Copeland; P. Wescombe (1966). Inventory of Stone-Age Sites in Lebanon: North, South and East-Central Lebanon, pp. 29-30. Impr. Catholique. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  5. Jamil (1948), p. 281.
  6. Jessup (1881), p. 452.
  7. De Saulcy (1853), p. 639.
  8. Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 145

Bibliography

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