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Ebla occupies the central steppes of Syria, and during the Bronze Age, it was an important 'middle-man' between Mesopotamia and the cities along the Syrian coast such as Ugarit. Although known through Mesopotamian and Egyptian texts, the actual location of Ebla was unkown until excavations began at the site in 1964 under the direction of the Italian Paolo Matthiae. The Italians are still excavating at the site and their work has unearthed massive temples, domestic areas and a fabulous archive in which over 8,000 clay tablets were found. In this view you are looking from the lower city towards the Tell (Arabic for 'mound') of Ebla where the main administrative building were clustered. The excavations that you can make out on this side of the Tell have revealed the royal palace and archive.
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