Images Qalb Loze Saint Simeon Deiroune

Many have been the archaeological missions in the site of the Dead Cities, beginning in the 1860s with an architectural survey lead by Melchior Comte de Voguë. In 1899, the Princeton University (New Jersey) inaugurated another archaeological expedition to Syria and Howard Crosby Butler published extensive surveys of both monumental buildings and complete settlements in 1903. Under the direction of a Russian architect, Georges Tchalenko, the most thorough study of the region was later carried out in the 1930s and 40s. Now, an important French-Syrian mission is still working in the field.