Duris, Lebanon

Duris
	The Qubbat Duris in 1871
	Shown within Lebanon
Alternative name	Doris; Douris
Location	3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southwest of Baalbek, Lebanon
Coordinates	33°59′00″N 36°11′00″E / 33.983333°N 36.183333°E
History
Periods	Heavy Neolithic, Shepherd Neolithic, Roman
Cultures	Qaraoun culture
Site notes
Excavation dates	1957, 1966, 1997
Archaeologists	M. Billaux, Henri Fleisch, Maurice Tallon, Lorraine Copeland
Public access	Unknown

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]

Religion in Duris (2022)^[4]

Shia Islam (47.0%)

Sunni Islam (21.0%)

Maronite (26.6%)

Greek Catholic (3.2%)

Orthodox (1.1%)

Other Christians (1.1%)

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.^[5]

Middle Bronze

In the Middle Bronze I (c. 2000-1800 BC), there was a settlement at Tell Douris.^[6] While most of the pottery was locally made, there where imports from inland Syria (Homs and Ebla) as well from the south.

Medieval Period

The Qubbat Duris was built in AD 1243 (AH 641)^[7] during the Ayyubid era.^[3] Its sarcophagus was raised or left standing to serve as a mihrab, helping to direct prayer towards Mecca.^[8] Its columns were probably removed from the ruins of nearby Baalbek and are assembled haphazardly, one being upside-down.^[9]

In 1838, Eli Smith noted Duris as a Sunni Muslim and Maronite village in the Baalbek District.^[10]

Gallery

An engraving of the qubbat with Duris in the background (c. 1878)^[8]

References

^ Robinson (1856), p. 504.
^ "Doris Municipality", Baalbeck Municipalities Union.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Late Antique Necropolis in Baalbek Douris (Lebanon)", Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Berlin: German Archaeological Institute, 2015.
^ L’orient Today (May 2022). "Mapping Lebanon data and statistics".
^ 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.
^ Charaf 2020; Hanan Charaf (2020) The First Season of Excavations at Tell Douris in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
^ Jamil (1948), p. 281.
^ ^a ^b Jessup (1881), p. 452.
^ De Saulcy (1853), p. 639.
^ Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 145

Bibliography

De Saulcy, Louis Félicien J. Caignart (1853), Narrative of a Journey round the Dead Sea and in the Bible Lands in 1850 and 1851, vol. II, London: Bradbury & Evans for Richard Bentley.
Jamil, Rouhi (1948), Beirut and the Republic of Lebanon, The Green Guides, Librairie Universelle.
Jessup, Samuel (1881), "The Wady Barada", Picturesque Palestine, Sinai, and Egypt, Division II, New York: D. Appleton & Co, pp. 444–452.
Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. Vol. 3. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.
Robinson, E. (1856), Later Biblical Researches in Palestine, and in the Adjacent Regions. A Journal of Travels in the Year 1852 by E. Robinson, E. Smith, and Others, Boston: Crocker & Brewster

External links

Douris, Localiban

33°59′N 36°11′E / 33.983°N 36.183°E / 33.983; 36.183

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[FOOTNOTERobinson1856[httpbabelhathitrustorgcgiptidhvd32044005047949view1upseq542_504]-1] Robinson (1856), p. 504.

[2] "Doris Municipality", Baalbeck Municipalities Union.

[germs-3] "Late Antique Necropolis in Baalbek Douris (Lebanon)", Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Berlin: German Archaeological Institute, 2015.

[4] L’orient Today (May 2022). "Mapping Lebanon data and statistics".

[CopelandWescombe1966-5] 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.

[6] Charaf 2020; Hanan Charaf (2020) The First Season of Excavations at Tell Douris in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

[FOOTNOTEJamil1948281-7] Jamil (1948), p. 281.

[FOOTNOTEJessup1881[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidmzdQAQAAIAAJpgPA452_452]-8] Jessup (1881), p. 452.

[FOOTNOTEDe_Saulcy1853[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidcDQBAAAAQAAJpgPA639_639]-9] De Saulcy (1853), p. 639.

[10] Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 145

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v t e Baalbek District, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate
Capital: Baalbek
Towns and villages	Ain Ainata Arsal Baalbek Barka Bednayel Bechwat Beit Chama - Aaqidiyeh Brital Btadhi Bodai Chaat Chlifa Chmestar - Gharbi Baalbeck Deir el Ahmar Douriss Fakiha - Jdeydeh Fleweh Hadath Baalbek Hallanieh Harbata Hizzine Hlabta Hosh Barada Hosh el Rafika Hosh Snid Haouch Tall Safiyeh Iaat Jabbouleh Janta Jebaa Jdeide Kfar Dane Kasarnaba Khodr Khraibeh Kneisseh Laat Labweh Majdloun Mikna Nabi Chit Nabi Othman Nahleh Qaa Qarha Ram - Jbenniyeh Ras Baalbek Ras el Hadis Saayde Seriine el Fawka Seriine el Tahta Talya Taraya Taybeh Temnin el Fawka Temnine Et Tahta Tfail Wadi Faara Yammouneh Younine
Other	Ard Tlaili Jabal es Saaïdé