Damascus, Oct 7 : A noted Italian archaeologist has shed light on the most important archaeological discoveries by an Italian expedition team at the ancient site of the Ebla Kingdom in present day Syria.

“Statues of two women in the royal palace were discovered; the first statue is made of silver and wood and the second one is made of limestone, wood and gold,” said Prof. Paulo Mattieh.

He said two other statues and a cylindrical seal of gilt edges belonging to an important figure, all three dating back to the Akkadi age, were unearthed in one of the palace rooms.

A clay tablet with an economics text was found in another room in the palace, he said.

Prof. Mattieh said the exploration works that were carried out at the royal palace, especially in the temple area, helped the archaeological team in gathering important information and finding integrated buildings dating back to 1600-1800 BC, coinciding with the fall of the Ebla Kingdom.

“The rock temple, as the mission called it, where the work of excavation started in 2004, has now become integrated and well preserved… standing 3.5 metres high; it can be considered traditional. It represents the pre-classical period in Syria 2400 BC,” Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted Prof. Mattieh, as saying. (ANI)