Damascus, June 6 (SANA) Stretching between the southern provinces of Daraa and Sweida, al-Lajat emerges as a vast basaltic landscape of volcanic rock formations, caves, and deep fissures recently brought back into international heritage focus following its inscription in ICESCO’s cultural heritage list.
A volcanic landscape shaped by time
Located between Daraa and Sweida, al-Lajat forms a striking black basalt plateau in southern Syria. Known historically as Trachonitis, the region spans nearly 900 square kilometers and represents one of the largest volcanic fields in the country. Its rugged terrain, natural caves, and fractured rock formations have long shaped both its defensive character and its historical isolation.
Geologists describe the area as the “Black Harrah,” formed by ancient lava flows from the dormant volcanic system of Jabal al-Arab millions of years ago, leaving behind a dense basaltic crust marked by valleys, cones, and rocky corridors.
A dense archaeological landscape
Beyond its geological significance, al-Lajat hosts more than 500 documented archaeological sites spanning multiple civilizations from the Bronze Age through the Greco-Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods.
Among the most notable is the “Sahar al-Lajat” site east of al-Masmiyah, where archaeological surveys uncovered a Greco-Roman temple, a small music theatre, and thousands of artefacts including human and animal statues and reliefs.
The region also includes ancient settlements such as al-Masmiyah, Shara’, Umm al-Zaytun, and Izra, alongside churches, fortresses, watchtowers, and rock-cut water cisterns reflecting continuous human adaptation to the harsh basaltic environment.
Heritage recognition after years of absence
Al-Lajat’s recent inscription in ICESCO’s heritage list marks the first Syrian registration in 14 years, restoring international attention to a site that combines natural, archaeological, and cultural value.
According to heritage officials, the listing is expected to strengthen preservation efforts and open new pathways for cultural, academic, and tourism-oriented initiatives.
Ecological and biodiversity significance
Declared a protected forest reserve in 2006 and later recognized by UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme in 2009, al-Lajat also represents a unique ecological zone.
It hosts rare plant species such as wild almond, hawthorn, and the endangered Hauran iris, as well as wildlife including the striped hyena, wolf, fox, and Eurasian badger. The area is also a corridor for more than 40 bird species, including migratory and endemic populations documented in cooperation with international conservation bodies.
Living cultural memory
Despite its harsh terrain, Al-Lajat preserves a living cultural identity rooted in local traditions. The region is known for Haurani customs, Bedouin-influenced hospitality, and a rich oral heritage including Nabati poetry and traditional southern Syrian music such as hijini, jawfiya, ataba, and Haurani dabke.
A renewed cultural horizon
Officials describe ICESCO’s recognition as an important step toward enhancing the global visibility of Syrian heritage and supporting future conservation efforts.
Al-Lajat stands today not only as a geological formation or archaeological archive, but as a layered cultural landscape where natural history, human settlement, and oral traditions converge into a living open-air museum.
KA.MZ
