Alternate name Doris
Douris Excavation dates 1957, 1966, 1997 Period Roman Empire | Cultures Qaraoun culture Local time Wednesday 9:17 AM | |
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Location 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southwest of Baalbek, Lebanon Periods Heavy Neolithic, Shepherd Neolithic, Roman Archaeologists M. Billaux, Henri Fleisch, Maurice Tallon, Lorraine Copeland Weather 12°C, Wind SW at 6 km/h, 61% Humidity | ||
Duris, Dūris, or Dûris (Arabic: دورس), formally Doris and also known by its French spelling Douris, 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.
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Map of Douris, Lebanon
The Qubbat Duris was built in AD 1243 (AH 641) during the Ayyubid era. Its sarcophagus was raised or left standing to serve as a mihrab, helping to direct prayer towards Mecca. Its columns were probably removed from the ruins of nearby Baalbek and are assembled haphazardly, one being upside-down.
Another 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.
Modern site
Due to urban expansion, the area is now inhabited by 14,000 people.