The Afrin Valley

The ‘Afrin Valley  (F. Cobbing, 1997)

The important Neanderthal site of the Dederiyeh Cave, currently being excavated by a Japanese team, is located in one of the limestone cliffs that overlook the valley. At about 50,000 years old, this site may be just one of the prehistoric sites in the region. 

Other ‘Afrin Valley sites date to the Bronze and Iron Ages and also extend to more recent periods. The region is an extension northwestward of the North-Central Region which includes Ebla and Aleppo. 

It is most likely that the Bronze and Iron Age sites of the ‘Afrin Valley, such as ‘Ain Dara, should be regarded at some point in their history as satellite centres of the great city state of Aleppo. 

The ‘Afrin Valley is agriculturally very rich, with a focus on vineyards, olive groves and orchards of citrus fruits and pomegranates. Today, the area is home to a large Christian Kurdish population.