Mattie: Ebla Played Important Historical and Cultural Role Jun 29, 2010 Idleb, northern Syria (SANA) - The Kingdom of Ebla, 54 Km away from Aleppo, played a great historical and cultural role as it embraced several human civilizations due to its important location near the Mediterranean Sea, Head of the Italian Archeological expedition working at Tel Mardikh (Ebla) site Paolo Mattie said Tuesday. Delivering a lecture in the northern Syrian Province of Idleb, Mattie added that the archeological discoveries uncovered in Ebla reflect the architectural style and handicrafts of that era. He indicated that 17,000 cuneiforms have been unearthed including economic, administrative and literary texts. Mattie added that the Royal Palace dating back to the Old Bronze Age (2300-2400 B.C.), contains administrative and trade center and wide yard for trade convoys exchange. The name of 'Ebla' means in the Arabic language "White Rock", and refers to the limestone outcrop on which the city was built. The kingdom was main base on which the Syrian civilization has been built. It used to have strong ties with other important civilizations, particularly the Pharaonic Civilization. Mattie highlighted the strong Syrian-Italian cooperation in preserving heritage, pointing out that the project of rehabilitating Idleb National Museum was launched last year to preserve the cultural heritage in Syria. A documentary film about the phases of work at Ebla site, and the most important discoveries and their date in addition to the economic and social prosperity that distinguished Ebla was shown . The Italian mission working at Ebla started its work in 1964 with the archaeologist Paulo Mattei, the Professor at the University of Rome, Italy. R.Raslan / Ghossoun