Selected Villages- Bousaan

Bosan…

An ancient village in Jabal al-Arab… Inhabited since the 2nd century BC… Discovered inscriptions bear its name. Bosan, this ancient village nestled on the eastern slopes of Jabal al-Arab, is like many of our historical villages. Successive ancient and diverse civilizations have enriched it with antiquities. The Arabic writings and inscriptions discovered there, dating back to the Mamluk period, the ancient towers dating back to the 2nd century BC, and the palaces and temples nestled within its lands, stand as testaments among hundreds of artifacts that tell us its ancient history and confirm every day that Syria is the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of the world’s first alphabet.

Location: Bosan is one of the eastern villages of Jabal al-Arab, located on the left bank of a valley that bears its name. It lies on an old road belonging to the Al-Mashnaf subdistrict, 6 km south of it, and is connected to it by a paved road. Its area is 19,000 dunams, with 3,300 hectares of agricultural land.

The villages of As’ana and Shabki belong to the municipality of Bosan. It is bordered to the north by the town of Mashnaf, to the south by the village of Sala, and to the east by the border villages of As’ana, Shabki, and Sharihi. Bosan itself is situated on a high volcanic massif that extends to the Zulf area and the foothills of the mountain, giving it a strategic location. It is no more than 20 km east of the city of As-Suwayda, at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level.

Bosan’s wealth is evident in the preservation of the stone architectural fabric of the old town, which was built upon the ancient archaeological site starting in the 18th century. It served as a trade route, accessible by caravans through the village of As’ana. Various civilizations have settled there, and its population at times exceeded 13,000. Many old buildings constructed of basalt stone and roofed with reeds supported by arches have been built upon them, with modern houses erected on top. The village, with its cement roof, stretches north and south along both sides of the main road. It boasts a large number of springs (24 within the village and 36 surrounding it), which are still in use and provide potable water. Agriculture is a major economic activity, and many residents are deeply connected to the land as their source of livelihood. Most rely on rain-fed agriculture. Adjacent to the fertile Jabal al-Druze region, the village’s lands have been transformed into apple orchards, becoming a treasure and a verdant asset for Busan. The most important crops are wheat, barley, and chickpeas. Recently, the cultivation of fruit trees has expanded significantly on the western slopes of the village. Another segment of the population raises sheep, goats, and cattle. The village is also renowned for its handwoven carpets. Some residents migrate temporarily to oil-rich Arab countries and Venezuela, while others migrate permanently to the outskirts of Damascus and As-Suwayda. Immigration has contributed to improved living standards and prosperity. The village is now served by telephone, electricity, and water, and has schools, a medical clinic, and an advisory unit. More than three springs are located in the village center, nestled among the old houses, including the spring of Prophet Job, the spring of Al-Qasr, and an ancient Roman spring, indicating the availability of water. Despite the rugged terrain, the villagers did not abandon it, and it remains inhabited and thriving as it was in bygone eras. The village bears the remnants of ancient civilizations that have succeeded one another there. While the village’s history is etched on the walls of its historical buildings, the future of Busan is being shaped by its inhabitants through land reclamation and conversion into arable land. This is the result of the residents’ cooperation with a land reclamation project introduced to the village several years ago, which has already achieved significant progress. The most important remaining monuments: Busan has passed through many phases throughout history, and we find numerous monuments that tell its story, such as: Stone Towers: Buildings and towers constructed of basalt stone and roofed with roofing felt supported by arches can be seen. This is the phase that researchers consider to be… A pre-establishment phase of the village’s history, dating back to the 2nd century BC, was established by the Arab tribes of Safaa, who inhabited the area from that time onwards. There may be even earlier phases, especially since historical documents mention 800 houses in the village at the end of the Roman period. The archaeological palaces were clearly present in the ancient village, with five palaces, two of which are visible, including the palace of the Prophet Job. This is confirmed by historical accounts stating that he used to spend the summer in this area. Most researchers consider this palace one of the most important archaeological sites in Bosan. It consists of several floors, with the third floor located in the center of the eastern wall, which remains intact while the opposite walls have collapsed. There is also a stone door known as Bab al-Hals, facing the wind. This name refers to old stone doors designed by the local inhabitants. It is no more than 1.5 meters high and 1 meter wide, and consists of a single leaf that moves and makes loud sounds familiar to the villagers, who have observed it for decades. Near the palace is a spring, which the Directorate of Antiquities in As-Suwayda has restored to become part of the archaeological site. The village’s distinctive high archaeological sites are known for their robust stone construction, upon which Byzantine and Safaitic inscriptions have been found.

Temple Remains: The historical significance of the temple remains stems from its lower courses, still preserved beneath later stone houses, and the basilica-plan structure in its courtyard, which likely served as a church and residence dating back to the Roman period. The temple’s significance and symbolism were the primary motivation for the Directorate of Antiquities in As-Suwayda to restore it in order to preserve its historical value. The Archaeological Tower

The tower dates back to the Byzantine period and consists of a two-room structure measuring approximately 132 square meters. It is situated on a 500-square-meter property. During its restoration between 2004 and 2005, hidden archaeological extensions were discovered beneath the rubble, along with modern buildings, several arches, and two-story rooms on the northern side. Numerous Arabic inscriptions and carvings dating back to the medieval Ayyubid period were also found.