2nd phase of excavation in Masnaat Mariya done

Dhammar, June 21 (Saba) - The American archeological mission finished second phase of archaeological excavation in
Masnaat Mariya in Ans district of Dhammar governorate.

Ail Daifullah al-Sanbandi, head of the General Organization for Antiquities and
Museums office in the governorate said that the mission made field survey for the
place and
detailed map for several sites in the region.

The mission registered 32 archeological sites in the region since its work in 2007,
he said.

Head of the mission Krista Lewis said that the mission used modern tools to draw
the map, saying that the mission would continue its works in coming years after
finshing
maps and registering sites.

Masnaat Mariya is pre-Islamic Himyarite archaeological site is one of the largest
in the Yemen. In the local language the name means the fortress of Maria. A name
such as
this has obvious affinities to early Christianity. It is important as a large
escarpment site partly of late pre-Islamic date.