Domed-houses in Manbij still preserve their splendor

In the southwest villages of Manbij city, 27 kilometers away from the city center, ancient clay domed-houses capture the attention in the villages of Muharraq, Arima, Awsajli, al-Rehaniyya (al-Marwah), and other villages that dates back to nearly 100 years.

Why were they dwelt historically?

Historically, humans inhabited in houses of various shapes and sizes, including caves in the Stone Age, clay houses, and tents up to the present day where modern buildings are existed.

Human life is greatly affected by the environmental conditions. Some civilizations have been around since ancient times and still maintain their existence.

The villages were distinguished by domed-house because of building materials. The villagers resorted to clay houses and built them in the form of circular domes to protect them from rain.

"We used to build domes in a circular to prevent rainwater from penetrating the roofs," 95-years-old Mohammed, an Arab from the village of Rehaniyyah (al-Marwah) in the western countryside of Manbij said.

Cooperation is the key feature in this era

For years, clay domed-houses had been the ideal residence for the countryside residents, as the primary materials of construction were restricted to clay, water, and hay; these materials are available to all countryside people.

Domed-houses took 6 days to build, and the spring and summer were the best times to build them. People used to gather to build domes together. Each one of them used to do something; some prepared the clay, others cut clay bricks and some built the dome. They used to share the work.

In this context, Mohammed says, "During the construction of the domes, there was bless, pleasure and self-reliance in reconstruction. Everyone used to live a beautiful and indescribable participatory life. There was nothing artificial."  

Man left dwellings in domes due to urbanization and modernity of construction

The availability of modern building materials contributed in changing the nature of houses and building materials. Clay houses became human habitation in villages only, but in a small percentage of clay houses remained as an archaeological and cultural heritage.

Mohammed explains that they were building several rooms of clay with domes. They are cool in summer and warm in winter.

Their survival is a cultural and civilizational heritage

Domes are abundant in some villages in Manbij, where some of the villagers preserve them to remain a historical and cultural heritage, so some people have restored them with cement in order not to be destroyed and not to lose their impact and beauty, and they have become an archaeological monument preserved by generations.

Mohammed asserts that he prefers to live in them because they represent their ancient history and their legacy that they cannot erase from their minds.

Clay houses were in a period of time a safe haven for humans from cold, heat and rain water, so we find those who lived in that era like to stay there because they spent their childhood there.

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ANHA