Princeton Expeditions to Syria (1899, 1904-1905, 1909)

30

ed Dêr

On a high elevation quarter of a mile westward from Kefr Kîla stands a square tower still preserving its three stories of small openings -it is easily visible from a number of the surrounding ruined towers and is surrounded by the remains of a small building.

Both tower and ruins were built of large blocks of stone.

The name which is of ancient Aramaic origin signifies a convent but the remains are scarsely of sufficient extent to have been a convent of any importance while the site and solidity of the building are not unsuitable for a defended watch tower. On the other hand an elaborately carved symbolical tablet + and a number of curiously designed crosses seem to point to a religious purpose.

+see sketch