Ebla, the old capital that was discovered in 1977 by Paolo Matthiae with its royal archives and with its 15000 tablets from the third Millennium BC. The outer walls of the citadel were up to 30 m thick, pierced by four gateways flanked by wide bastions topped with towers. The citadel includes two extensive residential areas on the north and west sides of the acropolis. The best preserved remains are the segements of the royal palace so far exposed on the west side of the citadel, giving some idea of the city's splendour during its apogee. These remains include the royal quarters on the upper part of the west side; on the slopes, an administrative area linked to a monumental audience court and stairway; and a residential district linked to the palace at the foot of the citadel. Three underground chambers formed out of natural caves lay beneath the administrative area and were later (18C BC) used for princely burials during the period 11825-1650. The palace archives were found in the southern part of the administrative zone.
North of the mound are remains of an Amorite palace under a Persian/Hellenistic villa and (to the north) a temple to the sun god, Shamash.