PAL.M.A.I.S. Recherches et fouilles d’une nouvelle Mission conjointe syro-italienne dans le quartier sud-ouest de Palmyre = PAL.M.A.I.S. Research and excavation by a new joint Syro-Italian mission in the southwest quarter of Palmyra

A new archaeological project started in Palmyra in 2007 with the creation of an Italian–Syrian joint mission (PAl.M.A.I.s.), formed by the Università degli Studi of Milan and the General directorate of Antiquities and Museums of Damascus. The research concerns an area that has not been investigated systematically so far, that is, the southwest quarter between the Hellenistic city to the south and the Roman Imperial Age quarter to the north. Since 2008 the research has focused on the most monumental structure of the area, the so called Peristyle building, uncovering nine rooms on the western and northern sides of the building. the Peristyle building clearly shows a long period of development, from the Roman age (2nd–3rd century AD), to which belongs the rich decoration consisting of fine stucco, plaster and precious coloured marbles, to the Byzantine–Umayyad period (7th–8th century).