A single rumor was enough to ignite chaos in southern Syria: thousands of civilians headed to a construction site in the town of Al‑Hara in the al‑Sanamayn area of Daraa Governorate, after reports circulated on Syrian networks of an ancient cave filled with gold. The crowd streamed into the site on Saturday night in the dark hoping for treasure — but found no gold; instead they uncovered a Roman‑era tomb.
Syria’s government‑aligned security forces rushed to the scene in an attempt to disperse the growing crowd. Videos circulated on social media showed residents storming the construction site while gunshots rang out in the air from security forces attempting to restore order.
Gold rush in the town of Al-Hara in Syria
The local administrator of al‑Sanamayn, Wael al‑Zamel, tried to calm the situation, clarifying that the rumors were unverified. He stated that during the excavation of a cellar beneath one house a small opening was discovered and that no depth or nature of the space was confirmed, and certainly no evidence of gold.
Interior security forces were deployed and a team from the Directorate of Antiquities was called in for a professional examination. Al‑Zamel urged the public “not to fall prey to rumors,” warning that the density of the crowd and the gathering could lead to disaster. A curfew was later imposed in the town until 6:00 a.m.
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Thousands of civilians headed to a construction site in the town of Al‑Hara looking for gold
Despite the official clarifications, eyewitnesses told the Syrian newspaper Al‑Watan that thousands had arrived from Daraa and Quneitra‑governorate areas, yet none discovered any promised treasure. According to them, similar rumors about gold sites had previously circulated under the Assad regime, and after security forces dispersed the crowds those present claimed the gold had been taken. Residents of Al‑Hara said the region is known for ancient finds, and that a common belief holds there is a buried ancient city beneath the soil — which fuels speculations whenever new diggings occur. Some even warned that the mass rush into the hole could cause nearby buildings to collapse.
However, official statements from the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in Daraa presented a different picture: no gold was found — but a Roman‑era tomb was. According to the announcement, part of the soil collapsed during the digging and a professional team arriving at night discovered the tomb. Additional finds included: a fragment of a bronze bracelet, a terracotta lamp, a small and a larger pottery jar, a Greek‑inscribed stele and a camel‑shaped statuette. All the items were transferred to the Antiquities Department in Daraa for conservation and will be sent to the local museum.
The Syrian Directorate of Antiquities and Museums stated on Sunday that “the information circulating on social networks about a cave full of gold is not correct.” They added that the site is a burial archaeology one which requires careful preservation works. “Syrian cultural heritage is a national treasure, and any real discovery will be published transparently only through the official channels.”