White Monument

White Monument is a large mound in northastern Syria built some 4,400 years ago. It is called “White Monument” because it is covered by gypsum. The structure’s height is 22 metres and the diameter is 100 metres.

This giant mound was recently reinterpreted as the world’s oldest war memorial. This interpretation was based on the burial data and artefacts. It was earlier a series of smaller mounds or tumuli used for local burials from 2,700 BCE. Later, these smaller mounds were covered to create a large structure. It was shaped like a stepped pyramid in its early days.