Following this investigation, the site was excavated between 1972 and 1974 as part of a joint operation of the Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies and the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan under the direction of Richard P.

[2] Since then, the site has disappeared under the rising waters of Lake Assad, the reservoir created by the Tabqa Dam.

[3] The excavations revealed that the site was largely abandoned during the Early Islamic period, probably after an earthquake in 859 CE caused much destruction.

[2] Dibsi Faraj was strategically located on a hilltop overlooking agricultural fields and grazing grounds.

By combining different sources, most scholars agree that Dibsi Faraj should be identified with Athis during the Early Roman occupation of the site.