Tell Tweini, (also Tell Toueini, both transliterations of the Arabic تل تويني) possibly the ancient town of Gibala, is a 12 hectare archaeological site located 1 kilometre east of the modern city of Jableh, Syria.

The town may have been ancient Gibala, a city mentioned in a treaty found at Ugarit (modern Ras Shamra) from the 13th century BCE.

The site seems to have been settled during the Early Bronze Age IV period when structures were built on top of the limestone plateau.

1700 BCE), based on numerous grave goods such as well-preserved ceramic vessels, bronze pins, a cylinder seal and a figurine.

A number of Cypriot ceramics – which were not only found in the tomb, but also in its fill layers – underline the mercantile relations between Cyprus and the Levant during this period.

The numerous imports found in the Late Bronze Age levels at Tell Tweini confirm the existence of an elaborate network of international relations and commercial activities.

The clear in situ contexts with similar material evidence point to a revival of the site before catapulting into the more monumental Iron Age II period during the 9th century BCE.

A number of rooms and structures were probably reused from the underlying 6GH level, complemented with newly constructed buildings with an extension similar to the Late Bronze Age settlement.

900-500 BCE), showing a new orientation of the city structure, with an elaborate street system connecting several monumental buildings, including a Phoenician temple district, with domestic and industrial areas.

Numerous imports of Cypriot pottery at Tweini reflect the expanding economic and commercial network between Cyprus, Phoenicia and inner Syria.

Only scattered sherds, remains of tombs and some installations found in Field A and B, albeit on a very limited scale, refer to the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.

Beginning in 1999, Tell Tweini was investigated by a Syro-Belgian interdisciplinary team led by Michel al-Maqdissi, Joachim Bretschneider and Karel Van Lerberghe.

[5][6][7][8][9] The Syrian team worked in Field B while the Belgian team worked in Fields A and C. Major discoveries include a Phoenician sanctuary, a large communal tomb from the end of the Middle Bronze Age containing 58 human remains, a large city wall, several domestic and public structures from the Iron Age I-II and multiple small finds.

However, the presence of sheep, goats, and cattle remains suggests that meat and dairy were also part of their diet, albeit occasionally.