Orthostats and portal lions of the Hittite era were excavated. Also several monumental blocks with hieroglyphic luwian inscriptions have been found that date from 9th century BCE.
Four of the stones were found in the walls of some buildings in Hama. They are among the very first artifacts that attracted the modern day researchers to the existence of a Hittite civilization and language. The stones were first spotted by Bruckhardt in 1812 without paying much of an atention. In 1870 they were also noticed by American travellers J.A. Jessup and Dr. Johnson but locals believed the stones had mystical powers and would not tolerate anybody moving them. They were finally moved by Dr. W. Wright in 1872 with the help of the new governor of the area to the museum in Istanbul. The basalt stones are from the Late Hittite period, 9th century BCE. The inscriptions are building inscription of Urhilina (King of Hamath, mid 9th century BCE) and his son Uratamis.
Other similar blocks that were found in 1958 and 1970 that are currently in Hama Museum, and ones found in Restan (Musée du Louvre), Apamea (Aleppo Museum), and Hines (Iraq?) are also belong to Urhilina or his son Uratamis.
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