The temple became a favorite spot to which pilgrims came from all sides on the great festivals, to offer homage at the sacred shrines.

Votive offerings, in the shape of inscribed clay cones, and little clay images of Bel and of his female consort, were left in the temple as witnesses to the piety of the visitors.

The archives were found to be well stocked with the official legal documents dating chiefly from the period of 1700 to 1200 B.C., when the city appears to have reached the climax of its glory.

Other parts of the mound were opened at different depths, and various layers which followed the chronological development of the place were determined.[9] After its destruction, the sanctity of the city was in a measure continued by its becoming a burial-place.

The fortunes of the place can thus be followed down to the ninth or the tenth century of our era, a period of more than four thousand years.