In the Ottomantax registers of 1596, it was a village located the nahiya of Butayna, QadaofHawran, under the name of Atman. It had a population of 29 households and 15 bachelors, all Muslims. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 40% on agricultural products, including wheat, barley, summer crops, goats and beehives; a total of 8,000 akçe.[2]
In 1838, during Ottoman rule, Ataman was listed as a khirba (ruined or deserted village) in the Nukrah region by scholar Eli Smith.[3]
Ataman contains a few ancient ruins that were occupied by residents in the early 20th century.[4] According to orientalists Enno Littmann and Howard Crosby Butler, Ataman was likely not an ancient town, but rather "a group of fine residences, or villas, with a common monumental tomb".[4] Among the more notable ruins are an ancient bridge and a large mausoleum. The mausoleum consists of a large stone building topped by a square structure built in the Corinthian architectural form.[5] The mausoleum is the most preserved of Ataman's ancient remains. Just north of the building are ruined structures consisting of parts of ancient columns, large windows and doorways.[4]
Syria
