This surface hydrology dataset complements 13 other datasets as part of a study that compared ancient settlement patterns with modern environmental conditions in the Jazira region of Syria. This study examined settlement distribution and density patterns over the past five millennia using archaeological survey reports and French 1930s 1:200,000 scale maps to locate and map archaeological sites. An archaeological site dataset was created and compared to and modelled with soil, geology, terrain (contour), surface and subsurface hydrology and normal and dry year precipitation pattern datasets; there are also three spreadsheet datasets providing 1963 precipitation and temperature readings collected at three locations in the region. The environmental datasets were created to account for ancient and modern population subsistence activities, which comprise barley and wheat farming and livestock grazing. These environmental datasets were subsequently modelled with the archaeological site dataset, as well as, land use and population density datasets for the Jazira region. Ancient trade routes were also mapped and factored into the model, and a comparison was made to ascertain if there was a correlation between ancient and modern settlement patterns and environmental conditions; the latter influencing subsistence activities. All surface hydrology was captured for this dataset including ephemeral streams such as wadis. This dataset's attributes include stream order (0 to 6) and types (ephemeral, intermittent and permanent) and values. Settlement pattern evidence suggests that water runoff, from ephemeral and seasonal streams, could have been used to irrigate crops? Rainfall patterns in the Jazira region indicate more for higher elevations, this occurring during wetter times of the year (winter and spring). Surface hydrology line data captured from the following 1:200,000 French series maps: 1) NI-37 XVII, Abou Kemal 2) NI-37 XVIII, Ana 3) NI-37 XXI, Ressafe 4) NI-37 XXII, Raqqa 5) NI-37 XXIII, Deir ez Zoir 6) NI-37 XXIV, Bouara 7) NI-37-III, Djerablous 8) NJ-37 IV, Toual Aaba 9) NJ-37 V, Hassetche 10) NJ-37 VI, Qamishliye-Sinjar 11) (No sheet number), Qaratchok-Darh Dresse par la Service Geographique des F.F.L. en 1945 Reimprime par l'Institut Geographique National en 1950 (Originally produced by this Geographic Service of the F.F.L. (Forces Francaises Libres) in 1945 and reprinted by the National Geographic Institute in 1950). Paris: France. Institut Geographique National, 1945-1950. Original map series might be traced to Beirut: Bureau Topographique des Troupes françaises du Levant, 1933-1938.The surface hydrology dataset was captured from 11 map sheets, which were based on the French Levant surveys conducted in Syria during the 1930s and mapped at a scale of 1:200,000. The size of each map measures 69 x 59 cm. The surface hydrology lines on each sheet were traced to mylar. Subsequently, each mylar sheet was photocopied and reduced in size to an 11 x 17 inch sheet. These sheets were merged to form the contiguous area comprising the full extent of the boundary for the study area. This was then traced again to another mylar sheet and subsequently scanned and cleaned for further processing and use in a GIS. GIS vector data. This dataset was first accessioned in the EDINA ShareGeo Open repository on 2010-06-30 and migrated to Edinburgh DataShare on 2017-02-21.ESRI Shapefile