Day of Italian-Lebanese archaeological projects in Lebanon

There have long been Italian-led research projects in Lebanon.  To highlight Italy’s commitment to archaeology and its excellent cooperation with the host country, the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Beirut organized the ‘Day of Italian-Lebanese archaeological projects in Lebanon: comparing experiences and research prospects’. The event took place on 30 September 2021 at the Auditorium of the Hadat Campus at the Lebanese University, attended by lecturers, students, researchers and archaeologists.

The event was also attended by the new Minister of Culture Muhammad Wissam Al-Mortada and the Director General of the Directorate General of Antiquities Sarkis El Khoury, while the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Human Sciences of the Lebanese University, Prof. Mohamed Rabah, brought greetings from the Rector of the Lebanese University.

In her speech, Ambassador Nicoletta Bombardiere described the efforts of Italian archaeologists, engaged in five active projects in the country, placing archaeological activity in the broader context of Italy’s commitment in Lebanon. This commitment takes the form of archaeological projects carried out in collaboration with the Directorate General of Antiquities and, thanks to the Cooperazione allo Sviluppo italiana, programmes for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage and urban development. Indeed, Italy is engaged in different locations and historical contexts: the restoration of the six columns of the Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek, the Roman archaeological site of Tyre, the castle of Shama and the castle of Sidon.

This strong commitment was acknowledged by the Minister of Culture Muhammad Wissam Al-Mortada who praised Italy for its numerous operations in the cultural sphere, including the reconstruction of the Sursock Museum damaged by the explosion at the port of Beirut last year.

As regards the Italian projects more directly, the Director General of Antiquities Sarkis El Khoury expressed his satisfaction with the work carried out under the coordination of the Directorate General for Antiquities and with the strong ties between our countries. A further positive element, it was emphasised, is the local economic, tourist and social impact that the Italian presence has had in the country.

The projects were represented by both the Italian scientific directors and the Lebanese co-directors and involve prestigious Italian research bodies and universities: CNR (Dr Ida Oggiano, Kharayeb Project: reconnaissance and excavation in the territory north of the Litani. Co-director Wissam Khalil of the Lebanese University), Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples (Prof. Silvia Festuccia, Multidisciplinary Italian-Lebanese Archaeological Project in Maasser el-Shouf – Qalaat El-Hoson, MeSAP. Co-director Myriam Ziadé from the General Directorate of Antiquities of Lebanon), University of Udine (Dr Marco Iamoni, Northern Lebanon Archaeological Project – PALiS. Co-director May Haider of the Lebanese University), Sapienza University of Rome (Dr Marta D’Andrea, Prospecting and Research in the Region of Tyre. Co-directors Ali Badawi of the General Directorate of Antiquities of Tyre and May Haider from the Lebanese University) and University of Sassari (Prof. Michele Guirguis, Archaeological Research at Oum El-Amed. Co-director Hassan Ramez Badawi from the Lebanese University.