Lebanon archaeological finds continue despite war

Lebanon is still reporting archaeological discoveries, including Roman temple remains, ancient olive presses and stone quarries, even as the Israel-Hezbollah war has halted excavations in dangerous areas.

In Maasser al-Shouf, southeast of Beirut, archaeologists have uncovered remains of columns and bases from a large Roman temple that regional antiquities official Myriam Ziade said dates from between the first century BC and the second century AD. She said the site was later turned into a Crusader fortress between the 12th and 13th centuries.

Ziade said archaeologists are expected to resume work soon at the site, which lies near a cedar forest and on routes linking the Mediterranean coast to the Bekaa valley.

Sarkis Khoury, head of antiquities at Lebanon's culture ministry, said the war had shifted priorities toward protecting endangered heritage in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa, especially around Baalbek. He said excavations in dangerous areas had stopped and foreign archaeological teams were no longer travelling to Lebanon.

UNESCO in July 2026 added several Lebanese sites to its World Heritage in Danger list, including Tyre and five castles in south Lebanon's Jabal Amel area.

Some work is continuing elsewhere. In Batroun, north Lebanon antiquities official Samar Karam said a Roman-era olive press, pottery weights, textile production items, two stone quarries and rooms from Phoenician, Persian and Roman periods had been found. In Beirut, archaeologist Laure Salloum said recent discoveries included remains of a Roman-era olive press, while work was continuing to search for part of a Roman hippodrome.