About the Mission

The Central Bekaa Archaeological Mission grew out of the earlier DPM Bekaa project, launched in 2020 to study population dynamics and occupation patterns in Central and Western Bekaa. That first phase brought together Ifpo, the Lebanese University, and Archeorient, and created the foundation for a more focused archaeological program in the Anjar region.

Following survey work, the mission concentrated on Anjar because of the presence of well-preserved sites and the urgent need to protect threatened cultural heritage. In 2023, a new funded phase began with field operations under the Central Bekaa Archaeological Mission, a collaboration between Archeorient, Universite Lumiere Lyon 2, Ifpo, the Lebanese University, and the Directorate General of Antiquities.

Excavation is focused on two principal sites: Tell Deir Zanoun and Tell Salhiye/Shamssine. Tell Deir Zanoun is a large tell of about 7.4 hectares with preserved archaeological deposits of major scientific value. Tell Salhiye/Shamssine is another important tell where excavations have revealed well-preserved occupation phases, including Chalcolithic and medieval remains.

The scientific goals of the mission are organized around three main themes: economy and environmental exploitation, spatial organization and territory, and interactions and influences. These themes are explored through excavation, stratigraphic analysis, landscape archaeology, geophysical prospection, aerial documentation, ceramic and artefact studies, archaeometry, archaeobotany, zooarchaeology, and the study of river systems and geomorphology.

The project is strongly interdisciplinary and relies on GIS and database tools to manage spatial and archaeological data. It also has an important training dimension, supporting Lebanese and international students through fieldwork, research projects, and knowledge transfer across archaeology, bioarchaeology, spatial analysis, and heritage documentation.