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THE NORTHERN LEBANON PROJECT (NOLEP)

Coordinators: Marco Iamoni & May Hayder
Partners: University of Udine, Lebanese University, Directorate General of Antiquity (Lebanon), IFPO.

The Northern Lebanon Project (NoLeP) is a regional investigation carried out by a joint mission directed by M. Iamoni (University of Udine) and M. Haider (Lebanese University, 3rd Branch Tripoli) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Antiquities of Lebanon and Ifpo-Beirut. Via intensive and extensive surveys covering the area of Koura and Zgharta, NoLeP aims to reconstruct the regional settlement pattern from the time of the earliest human presence up to the area’s recent history. Though several historical references and sporadic investigations suggested that the region was of the utmost importance for the archaeology of Lebanon – and more in general of the Levant – no systematic investigations had been carried out thus far in the inner area of Koura. NoLeP is the first project with the goal of building, as much as possible, a coherent and a complete picture of the numerous phases of occupation that characterised the region. The project focuses particularly on the formation of urban settlements during the Bronze Age, their transformation during the Iron Age, and the impact of large empires during Hellenistic-Roman-Byzantine times. The strategic position of the area under examination and its favourable environmental conditions suggest that the region may play a key role in understanding the development of local human communities and their interaction with neighbouring regions – in particular, the coast, the plain of Akkar and the internal Valley of the Beqaa.

The Northern Lebanon Project (NoLeP): News

LATEST NEWS

The Northern Lebanon Project (NoLeP): News
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SHORTLISTED FOR HERITAGE-LED INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

June 10, 2021

The Northern Lebanon Project (NoLeP) is an archaeological research project that investigates an area of about 100 km2 in Koura, a region located near the modern city of Tripoli. To achieve NoLeP’s targets, a joint Italian - Lebanese multidisciplinary team was formed between the University of Udine and the Lebanese University - 3rd Branch, with the participation of the General Directorate of Lebanese Antiquities (DGA) and the Institut français du Proche-Orient (IFPO) in Beirut. Financial support was provided by the University of Udine, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the NGO COSV.

“This is a good example of the positive effects of heritage-led international collaborations in a country facing many challenges, not only related to the heritage itself. The project has engaged local inhabitants, raised awareness of this heritage, and allowed exchanges between local communities and international experts”, the Jury stated.

Press release

The Northern Lebanon Project (NoLeP): Pro Gallery
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