Byblos — Southern Harbour Ancillary Breakwater
Byblos Breakwater
Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE)·Bronze–Iron Age maritime·🇱🇧 Mount Lebanon, Byblos, Lebanon
About
About Byblos — Southern Harbour Ancillary Breakwater
Byblos — Southern Harbour Ancillary Breakwater in Mount Lebanon, Byblos, Lebanon is a Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE) submerged city attributed to Bronze–Iron Age maritime. Systematic survey and photogrammetry document radiocarbon sequence. The site includes a principal citadel and workshop area. Dimensions grid 210 m × 180 m; mole 85 m long × 7 m wide; area 1.8 ha. Excavation partially-excavated; condition submerged 3–6 m. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Bronze–Iron Age maritime submerged-city with stratified sequence and landscape setting at -4 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function and labor organization
- 02Construction technique
Theories
- 01Ritual landscape model
- 02Ceremonial centre
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1500 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE)
- Culture
- Bronze–Iron Age maritime
- Purpose
- Submerged harbour and urban insulae under sea
- Rediscovered
- 2004
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1085 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1951
Antiquarian record, modern excavation from 1960s
On the ground
Structures & features
34.1200° N · 35.6500° E · -4 m · 4 mapped features
- North Quay MolemoleNorth Quay Mole at Byblos — Southern Harbour Ancillary Breakwater — mole with stratified deposits34.1197° N · 35.6489° E
- Street Grid InsulainsulaStreet Grid Insula at Byblos — Southern Harbour Ancillary Breakwater — insula with stratified deposits34.1179° N · 35.6483° E
- Harbour BasinbasinHarbour Basin at Byblos — Southern Harbour Ancillary Breakwater — basin with stratified deposits34.1211° N · 35.6522° E
- Warehouse TerracewarehouseWarehouse Terrace at Byblos — Southern Harbour Ancillary Breakwater — warehouse with stratified deposits34.1205° N · 35.6523° E
Gallery