Preserving Lebanon's coastal archaeology: Beirut, Sidon and Tyre

Lebanon is a key region in understanding the development and evolution of seafaring infrastructure and shipping, providing one of the richest and most continuous maritime archaeological records in the Mediterranean. Recent geoarchaeological work at Beirut, Sidon and Tyre has underlined the significance of studying this historical archive and the importance of preserving archaeological resources for the future. All three sites have a rich cultural heritage, both on land and at sea, and the aim of this paper is to precisely outline these areas and propose a protection plan for the immediate future. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.