The first Beirut Souk area excavations were made possihle by a generous research grant from the Leverhulme Trust, England, to the American University of Beirut. Thanks to these funds a team of fourteen experts in urban archaeology and information technology are able to participate in the research excavations and post-excavation analyses. By sponsoring a major research project in urban archaeology, the Leverhulme Trust participated in the rediscovery of the historic city of Beirut and helped train Lebanese urban archaeologists.

Despite acute space shortage on campus, AUB houses the archaeology computer headquarters, the ceramic and finds workshop, and the environmental unit.

INTERLINK SAL

Propelled the archaeology unit of AUB's History & Archaeology Department into the year 1994, by providing the hardware and software necessary for computer recording, processing, analyses and archiving - just in time to cope with the speed of the reconstruction and development plans.

MUSTAPHA CHABBANI & ASSOCIATES OF

Produced the on-site posters providing public information about the excavation site and results.

Helped urban archaeology in Beirut by facilitating travel arrangements from London for British participants in the excavations.

Having informed the scientific community in 1993 that the souk area represented a priority in the reconstruction process, SOLIDERE made the mobilisation of archaeological teams possible.

By inspiring efficient coordination between urban planners working on the project and archaeologists, SOLIDERE has also ensured that the reconstruction of this sector of the City Center integrates the results of archaeological fieldwork and research.

SOLIDERE has financed most of the archaeological fieldwork in addition to the present publication.

----------------

al@mashriq                       960118/960118