From e.d.wardini@easteur-orient.uio.no Mon Jun 5 21:17:18 1995 Date: Sun, 28 May 1995 14:33:44 +0200 From: Elie Wardini To: ANE@mithra-orinst.uchicago.edu, et.al. Subject: Archeology in Beirut Dear colleagues and friends, I have just been on the phone with Dr. Albert Naccache in Beirut. He sends his greetings. We discussed at length what we can do to help preserve the archeological sites that have been discovered in Beirut center. The dilemma is difficult. Should one proceed with building "new Beirut" without taking into account the old Beirut? All would agree that one needs to strike a balance. This is easy as a matter of principle, but difficult when it comes to detail. How much time should archeologists have to survey the area, how much money should be used on preservation (rather than on construction). The answers are in no way easy. One would nevertheless assume that time, effort and necessary funding would be made availabe at least to make a good survey of the area and point out which sites are worth preserving and which can be destroyed. This much the authorities in Beirut have nominally conceded. According to Dr. Naccache, the archeologists who are working in the field are doing their best. He recomends most of them. The problem is that they are given time frames and working conditions that are impossible. Archeologists have to make decisions on the spot. When they are delayed the bolldozers get to work. Moreover archeologists have no authority over the contrcution workers. The bulldozers are throwing tons of archeological remains into the sea. The sites in Beirut offer a unique opportunity for the recovery of the past of the city. I believe that we should do something to help influence the situation. Earlier, we have tried sending letters to the authorities in Lebanon and abroad. This helps keep the persons in charge aware of their duties. We should keep up these letters (The information I have is that theere are very many who have sent in letters, see below for the addresses). The problem is that the authorities have decided to turn the deaf ear to these letters. They are ignored. Dr. Naccache has suggested the following: that a team of independant archeologists visit Lebanon as soon as possible to assess on the ground the claims of all sides, those who are satisfied with work and those who are not. Together with this visit, we should be able to keep the issue alive in the media. Dr. Naccache, after being at first given a green light to publish an article in one of the major newspapers in Beirut, was later not allowed to publish a report on the state of the archeological sites in Beirut which he characterizes as "the greates archeological catastrophy in the 20th century". We should thus do something in our respective milieux. (There will probably be a report in the French news paper "Le Monde" either Wedsenday or Thursday this week, I am informed by Dr. Naccache). I follow Dr. Naccache's suggestion, and would urge as many as possible, of those who are interested whether you yourself can travel to Lebanon or not, to put our efforts together to organize a trip to Lebanon as soon as possible. We can set up a discussion group. I can cordinate the mail so that we can set up a temporary list. You can contact me on the following: Elie Wardini Department for East-European and Oriental Studies Semitic languages Post Box 1030 Blindern 0315 Oslo Norway tel. off.: +47 - 22 85 71 21 home: +47 - 22 19 03 49 fax: +47 - 22 85 41 40 e-mail: e.d.wardini@easteur-orient.uio.no Following is the fax-number of those whom we can contact to inform them about our concern: Minister of Culture and Higher Education, Mr. Michel Edde: +961-1-423432 World Heritage Committee contact: World Heitage Center c/o UNESCO 7 Place de Fontenoy, F-75352 Paris, 07 SP France tel. (33 1) 45 66 40 67 Fax (33 1) 40 65 98 97 ICOMOS Paris Secretariat fax: +33-1-40659897 ICOMOS US Secretariat fax: +1-202-842-1861 ICOMOS Canada Secretariat fax: +1-613-749-0971 Elie Wardini Department for East-European and Oriental Studies Semitic languages Post Box 1030 Blindern 0315 Oslo Norway tel. off.: +47 - 22 85 71 21 home: +47 - 22 19 03 49 fax: +47 - 22 85 41 40 e-mail: e.d.wardini@easteur-orient.uio.no