Past Watch Site

With a settlement history spanning some 1,200 years, the cultural landscape of Iskandarouna-Naqoura, including the site of Umm el-Amed, is rich in archaeological remains and natural resources. Among the visible remains at the site, which was occupied from the Phoenician through early Byzantine periods (seventh century B.C. – fifth century A.D.), are a number of temples with Doric capitals, Phoenician stelae, and a Byzantine church with mosaics.

With no efforts to protect them, the site’s archaeological remains have suffered as a result of war, unsympathetic development, steady erosion, structural collapse, and vandalism. A paucity of resources in the region has thwarted any preservation effort. Recently, however, representatives from the United Nations Environmental Program and the Lebanese Ministry of Environment have been working with the local municipality to develop a general coastal area management plan that takes into consideration the significance of the cultural landscape and its preservation needs. The plan, however, has yet to be drafted and it may be years before any implementation takes place.

Last update: 2004