Tyre & Sidon (united between 10th and 9th centuries BC, divided around the beginning of the 7th century BC)

Tyre and Sidon were the two most important cities of Phoenicia. Characterized by natural coves during the Bronze Age, the cities had artificial harbor infrastructure after the first millennium BC. After the burial of the ancient basins, after the first millennium AD, the two harbours remained exceptionally preserved due to the preservation properties of the sedimentary context and the presence of the water table.

New geoarchaeological research has revealed that the ancient harbours lie beneath the modern urban centres. This discovery will help to increase the knowledge of Phoenician maritime archaeology and could help us to understand how Phoenician trade was organized. Phoenicians were very active in international trade as they were using and extending Bronze networks, which allowed them to expand in the Mediterranean Sea.

Since 1998, a multi-disciplinary team (under the auspice of the British Museum, UNESCO World Heritage and the AIST/LBFNM) has been conducting research on the ancient harbours of Lebanon and their palaeoenvironmental history.