Beirut and Lebanon before 1975 civil war part 3

HISTORY The earliest traces of habitation date from the Stone Age when the area, now known as Beirut, was in fact two islands in the delta of the Beirut River. Later, when the river silted up, the area became one landmass. It seems likely that the area has been continuously occupied throughout prehistory. Its location is favorable with fresh water and abundant fish from the sea. According to tradition, the first city was founded by the people of Byblos. The first historical reference to Beirut dates from the 15th century BC, when it is mentioned in a tablet with cuneiform script discovered at Tell aI-Amama in Egypt, but the city is older than that. Between Martyrs Square and the sea port, a Canaanite site has been uncovered dating back to 1900 BC. This Bronze Age city has an entrance gate of dressed stone. Nearby are the remains of Phoenician canals with sloping sides. The Phoenicians had reused the Canaanite stones as well as smooth, round stones brought from the Beirut River. New light on the obscure origins of this city may be shed by the excavations now underway in the Downtown district – the site of the original city. Large areas have had to be bulldozed in order to redevelop the center of the city, giving archaeologists a unique opportunity to dig beneath the accumulated strata. From finds already uncovered, it is clear that the city was larger and more significant than had been previously thought, but deep excavations may be hampered by the time limit set for the …

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