2000 year-old Roman tomb discovered beneath Mar Mikhael

During work to reinforce the foundations of a traditional building dating back to the 1920s in Mar Mikhael, Beirut, a tomb from the Roman era was uncovered beneath the structure. It is believed to date back to the first century AD, revealing remains that had been preserved beneath the city for nearly 2,000 years.

The discovery brings together two chapters of Beirut’s history: Roman Beirut on one hand, and the city’s early 20th-century architectural heritage on the other.

Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities is currently carrying out excavation and documentation work at the site, while the heritage building itself is set to undergo restoration and rehabilitation.