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Ras Beirut

Coordinates:33°54′N35°28′E/ 33.900°N 35.467°E/33.900; 35.467
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Manara neighbourhood in Ras Beirut

Ras Beirut(Arabic:رأس بيروت,lit. 'tip of Beirut') is an upscale residential neighborhood inBeirut,Lebanon. It has a mixed population ofChristians,MuslimsandDruze,and is associated with nonsectarian relations between members of thee groupings.[1]

Ras Beirut is home to some of Beirut's historically prominent families, such as the BekhaziRebeizfamily, theDaoukfamily, theItanifamily, theSinnofamily, and theSidanifamily,[2]theBeyhumfamily and others.[3]Included in the area are a number of international schools and universities, including theAmerican University of Beirut(AUB) andInternational College Beirut(IC).

Archaeology

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In 1946, the archaeologist and priestHenri FleischfromSaint Joseph Universitymade an unstratified, open-air survey of the marine terraces of Ras Beirut, and recovered various artifacts.[4]Flints have also been recovered by walkers on the nearby beaches.[5]The area is separated from theSands of Beirutsites by the Wadi Abu Chahine or "South Creek" which begins south of the Continental Hotel area. It is an important site forQuaternarystudies and has been published in various works by Fleisch,Auguste Bergyin 1932,[6]L. Dubertret in 1940 and 1948, Wright in 1960 and 1962,[7][8]Raoul Describesin 1921,[9]Dorothy Garrodin 1960 and R. Neuville in 1933.[10]Stratified sites are numbered in chronological order with unstratified sites at the end. The first four sites contain stratifiedLower Paleolithicindustries from the 45 metres (148 ft) beach level, the next five are stratifiedMiddle Paleolithicwith a gap in stratified sites to theChalcolithicfound at site XI. Intervening periods including theLevalloiso-Mousterianwere well represented in surface finds along with a substantial amount ofNeolithicmaterial on a 45 metres (148 ft) terrace. Collections are held in theAmerican University of Beirutand theMuseum of Lebanese Prehistory.Many of the sites have been built on and completely destroyed by urbanisation.[11]

Minet ed Dhalia Point. Also called a "stylet". Discovered at Shemlan. White patinated flint.

Ras Beirut IorThe Slope Brecciais on a steeplimestonecliff, above Rue Zenzir, west of Rue Jinnah at around 52 metres (171 ft) above sea level. It was found by Henri Fleisch and published in 1946, 1956[12]and 1960[13]along with Howell in 1959[14]and Garrod in 1962 and 1965. An EarlyAcheuleanorAbbevillianrolled biface was found by Fleisch in the breccia above Rue Jinnah that predates all of the other tools found at Ras Beirut. An abundant Middle Acheulean industry was also found.[11]

Ras Beirut IIorThe Offshore Baris afossilbar of flint, gravel and marine organisms, 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) under the soil next to and under Rue Jinnah. It was studied by Henri Fleisch during the digging of a drainage trench who published results in 1951 and 1954. It is also mentioned by Howell in 1959[14]and Dorothy Garrod in 1960. Numerous pieces with no bifaces were found and considered to beTayacianwith someLevalloisinfluence. The site possibly still exists under the road.[11]

Ras Beirut IIIorDepots A. and B.is northeast of Rue Jinnah and was again found by Father Fleisch who published his studies in 1950 and 1956.[12]Depot A contained an EarlyLevalloisindustry with bifaces and a type of pick resemblingBir Hassan picks.

Ras Beirut IVorBergy's Trenchis 100 metres (330 ft) east of Pigeon Rock, around 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) beneath the soil on the slope of the 45 metres (148 ft) terrace. The site was found byAuguste Bergyand published in 1932.[6]Henri Fleisch also studied the area with and published some new discoveries in 1956.[12]EarlyLevalloisianindustries were found including bifacialBir Hassan picksin the 20 centimetres (7.9 in) layer on the bedrock. Larger flint flakes were found in the 80 centimetres (31 in) layer above this. Fleisch recovered more of the earlier type of industry when the Corniche Road was widened and is suggested to still exist under a side road that leads to the Federal Hotel.[11]

Ras Beirut V (a)orBergy's "plus 8" Beachis 800 metres (2,600 ft) south of Pigeon Rock on the way to St. Elie beach at around 15 metres (49 ft) above sea level opposite the Continental Hotel. A layer of pebbles, marine shells and flints in the sandstone was found byAuguste Bergyand studied by Dubertret in 1937 and 1940, de Vaumas in 1947, Haller in 1945, Fleisch in 1956[12]and 1962,[15]Howell in 1959[14]and Dorothy Garrod in 1960. Levalloisian materials are more evolved at this site and aMicro-Levalloisianseries of tools were also found.[11]

Ras Beirut V (b)orSouth Creek Trenchis the same fossil beach in a section on the south bank of South Creek, 100 metres (330 ft) north of Ras Beirut V (a). It was discovered by Henri Fleisch and published in 1956.[12]Two varieties of Levalloisian were found, one with finely produced thin flakes, the other with coarse thick ones. A Micro-Levalloisian industry accompanied it.[11]

Ras Beirut VIis 200 metres (660 ft) north ofRaoul Describesexcavations at Minet ed Dhalia at the head of a small bay between two stream beds on a 15 metres (49 ft) terrace. A Micro-Levalloisian industry was found by Henri Fleisch and published in 1948 and 1956 dating to the time when the 15 metres (49 ft) sea level regressed.[11]

Ras Beirut VIIorSouth Creekis on the west side of the Corniche road, west of the Continental Hotel where the Wadi Abu Chahine drops to sea level. The site is on the north bank of the stream in a 5 metres (16 ft) long cavity in the cliff filled with soils. Fleisch found Levalloisian and Micro-Levalloisian industries in the upper layers. The site has now disappeared.[11]

Ras Beirut VIIIorBay of Pigeon Rockis in a gully on the south cliff in the Bay of Pigeon Rock. Material was recovered in brecciated beach deposits representing a Levalloisian industry with traces of Micro-Levalloisian, this was studied by Fleisch and published in 1954[16]and 1956.[12]

Ras Beirut IXorDepot facing cote 34was discovered by Fleisch opposite the start of the Rue Jinnah (cote 34), 500 metres (1,600 ft) south of Pigeon Rock. The material is suggested to date to the time when the sea had retreated from the 15 metres (49 ft) level and consists of a Levalloisian industry withMousterianinfluence with large, thin flakes. Some Micro-Levalloisian pieces were also found.[11]

Ras Beirut XorBain Militairewas originally calledSud Phareby its discoverer,Auguste Bergy.It was mentioned by Fleisch in 1956 as being in a rainwater gully, 200 metres (660 ft) south of Bain Militaire.[12]Material was suggested to be of the Levallois form with someBir Hassan pickssimilar to those at Ras Beirut III and IV but from a different level.[11]

Ras Beirut XIorMinet ed Dhaliais on the second headland south of Pigeon Rock on the 15 metres (49 ft) terrace and was excavated byRaoul Describesin 1914, publishing his studies in 1921 and originally suggesting he had found a large number of tools and waste from aSolutreanindustry in the black soil that covered the limestone headland at a depth of 1 metre (3.3 ft).[9]Neuville and Haller studied the site and materials again in 1933, reclassifying it asChalcolithicwith a lowerMiddle Paleolithiclevel along with an intervening later that Describes had missed.[10]Jacques Cauvinhas compared it with theÉnéolithique Ancienperiod atByblossuggested to date between 3800 and 3650 BCE.[17]The site is notable for a type tool called theMinet ed Dhalia point(pictured);a stylet ranging from 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 8 inches (20 cm) in length and may have been fleshing tools, but their exact use is uncertain. These were first observed by Dawson in 1884 and later byGodefroy Zumoffenin 1910,[18]The industry includesjavelins,borers, picks and assorted other tools. It has been described byLorraine CopelandandPeter Wescombeas"probably the richest factory site in Lebanon"with hundreds of pieces recovered and held in theNational Museum of Beirut.[11]

Ras Beirut XIIis thought to be in the area below the lighthouse and was found by Describes. It is recorded as a surfaceAcheuleansite but appears to be a group ofNeolithicpick along with factory waste. Construction of a playing field has covered the site with a false layer.[11]

Ras Beirut XIIIorField south of Pigeon Rockis a cultivated field on the headland south of Pigeon rock where a surface site was found by Auguste Bergy and published in 1932.[6]The Levallois industry is nicknamedGolden Mousteriandue to it having a yellow or gold colour and sheen. Forms include large, broad flakes along with medium-sized points and blades with many pieces having traces of concretion.[11]

Ras Beirut XIVorAUB Campusis part of the Ras Beirut station within the grounds of theAmerican University of Beirutdiscussed by Zumoffen where thick, white Middle Paleolithic flakes were found on the slopes above the 15 metres (49 ft) terrace that have now been turned into a playing field next to International College Steps. Some Golden Mousterian pieces were found further down the slope.[11]

Notable families from Ras Beirut

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Streets

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References

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  1. ^Deeb, Lara. It is described as a (multisectarian haven).Lara Deeb, Tsolin Nalbantian, & Nadya Sbaiti. (2023). Practicing Sectarianism: Archival and Ethnographic Interventions on Lebanon. Stanford University Press. MLA 9th Edition (Modern Language Assoc.) Lara Deeb, et al. Practicing Sectarianism: Archival and Ethnographic Interventions on Lebanon. Stanford University Press, 2023. APA 7th Edition (American Psychological Assoc.) Lara Deeb, Tsolin Nalbantian, & Nadya Sbaiti. (2023).; Nalbantian, Tsolin; Sbaiti, Nadya (2022). "8: When Exposure is Not Enough".Practicing Sectarianism: Archival and Ethnographic Interventions on Lebanon.Redwood City, CA: Stanford University Press. pp. 167–177.ISBN9781503631090.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^Picture, Lebanon in a."Sidani Street, - Lebanon in a Picture".lebanoninapicture.Retrieved2019-02-20.
  3. ^"Beirut%2C%20Lebanon - List of Cities and Towns".placebeam.Retrieved2016-08-29.
  4. ^Eric M. Meyers; American Schools of Oriental Research (1997).The Oxford encyclopedia of archaeology in the Near East.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-506512-1.Retrieved12 April2011.
  5. ^Salwa C. Nassar Foundation for Lebanese Studies (1970).Beirut--crossroads of cultures.Librairie du Liban.Retrieved12 April2011.
  6. ^abcBergy, Auguste., La paléolithique ancien stratifié à Ras Beyrouth, Mélanges de l'Université Saint Joseph, Volume 16, 5-6, 1932.
  7. ^Wright, H.E., Late Pleistocene Geology of Coastal Lebanon, 3rd Symposium, Wenner Grenn Foundation for Anthropological Research on "Early man and Pleistocene Stratigraphy in Circum-Mediterranean Regions", 1960.
  8. ^Wright, H.E., Late Pleistocene Geology of Coastal Lebanon, Quaternaria, Volume 6, 1962.
  9. ^abDescribes, Raoul., Quelques ateliers paléolithiques des environs de Beyrouth, Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph: Volume VII, 1921.
  10. ^abNeuville, R., Notes de préhistoire syro-palestinienne: (1) L'industrie dite Solutrienne de Minet el Dhalia (Liban); (2) La station de Ouadi Hallaoueh (Liban), Journal of the Palestine Oriental Society, Volume XIII, 1933.
  11. ^abcdefghijklmnLorraine Copeland; P. Wescombe (1965).Inventory of Stone-Age sites in Lebanon, p. 116-123.Imprimerie Catholique.Retrieved21 July2011.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^abcdefgFleisch, Henri., Depôts préhistorique de la Côte libanaise et leur place dans la chronologie basée sur la Quaternaire Marin, Quaternaria, Volume 3, 1956.
  13. ^Fleisch, Henri., Les conditions générales de la préhistoire au Liban, Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique Française, Volume 57, 3–4, p. 174, 1960a.
  14. ^abcHowell, F., Upper Pleistocene Stratigraphy and Early Man in the Levant, Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Volume 103, 1959.
  15. ^Fleisch, Henri., La Côte libanaise au Pleistocène ancien et moyen, Quaternaria, Volume 6, 1962.
  16. ^Fleisch, Henri., Nouvelles stations préhistoriques au Liban, Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique Française, Volume 51, p. 564, 1954.
  17. ^Cauvin, Jacques., Les industries lithiques du tell de Byblos (Liban), L'Anthropologie, Volume 66, 5-6, 1962.
  18. ^Zumoffen, Godefroy., Le Néolithiqueen Phénicie, Anthropos, Volume 5, Plate V, p. 150, 1910.

33°54′N35°28′E/ 33.900°N 35.467°E/33.900; 35.467

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