In 2017, as part of the cooperation between the Faculty of Archaeology and the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, a team from the Archaeological Geospatial Laboratory of the Faculty of Archaeology and Geospatial Sciences participated in research projects during a two-week visit to Lebanon. Among these projects, the survey of the Byblos Crusader fortress was particularly successful. This work, conducted under the supervision of Dr. Gábor Bertók and at the request of Dr. Anis Chaaya, aimed to map the water supply system of the fortress, including cisterns and canals, using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). The research utilized a 160 MHz radar antenna, which is well-suited for detecting underground structures. To ensure precision, geodetic measurements were taken at the corners of the surveyed areas, allowing the radar data to be aligned with the known ground plan of the castle.
The surveys yielded significant findings about the water management system of the fortress. Water collection cavities and cisterns were identified below the floor levels of the northeast and northwest towers. In the corridor west of the donjon, a canal running parallel to the residential tower in a north-south direction was detected, along with its associated cistern. No notable features were found around the central residential tower. These findings provided valuable insights into the design and functionality of the water infrastructure within the Byblos Crusader fortress.
Dr. Gábor Bertók
Project Leader
Department of Non-Destructive Archaeology
