‘Research in the land of cedars’
The archaeologists of Pázmány Péter Catholic University initiated their research in Lebanon in 2012, in collaboration with local experts from the Université Saint-Esprit de Kaslik. Their first major excavation site was the Dayr al-Salib cave monastery, located in the UNESCO World Heritage Qadísha Valley. This excavation, led by Dr. Grace Homsy-Gottwalles, involved not only the archaeological dig but also the research of the monastery's unique wall paintings, with support from colleagues at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts.
From 2018 onward, under the co-management of Dr. Hany Kahwagi-Janho, the team expanded their efforts to the documentation and excavation of a medieval castle in the northern Lebanese settlement of Menjez. Known as Felicium, the fortress was built on a rocky outcrop of ancient ruins and included a large fortified suburb. The fieldwork began with aerial photography of the site and geodetic surveys, which enabled the creation of a detailed 3D model and an accurate plan of the fortress. The second season of excavation focused on open soundings in the castle's temples and suburbium.
In addition to these key projects, researchers and students from the Institute of Archaeology have contributed to the archaeological work at various other medieval sites across Lebanon in recent years.
