In Roman Baalbek, World Bank helps restore recent history too
BEIRUT -- Downtown Baalbek is getting a contemporary facelift, and unearthing some ancient treasures along the way, as part of a [World Bank] project aimed at increasing the social economy of the historic city. [Baalbek -- Heliopolis in ancient times -- is known for its Roman temple ruins.]
[The project] focuses on restoring 200- to 300-year-old buildings around downtown Baalbek and...includes a third, smaller, contract committed to the restoration of mud brick houses. There are currently five such houses receiving restoration under the contract with hopes of the traditional habitats becoming touristy treasures...
Three large mosaics have been discovered nearly intact, and then recovered until archaeologists figure out how to move them without damaging or exposing the ancient artworks to excess sunlight.
Roman sarcophaguses, bones and pottery pieces have been found, as well as Roman pathways, irrigation systems and old foundations from houses over the last three centuries...
[The World Bank] is also operating development projects in Jbeil, Sidon, Tyre and Tripoli.
Read entire article at Daily Star (Beirut)
[The project] focuses on restoring 200- to 300-year-old buildings around downtown Baalbek and...includes a third, smaller, contract committed to the restoration of mud brick houses. There are currently five such houses receiving restoration under the contract with hopes of the traditional habitats becoming touristy treasures...
Three large mosaics have been discovered nearly intact, and then recovered until archaeologists figure out how to move them without damaging or exposing the ancient artworks to excess sunlight.
Roman sarcophaguses, bones and pottery pieces have been found, as well as Roman pathways, irrigation systems and old foundations from houses over the last three centuries...
[The World Bank] is also operating development projects in Jbeil, Sidon, Tyre and Tripoli.