Lebanon’s Heritage, What’s Underwater?
Maritime Archaeology in Lebanon: Insights from
the Honor Frost Foundation and the AUB Archaeological Museum
Date: 25 August 2025
Time: 6:45 pm meeting begins and 7:00 pm talk starts
(Beirut Time GMT+3)
Speakers: Elissa Nader and Hsein Sleiman (English)
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The Talk
This talk will begin with an introduction to
maritime archaeology, exploring the origins and development of the discipline.
We will then focus on Lebanon as a case study, examining how this field is
contributing to the study of the country’s underwater cultural heritage.
The discussion will continue with an overview of
current research and projects, highlighting the contributions of the Honor
Frost Foundation(HFF) to the field, as well as an
introduction to the Marine Sciences and Culture program at the American
University of Beirut supported by HFF, and the ongoing projects at the AUB
Archaeological Museum.
Elissa Nader is an active team member of the Honor
Frost Foundation in Lebanon, holding an MSc in Maritime Archaeology from
the University of Southampton. She currently supervises offshore
fieldwork, including geophysical and diving surveys, while also leading public
engagement activities and exhibitions at the Blue House in Beirut, under the
direction of Dr. Lucy Semaan.
In addition to her research, she is involved in
archaeological rescue missions in collaboration with the Directorate General
of Antiquities. Elissa’s Master’s Thesis explored the maritime narratives
presented in Lebanese archaeological museums.
Hsein Sleiman
Hsein Sleiman is an archaeologist at the AUB
Archaeological Museum specializing in Classical Archaeology and Archaeometry, with a minor in
Maritime Archaeology. His Master’s Thesis explores the use of STEM-based
methods in the study of stone and terracotta sarcophagi from
Beirut and Sidon.
In addition to his administrative role at the AUB
Archaeological Museum, he currently coordinates its Phoenician
Maritime Networks project, supported by a grant from he Honor Frost Foundation.
In parallel, Hsein writes for the Mons Culturae Press,
a publisher based in the Pyrenees, producing research on mountainous cultures from both
archaeological and folkloric perspectives.
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