Ras Beirut ("Tip of Beirut") is an upscale residential neighborhood of

Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...

. It has a mixed population of

Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words '' Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ ...

Muslims Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

, Druze, and secular individuals. Ras Beirut is home to some of Beirut's historically prominent families, such as the Bekhazi Rebeiz family, the Daouk family, the Itani family, the Sinno family, and the Sidani family family, the Beyhum family and others. Included in the area are a number of international schools and universities, including the American University of Beirut (AUB) and International College Beirut (IC).

Archaeology

In 1946,

Henri Fleisch Reverend Father Henri Fleisch (1 January 1904 – 10 February 1985) was a French archaeologist, missionary and Orientalist, known for his work on classical Arabic language and Lebanese dialect and prehistory in Lebanon. Fleisch spent years rec ...

from Saint Joseph University made an unstratified, open-air survey of the marine terraces of Ras Beirut recovering various artifacts. Flints have also been recovered by walkers on the nearby beaches. The area is separated from the Sands of Beirut sites by the Wadi Abu Chahine or "South Creek" which begins south of the Continental Hotel area. It is an important site for Quaternary studies and has been published in various works by Fleisch,

Auguste Bergy Reverend Father Auguste Bergy (12 May 1873 – 31 August 1955) was a French Jesuit archaeologist known for his work on prehistory in Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or ...

in 1932,Bergy, Auguste., La paléolithique ancien stratifié à Ras Beyrouth, Mélanges de l'Université Saint Joseph, Volume 16, 5-6, 1932. L. Dubertret in 1940 and 1948, Wright in 1960 and 1962, Raoul Describes in 1921,Describes, Raoul., Quelques ateliers paléolithiques des environs de Beyrouth, Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph: Volume VII, 1921.

Dorothy Garrod Dorothy Annie Elizabeth Garrod, CBE, FBA (5 May 1892 – 18 December 1968) was an English archaeologist who specialised in the Palaeolithic period. She held the position of Disney Professor of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge from 1 ...

in 1960 and R. Neuville in 1933.Neuville, 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. Stratified sites are numbered in chronological order with unstratified sites at the end. The first four sites contain stratified Lower Paleolithic industries from the beach level, the next five are stratified Middle Paleolithic with a gap in stratified sites to the

Chalcolithic The Copper Age, also called the Chalcolithic (; from grc-gre, χαλκός ''khalkós'', "copper" and ''líthos'', "stone") or (A)eneolithic (from Latin '' aeneus'' "of copper"), is an archaeological period characterized by regular ...

found at site XI. Intervening periods including the Levalloiso-

Mousterian The Mousterian (or Mode III) is an archaeological industry of stone tools, associated primarily with the Neanderthals in Europe, and to the earliest anatomically modern humans in North Africa and West Asia. The Mousterian largely defines the l ...

were well represented in surface finds along with a substantial amount of

Neolithic The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several p ...

material on a terrace. Collections are held in the American University of Beirut and the

Museum of Lebanese Prehistory The Museum of Lebanese Prehistory (french: Musée de Préhistoire Libanaise, ar, متحف ما قبل التاريخ اللبناني) is a museum of prehistory and archaeology in Beirut, Lebanon. History The museum is the first museum of prehist ...

. Many of the sites have been built on and completely destroyed by urbanisation. Ferris wheel and the corniche

Ras Beirut I or The Slope Breccia is on a steep

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

cliff, above Rue Zenzir, west of Rue Jinnah at around above sea level. It was found by Henri Fleisch and published in 1946, 1956Fleisch, Henri., Depôts préhistorique de la Côte libanaise et leur place dans la chronologie basée sur la Quaternaire Marin, Quaternaria, Volume 3, 1956. and 1960Fleisch, Henri., Les conditions générales de la préhistoire au Liban, Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique Française, Volume 57, 3–4, p. 174, 1960a. along with Howell in 1959 and Garrod in 1962 and 1965. An Early

Acheulean Acheulean (; also Acheulian and Mode II), from the French ''acheuléen'' after the type site of Saint-Acheul, is an archaeological industry of stone tool manufacture characterized by the distinctive oval and pear-shaped "hand axes" associated ...

Abbevillian Abbevillian (formerly also ''Chellean'') is a term for the oldest lithic industry found in Europe, dated to between roughly 600,000 and 400,000 years ago. The original artifacts were collected from road construction sites on the Somme river near ...

rolled 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. Ras Beirut II or The Offshore Bar is a

fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...

bar of flint, gravel and marine organisms, 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 1959Howell, F., Upper Pleistocene Stratigraphy and Early Man in the Levant, Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Volume 103, 1959. and Dorothy Garrod in 1960. Numerous pieces with no bifaces were found and considered to be

Tayacian The Tayacian is a Palaeolithic stone tool industry that is a variant of the Mousterian. It was first identified as distinct by Abbé Breuil from the site of La Micoque in Les-Eyzies-de-Tayac although since then the cave at Fontéchevade has become ...

with some Levallois influence. The site possibly still exists under the road. Ras Beirut III or Depots A. and B. is northeast of Rue Jinnah and was again found by Father Fleisch who published his studies in 1950 and 1956. Depot A contained an Early Levallois industry with bifaces and a type of pick resembling Bir Hassan picks. Ras Beirut IV or Bergy's Trench is east of Pigeon Rock, around beneath the soil on the slope of the terrace. The site was found by

and published in 1932. Henri Fleisch also studied the area with and published some new discoveries in 1956. Early Levalloisian industries were found including bifacial Bir Hassan picks in the layer on the bedrock. Larger flint flakes were found in the 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. Ras Beirut V (a) or Bergy's "plus 8" Beach is south of Pigeon Rock on the way to St. Elie beach at around above sea level opposite the Continental Hotel. A layer of pebbles, marine shells and flints in the sandstone was found by

and studied by Dubertret in 1937 and 1940, de Vaumas in 1947, Haller in 1945, Fleisch in 1956 and 1962,Fleisch, Henri., La Côte libanaise au Pleistocène ancien et moyen, Quaternaria, Volume 6, 1962. Howell in 1959 and Dorothy Garrod in 1960. Levalloisian materials are more evolved at this site and a Micro-Levalloisian series of tools were also found. Ras Beirut V (b) or South Creek Trench is the same fossil beach in a section on the south bank of South Creek, north of Ras Beirut V (a). It was discovered by Henri Fleisch and published in 1956. Two varieties of Levalloisian were found, one with finely produced thin flakes, the other with coarse thick ones. A Micro-Levalloisian industry accompanied it. Ras Beirut VI is north of Raoul Describes excavations at Minet ed Dhalia at the head of a small bay between two stream beds on a terrace. A Micro-Levalloisian industry was found by Henri Fleisch and published in 1948 and 1956 dating to the time when the sea level regressed. Ras Beirut VII or South Creek is 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 long cavity in the cliff filled with soils. Fleisch found Levalloisian and Micro-Levalloisian industries in the upper layers. The site has now disappeared. Ras Beirut VIII or Bay of Pigeon Rock is 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 1954Fleisch, Henri., Nouvelles stations préhistoriques au Liban, Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique Française, Volume 51, p. 564, 1954. and 1956. Ras Beirut IX or Depot facing cote 34 was discovered by Fleisch opposite the start of the Rue Jinnah (cote 34), south of Pigeon Rock. The material is suggested to date to the time when the sea had retreated from the level and consists of a Levalloisian industry with

influence with large, thin flakes. Some Micro-Levalloisian pieces were also found. Ras Beirut X or Bain Militaire was originally called Sud Phare by its discoverer,

. It was mentioned by Fleisch in 1956 as being in a rainwater gully, south of Bain Militaire. Material was suggested to be of the Levallois form with some Bir Hassan picks similar to those at Ras Beirut III and IV but from a different level. Ras Beirut XI or Minet ed Dhalia is on the second headland south of Pigeon Rock on the terrace and was excavated by Raoul Describes in 1914, publishing his studies in 1921 and originally suggesting he had found a large number of tools and waste from a

Solutrean The Solutrean industry is a relatively advanced flint tool-making style of the Upper Paleolithic of the Final Gravettian, from around 22,000 to 17,000 BP. Solutrean sites have been found in modern-day France, Spain and Portugal. Details ...

industry in the black soil that covered the limestone headland at a depth of . Neuville and Haller studied the site and materials again in 1933, reclassifying it as

with a lower Middle Paleolithic level along with an intervening later that Describes had missed.

Jacques Cauvin Professor Jacques Cauvin (1930 – 26 December 2001) was a French archaeologist who specialised in the prehistory of the Levant and Near East. Biography Cauvin started his work in France at Oullins Caves and Chazelles Caves (near Saint-André- ...

has compared it with the Énéolithique Ancien period at

Byblos Byblos ( ; gr, Βύβλος), also known as Jbeil or Jubayl ( ar, جُبَيْل, Jubayl, locally ; phn, 𐤂𐤁𐤋, , probably ), is a city in the Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate of Lebanon. It is believed to have been first occupied between 8 ...

suggested to date between 3800 and 3650 BCE. The site is notable for a type tool called the Minet ed Dhalia point ''(pictured)''; a stylet ranging from to in length and may have been fleshing tools, but their exact use is uncertain. These were first observed by Dawson in 1884 and later by

Godefroy Zumoffen Reverend Father Godefroy Zumoffen (1848 in France – 1928) was a French Jesuit archaeologist and geologist notable for his work on prehistory in Lebanon. He is known particularly for pioneering Lebanese archaeology, and for discovering seve ...

in 1910, The industry includes javelins, borers, picks and assorted other tools. It has been described by

Lorraine Copeland Lorraine Copeland (born Elizabeth Lorraine Adie, 1921April 2013) was a British archaeologist specialising in the Palaeolithic period of the Near East. She was a secret agent with the Special Operations Executive during World War II. Early life ...

and

Peter Wescombe Peter Wescombe (4 January 1932 – 25 November 2014) was a British diplomat, amateur archaeologist, historian and founding member of the Bletchley Park Bletchley Park is an English country house and estate in Bletchley, Milton Keynes ( Bu ...

as ''"probably the richest factory site in Lebanon"'' with hundreds of pieces recovered and held in the

National Museum of Beirut The National Museum of Beirut ( ar, متحف بيروت الوطنيّ, ''Matḥaf Bayrūt al-waṭanī'' or French: Musée national de Beyrouth) is the principal museum of archaeology in Lebanon. The collection begun after World War I, and the m ...

. Ras Beirut XII is thought to be in the area below the lighthouse and was found by Describes. It is recorded as a surface

site but appears to be a group of

pick along with factory waste. Construction of a playing field has covered the site with a false layer. Ras Beirut XIII or Field south of Pigeon Rock is a cultivated field on the headland south of Pigeon rock where a surface site was found by Auguste Bergy and published in 1932. The Levallois industry is nicknamed Golden Mousterian due 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. Ras Beirut XIV or AUB Campus is part of the Ras Beirut station within the grounds of the American University of Beirut discussed by Zumoffen where thick, white Middle Paleolithic flakes were found on the slopes above the 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.

Notable families from Ras Beirut

* Ayass Family * Chatila Family * Daouk Family * Itani Family * Yamout Family * Takkoush Family * Bekhazi Family * Rebeiz Family * Sinno family * Labban family

Streets

Bliss Street Bliss Street, or Rue Bliss, is one of the principal streets of the Hamra area, which is within the Ras Beirut District of Beirut in Lebanon. The street, which is parallel to Hamra Street, runs east-west, connecting with Rue Clémenceau on t ...

Rue Clémenceau Rue Clemenceau is a commercial and residential street in Beirut, Lebanon. The street was named in honor of Georges Clemenceau who accepted the post of premier of France in 1917 during World War I. The neighborhood straddling Clemenceau Street was ...

* Rue Madame Curie *

Avenue General de Gaulle Avenue Général de Gaulle is a seaside, palm-lined street in Beirut, Lebanon. The avenue, which was named in honor of the French general and president Charles de Gaulle, forms with Avenue de Paris the Corniche Beirut promenade. The avenue runs n ...

Hamra Street Hamra Street or Rue Hamra ( ar, شارع الحمراء) is one of the main streets of the city of Beirut, Lebanon, and one of the main economic and diplomatic hubs of Beirut. It is located in the neighborhood of the same name, Hamra. Its te ...

Rue Jeanne d'Arc Rue Jeanne d'Arc is a street in Beirut, Lebanon named in honor of Joan of Arc, one of the patron saints of France. By 1919, Rue Jeanne d'Arc was one of the main arteries that radiated from Bliss Street and by 1930, the urbanization of the street h ...

Rue John Kennedy Rue John Kennedy is a street in Beirut, Lebanon. The street, originally called Rue Perthuis, was renamed in honor of President John F. Kennedy on November 30, 1963.Middle East forum, Volumes 39-40, page 112 The street, which is located in the Ras ...

Avenue de Paris Avenue de Paris is a seaside, palm-lined street in Beirut, Lebanon. The avenue, which forms with Avenue General de Gaulle the Corniche Beirut promenade, is popular with rollerbladers, cyclists and joggers. Benches The municipality of Beirut ini ...

Rue de Phénicie Rue de Phénicie or Phoenicia Street is a street in Beirut, Lebanon. The street runs north–south from the Mediterranean uphill to where Rue John Kennedy meets Rue Omar Daouk, intersecting along the way Rue Ibn Sina, Rue London, and Rue Rustom ...

Rue George Post Rue George Post is a street in Beirut, Lebanon. The street, which is located in the Ras Beirut district, was named after Dr. George Edward Post, one of the founders of the American University of Beirut. Dr. Post was professor of surgery (1869 u ...

Rue Van Dyck Rue Van Dyck is a street in Beirut, Lebanon. The street, which is located in the Ras Beirut district, was named after Cornelius Van Allen Van Dyck, who was professor of pathology and internal medicine in the medical school at the American Universit ...

Corniche Beirut The Corniche Beirut is a seaside promenade in the Central District of Beirut, Lebanon. Lined with palm trees, the waterfront esplanade has views of the Mediterranean and the summits of Mount Lebanon to the east. Corniche Beirut has its foundat ...

References

{{coord, 33, 54, N, 35, 28, E, display=title, region:LB_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki Neolithic settlements Archaeological sites in Lebanon Neighbourhoods of Beirut