Qalaat el-Hosn: archaeology, landscape and communities in the High Shouf, Lebanon

On Tuesday 17 November 2026, at 11 am, in Room 5TM of the Morselli Building, at the Bizzozero Campus in Varese, the seminar “Qalaat el-Hosn: Monuments, Landscapes and Communities in the High Shouf – Lebanon” will take place. The event will focus on archaeological research and the preservation and promotion of the cultural and landscape heritage of the High Shouf region in Lebanon.

The seminar is part of the international REVEAL project, co-funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and coordinated by the University of Insubria through the Dipartimento di Scienze Teoriche e Applicate, in collaboration with Italian and Lebanese institutions and organisations.

Launched in 2025, the project builds on and expands archaeological research that began in 2018 at the Qalaat el-Hosn site, in the village of Maasser el-Shouf. Ongoing investigations are uncovering a temple structure and a monumental complex with several phases of construction, providing new insights into the history of settlement and changes in the mountain landscape.

Through an interdisciplinary approach combining archaeology, architectural analysis, geoarchaeology and palaeoenvironmental studies, REVEAL promotes a better understanding of cultural heritage and its protection. Alongside scientific research, the project includes educational activities, training initiatives and opportunities for local community engagement.

The seminar will provide an opportunity to present the latest research findings and explore the role of international scientific cooperation in preserving and promoting archaeological heritage and supporting the sustainable development of the region.

Speakers will include Myriam Ziadé, from the Directorate General of Antiquities of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture, responsible for the Saida and Southern Mount Lebanon region, and Silvia Festuccia, from the University of Insubria, identified as the scientific director of the REVEAL project in the event materials.

The seminar will also be available via live streaming.