L’Enceinte Sacrée et les origines de Byblos

The Sacred Enclosure of Byblos, initially believed to be the oldest monument in the city dating back to the late 4th millennium BCE, has been re-evaluated through stratigraphic and architectural analysis. Research demonstrates that its earliest phase is no older than the first half of the 3rd millennium BCE, coinciding with the establishment of Byblos as a Mediterranean metropolis rather than evolving from a prehistorical village. This challenges the traditional paradigm of continuous urban development, suggesting Byblos emerged ex nihilo, founded on a protohistoric settlement without direct continuity.

Chanteau, J. (2014). L’Enceinte Sacrée et les origines de Byblos. Syria, 91, 35–54. https://doi.org/10.4000/syria.2096