French Institute of Archaeology in Beirut

About

The French Institute of Archaeology in Beirut (IFAB, also known as the French Institute of Archaeology in Beirut) was a French research institute established in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1946, devoted to the study of archaeology, history and epigraphy of the Levant. He played an important role in the study and preservation of the archaeological heritage of the Levant, particularly in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, until his reorganization in 1977 as the French Institute of Near East Archaeology (IFAPO), later becoming part of the French Institute of the Near East (IFPO) in 2003. The institute was founded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was initially headed by Henri Seyrig, a prominent French archaeologist and former director of antiquities in Syria and Lebanon during the period of the French mandate. IFAB was known for its extensive library, considered one of the best in the Middle East, and for its contributions to archaeological research, including excavations, prospecting and restoration.