Tell Arqa

Tell Arqa is an archaeological site in Akkar District containing nearly 9,000 years of occupation from the Neolithic period through the Crusader era. The excavations reveal different layers stacked on top of each other, each showing a different time and culture.

The site began as a Phoenician city and later became the Roman city known as Caesarea Libanensis. Ancient writings including the Amarna letters and Assyrian records mention this place as a significant settlement.

The pottery and building remains from the Bronze Age show this was a major trading hub connected to Cyprus and other Mediterranean regions. You can see in the excavation layers how much exchange happened between different cultures.

The site lies about 22 kilometers northeast of Tripoli near the Lebanese village of Miniara and is accessible for exploration. Access conditions can vary depending on weather and local circumstances, so it is helpful to gather information before visiting.

During the Iron Age this location served as a strategic outpost where city-states joined forces in a major military alliance. This coalition played a significant role in the conflicts that shaped the region during that era.