CROSSDEV: “Life on the mountain” exhibition opening in Lebanon

APJM - CROSSDEV

On Friday the 18^th of December, as part of the CROSSDEV project and in collaboration with the Phoenicians' Route Center in Byblos, the LAU - Louis Cardahi Foundation and the Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa invited experts and partners to the opening of the “Life on the mountain” Exhibit to explore centuries of sustainable interaction between Man and Nature in Jabal Moussa UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the legendary Valley of Adonis.

The event took place in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio Monseigneur Joseph SPITERY, the executive director of the foundation Dr. Rachid CHAMOUN, the President of the Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa (APJM) Mr. Pierre DOUMET, co-founder and board member of APJM Mr. Salah Honein, Dr. Claude Doumet Serhal (special assistant to the British Museum) and interested people and experts.

The opening started in the conference room with a documentary featuring the CROSSDEV project and highlighting pioneer archaeological findings in Jabal Moussa.

Dr. Chamoun then welcomed the audience, emphasizing on the commitment of the LAU-Louis Cardahi Foundation to continue collaboration with its European and Lebanese partners, and stressing that Lebanon will emerge from this crisis stronger.

Dr. CHAMOUN and Mr. DOUMET during their speeches

The exhibition will be up until April 30th as it is considered an educational tool addressing cultural institutions, schools and universities, and aims to contribute to the conservation of the cultural heritage of Jabal Moussa and Byblos.

"How wild is the forest?"

Mr. DOUMET started his presentation with this question and proceeded to discuss the traces of historical uses around the mountain within the seemingly wild landscapes of Jabal Moussa, starting with forest coppicing, and detailing the traditional charcoal production.

He then explained how the trees were used as energy resource for iron smelting or in lime producing activities in Jabal Moussa, and how water streams were used to power local watermills.

The same trails we hike on today have been walked on by our ancestors for hundreds and thousands of years

Mrs. Barakat
APJM project manager for CROSSDEV

Images of the exhibition

Finally, attendees toured the exhibition guided by Mrs. Joelle Barakat. She explained how the archaeological surveys revealed that the mountain had always been a living space, where humans have lived sustainably, prayed and buried their dead.

The tour focused on the natural heritage of Jabal Moussa, which is one of the main attractions for tourists and will be enhanced to welcome new people in the future, within the CROSSDEV’s framework.

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Guides and visitors during the tour