A number of the capital’s real estate developers, all anxious to get their projects up and running as soon as possible, are voicing their frustration over the delays brought on by protracted excavations by archeologists at sites planned for development.

Tourism-related activities and real estate seem at odds at times in this country of both modern and ancient.

Real estate in Lebanon, and particularly in the capital, is one of the country’s most lucrative sectors. With the average square meter of land worth $3,500, Beirut often stars among the world’s most expensive capitals.

And, with relics strewn across the country and potentially undiscovered ones only a few meters below the surface, Lebanon is also both a treasure trove for archeologists and a leading tourist destination in the region.

Sporting five U.N. World Heritage Centers – Baalbek, Byblos, Sidon, Anjar, Quadisha Valley – countless tourists flock to Lebanon annually hoping to get a glimpse at the myriad of civilizations that have left their imprints on this small country on the Mediterranean.

These two aspects of Lebanon have been a boon for the economy in recent years.

However, a distinct problem arises when the work of salvaging ancient relics or preserving them happens to take place on lands planned for development: delays.

These delays, and particularly in the capital say developers, can drag on from a few months up to a year. They cite several developments of ritzy apartments, fancy offices, and mixed-use commercial buildings in the upscale area of the capital that are already behind schedule because basement excavations have yielded archeological finds that, in this city, can easily be two or more millennia old.

Real estate developers are reluctant to go on the record with information on the value of the affected projects and the expected rates of financial returns that they had promised their investors. But they lament that archeology-related project delays are costing them millions of dollars every year. They also claim that these real estate development delays have a negative impact on the Lebanese economy.

While not in total agreement with claims made by developers, some experts in the field of archeology and preservation acknowledge that the work on the project sites is often progressing slower than it could. This sluggishness at times, they add, has to do with a shortage in the number of qualified professionals which the responsible government agency, the Culture Ministry’s Directorate General of Antiquities, can call upon.

	“Why do we have to put development ahead of history and heritage?” Seif asked. “Heritage is what defines us.”

In central Beirut, the conflicts of interest potential between real estate development and reclamation of items of historic value is most pronounced. This is because there is tremendous appetite to develop the capital, which the DGA considers of high historical value. Finds like the magnificent Roman baths in between Parliament and the Grand Serail are a testament of the historical richness that Beirut rests upon.

According to Lebanese law, it is mandatory for developers to notify the DGA before they embark on any construction work in Downtown Beirut. The DGA then has supervisory authority of the site throughout the excavation period, and if ancient ruins are found, it steps in to excavate, map and document the dig site and salvage significant antiquities that may be discovered.

This process can take from a few months to several years and some developers view it as both time-consuming and costly.

When a construction project does unearth signs of antique remnants, the DGA appoints archeologists to undertake the necessary excavations and the site developer is responsible for financing their work, according to Assaad Seif, coordinator of Archaeological Research and Excavations at the DGA.

Hans Curvers, a Dutch heritage consultant who has been working in Lebanon for over 16 years, told The Daily Star that the problem in such excavations lies in the intricate work conducted by the few qualified archeologists operating at the DGA.

“Archeologists have always been a pain in the neck for developers,” Curvers said. He added that developers were abiding by the law and acknowledged that archeological excavations were affecting them.