Archaeologists Uncover Lost Tunnels Beneath Beaufort Castle Lebanon During Routine Excavation
LEBANON — In a startling discovery that has captured global attention, a team of Lebanese and international archaeologists has uncovered a network of previously unknown subterranean tunnels beneath Beaufort Castle Lebanon, a medieval fortress perched high above the Litani River. The finding occurred on October 25, 2024, during a routine restoration project aimed at reinforcing the castle’s eastern foundation.
According to Dr. Samir Khalil, head of the Lebanese Directorate General of Antiquities, the tunnels were discovered by accident when a ground-penetrating radar indicated a large void beneath a collapsed section of the castle’s outer wall. Subsequent excavation revealed a 300-meter-long passageway, carved from limestone, featuring intricate Crusader-era carvings and storage chambers.
Why these tunnels were built remains a subject of intense speculation. Historians previously believed Beaufort Castle Lebanon, which has changed hands from Crusaders to Mamluks and later to modern militias, lacked a significant subterranean network. However, preliminary analysis of artifacts recovered from the site—including pottery shards, iron tools, and a silver coin minted in 1187—suggests the tunnels served as a secret escape route or logistics corridor during the Siege of Beaufort.
Authorities have sealed the area to the public, and a full-scale archaeological survey is expected to begin in November 2024. Dr. Khalil emphasized that the discovery could rewrite the history of Crusader fortifications in the Levant. The tunnels are now considered one of the most significant archaeological finds in Lebanon this decade.