Agenda

Come and spend the 2026 Museum Night at the IMA!
For the occasion, the Institute exceptionally opens its doors at night and offers an immersion in the heart of its collections and major exhibitions.
“Flash visits” of the museum by lecturers from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
On the program, a free and open tour of the permanent museum’s collections, its exhibitions “Attempting art to heal” and “Libya, revealed heritage”, and two major exhibitions of the moment: “Byblos, millennium city of Lebanon” and “Slaves in the Mediterranean, 17th–18th century”. And animations, mediations and artistic interventions for an even more immersive experience!
For nearly fifty years, the French archaeological mission in Libya has been exploring and promoting an exceptional heritage, from prehistory to medieval times, throughout the entire Libyan territory. The exhibition illustrates and documents their work.
Among the sites presented:
Măsak The mission in Măsak was the first preventive archaeology campaign ever carried out in Libya from 2001 to 2005 in the oil concession NC191, in the middle of the Sahara. About sixty archaeologists have explored 4000 km of seismic lines created during the exploration of hydrocarbons. The record is considerable: 3,596 archaeological units have been discovered, renewing knowledge about this region of difficult access.
Bu Njem et Syrtique A first mission led by René Rebuffat (1967-1976) focused on the study of Roman lines of fortifications and excavated the ancient fort of Gholaia, the present Bu Njem. André Laronde, with Mohamed Fakroun and Monique Longerstay, led a second mission (1990-1999) in five valleys of the syrtitic region, revealing an ancient habitat composed mainly of farms and dry stone walls retaining water and soil, determining plots for cultivation and breeding.
Leptis Magna Founded by the Phoenicians in the 7th century BC, Leptis Magna reached its peak during the Roman Empire thanks to a flourishing trade and the favor of Septimius Severus, an emperor from the city, whose impressive monuments still bear witness. In 1993, André Laronde identified thermal baths that he named “of the Levant” according to their location in the Roman city, second in Tripolitania by size after those of Hadrian at Leptis Magna. Decorated with mosaics, marbles, painted plaster and stuccoes, the premises functioned until the middle of the 3rd century. This site is also remarkable for its water supply system, which has not yet revealed all its secrets for future missions…
Abou Tamsa The rock shelter of Abu Tamsa in Cyrenaica was occupied between the 7th and 5th millennia BC by small groups of pastoralists.Hunter-gatherers who were among the first in North Africa to produce ceramic vessels and raise domestic goats imported from the eastern Mediterranean. The archaeological material collected tells us about the activities of these Neolithic populations.
Apollonia The ancient port of Cyrene, whose foundation dates back to the 7th century BC, became autonomous around 100 BC under the name Apollonia. Largely open to the Mediterranean, its existence is attested over more than a millennium, from the archaic period to late antiquity; it then adopted the Christian name of Sôzousa and became the capital of Cyrenaica. The land and maritime excavations of Apollonia have made it possible to better understand the city with its enclosure, the double port now drowned, the baths or the stadium outside the walls. Since 2002, Jean-Sylvain Caillou has been continuing his research on the Acropolis.
Latrun Located by the sea, east of Apollonia and at the foot of the Jebel el Akhdar, Erythron-Latrun reveals the history of a prosperous agglomeration of Cyrenaica, attracting from ancient marine, merchants and pilgrims and stands today as an archaeological and natural site of exceptional potential, offering a unique perspective on the evolution of ancient villages in Cyrenaica, from the Hellenistic period to the abandonment following the Arab conquest.
Western Marmaric In 2010, a team of Franco-Libyan archaeologists ventured into a little-known region: the Western Marmac, with the mission to map the remains located along the seismic zones for Total Libya. Result: 56 identified archaeological sites, traces of life from prehistory to the present day. Between Egypt and Cyrenaica, nomadic tribes left forts, mausoleums, ancient settlements and ingenious irrigation systems. Greek, Roman and Byzantine influences are mixed with local traditions, drawing the portrait of a crossroads region, land of passage or military bastion.
Surt Located in central coastal Libya, in the desert separating Tripolitania from Cyrenaica, Surt was the first Islamic site excavated in Libya in 1963. From 2007 to 2010, five campaigns were led by Jean-Michel Mouton. A topoarchaeological map presenting the general organization of the city was drawn up, making it possible to identify several excavation areas: the defensive works (south-west fort and north gate), the religious buildings (ziyāda of the mosque) and an area of housing. These excavations have made it possible to significantly postpone the dating of the last period of occupation to the 14th century.
Underwater excavations of the port of Apollonia Apollonia, today half sunken, has some of the most remarkable underwater architectural remains in the Mediterranean. The MAFL was able to excavate an ancient wreck sunk in the outer harbor and propose the topographic evolution of the port structures and approaches since the origins, in the sixth century BC. To these scientific advances, is added a rich archaeological furniture deposited in the Apollonia museum: pottery, coins, works in bronze, stone or marble such as this remarkable portrait of Ptolemy III or a statue of Dionysus.
Underwater excavations of Leptis-Magna and Sabratha At Leptis Magna, the study focused on the outer harbour, with an unexpected result: the channel was equipped with a second jetty protecting the passage from eastern swells. In Sabratha, the excavation made it possible to identify, on the coast, warehouses, basins and silos eroded by the sea. Opposite, the rock above water supported a masonry breakwater, planned by the waves.
Fight against the illicit traffic of archaeological goods Libya’s heritage is threatened by the trafficking of its heritage. Since 2011, theft, clandestine excavations and illegal exports have accelerated, fueled by strong international demand. Since 2012, the MAFL, with Morgan Belzic, Camille Blancher and Vincent Michel, has been fighting against this phenomenon alongside the police and the DOA: identification of laundered works, analysis of networks and looted sites. More than 250 objects have been identified, allowing investigations, arrests and 29 seizures in 9 countries, including 19 restitutions to Libya.