Long before the Byzantines, the Romans and even the Phoenicians, Lebanon was already a home to a marvel. A marvel not built by humans though, but by nature: the mountains of Byblos are actually the home of 100 million year-old fossils!
For four generations, day after day, the Abi Saad family, assisted by qualified workers, has been dedicated in body and soul to the excavation of this forgotten world and has forced a revival of the epoch.
We have therefore established this institution with the purpose of discovering, extracting, preparing, exhibiting, and studying the Lebanese fish fossils.
Only a few kilometers to the east of the city of Byblos (Jbeil), there are 3 villages witnessing life’s evolution: Haqil, Hgula and En nammoura.
Almost no site in the world offers a diversity of fossils such as the one displayed in these Lebanese sites. The fossils found there also enjoy a unique conservation unparalleled in the whole world.
Today, more than 800 species of fish, crustacean, plants, turtles and even pterosaurs are found in these Lebanese quarries.
The “Memory of Time” institution is currently divided into four sections:
Since the early 1990’s, Memory of Time started to communicate with many universities, natural history museums and specialists of international renown. Today, it runs scientific projects in collaboration with many of scientific institutions in the four corners of the world.
Furthermore, “Memory of Time” has co-published many scientific books and articles describing completely new Lebanese species thus exceedingly contributing to the paleontological scientific knowledge.
Finally, whenever you are looking to an “exceptional” journey, just pay a visit to the Museum and shop in the old city of Byblos, where history meets prehistory!
We are always happy to welcome you to the amazing world of fossils, the witness of life’s history and evolution: the infallible memory of time, your destination when travelling back in time!
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