# Labweh

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Village in Baalbek, Lebanon

Labweh اللبوة (Arabic) Labweh village Location of Labweh in Lebanon 34°11′50″N 36°21′09″E / 34.197317°N 36.352392°E / 34.197317; 36.352392 Type Tells Periods PPNB Cultures Neolithic, Roman, Byzantine Location 26 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of Baalbek Region Bekaa Valley Part of Settlements History Built c. 6910 to 6780 BC (from 3 limited samples) Site notes Excavation dates 1966, 1969 Archaeologists Diana Kirkbride, Lorraine Copeland, Peter Wescombe Condition Ruins Public access Yes

**Labweh** ([Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): اللبوة), **Laboué**, **Labwe** or **Al-Labweh** is a village at an elevation of 950 metres (3,120 ft) on a foothill of the [Anti-Lebanon Mountains](/source/Anti-Lebanon_Mountains) in [Baalbek District](/source/Baalbek_District), [Baalbek-Hermel Governorate](/source/Baalbek-Hermel_Governorate), [Lebanon](/source/Lebanon).[1][2]

## History

The [Neolithic](/source/Neolithic) settlements at Labweh have been dated to at least the 7th millennium BC.[3] It has been suggested that it was known to the [Egyptians](/source/Egyptians) as Lab'u, to the [Assyrians](/source/Assyria) as Laba'u and as Lebo-hamath to the [Hebrews](/source/Hebrews).[4] This has been associated with the "entrance of [Hamath](/source/Hamath)" mentioned in the [Books of Kings](/source/Books_of_Kings)[5] and the [Book of Ezekiel](/source/Book_of_Ezekiel), noted as the Northern border of [King Solomon](/source/King_Solomon)'s territory,[6] but subsequently lost to the Syrians. [Jeroboam II](/source/Jeroboam_II), king of [Israel](/source/Northern_Kingdom_of_Israel), is said to have "restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the [Arabah](/source/Arabah) (the [Dead Sea](/source/Dead_Sea))".[7]

Labweh in the original [Syriac](/source/Syriac_language) tongue means "heart" or "center", it also has been suggested to come from the [Arabic](/source/Arabic) for "lion" or "lioness". The village has several archaeological sites of interest including three old caves with [Roman](/source/Ancient_Rome)-[Byzantine](/source/Byzantine) [sarcophagi](/source/Sarcophagi) and the remains of a temple. There are also remains of a Byzantine bastion and a Roman dam suggested to date to the reign of [Queen Zenobia](/source/Queen_Zenobia). Legend suggests that channels were carved through the rock to send water to her lands in [Palmyra](/source/Palmyra), Syria.[1]

In 1834, [Burckhardt Barker](/source/William_Burckhardt_Barker) noted: "I came to a village called Labweh, after having passed an encampment of [Turkomans](/source/Lebanese_Turkmen) to the right of the road, at a place called Shaad. Labweh is at the foot of the range of [Anti-Libanus](/source/Anti-Lebanon_Mountains) on the top of a hillock, near which passes a small stream which has its source in the adjoining mountains, and after flowing for several hours through the plain, falls into the basin from which springs the [Orontes](/source/Orontes_River)."[8] In 1838, [Eli Smith](/source/Eli_Smith) noted *Lebweh* as a [Metawileh](/source/Metawileh) village in the [Baalbek District](/source/Baalbek_District).[9]

## Labweh Springs and Labweh River

The village is located on a hill 26 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of [Baalbek](/source/Baalbek), which gives its name to the Labweh [Springs](/source/Natural_spring) and Labweh River, one of the sources of the [Orontes River](/source/Orontes_River).[2] The Labweh river flows for approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) through rocky desert. It then cascades into a lake and wider stream at another village called Er-Ras, considered to be the source of the Orontes. This flows onwards northeast, fed by numerous other streams from Lebanon's mountains.[10][11]

## Archaeological sites

Soundings and analysis of archaeological sites in Labweh were made by [Lorraine Copeland](/source/Lorraine_Copeland) and Peter Wescombe in 1966 with later excavations by [Diana Kirkbride](/source/Diana_Kirkbride) in 1969.[12] **Tell Labweh**, **Tell Labweh South** or **Labweh** I sits to the south of the village with another site to the north. The surface of Tell Labweh had been damaged by modern agriculture and it had been cut in half by road construction. Several burials were discovered inside the remains of rectangular buildings with white and red plaster floors. The remains of stone walls were found at lower levels and it is thought that the buildings may have used mud bricks at higher levels.[13]

Early [Neolithic](/source/Neolithic) finds included a large number of fragments of [limestone](/source/Limestone) [White Ware](/source/White_Ware) or "Vaisselle Blanche", along with later [pottery](/source/Pottery) called [dark faced burnished ware](/source/Dark_faced_burnished_ware) or DFBW. Only one vessel was reconstructed from the initial excavations; a bowl with combed finishing. Other shards included jars and bowls of a black, brown, or red colour, one showed a [straw](/source/Straw) wiped finish normally found in sites further South in the [Jordan Valley](/source/Jordan_Valley_(Middle_East)). Others showed decorations such as chevrons, incised patterns, and corded impressions.[13] Flints were similar to those found at [Tell Ramad](/source/Tell_Ramad) and included [Byblos](/source/Byblos) points, hooks, scrapers, borers and burins. Burials were found within two houses, which were excavated and found to be similar to those in earlier [PPNB](/source/PPNB) and [PPNA](/source/PPNA) sites. A range of [sickle](/source/Sickle) blades were found in the [basal](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/basal) deposits and higher levels showing the evolution of denticulated and segmented cutting edges with similarities to those found at the oldest neolithic Byblos. Three initial samples were [Radiocarbon dated](/source/Radiocarbon_dating) suggesting a range of dates between 6780 and 6910 [BC](/source/Before_Christ); a date range covering only c. 130 years.[14] The range of finds at the site has however helped to reveal some aspects of the transition through neolithic stages.[13]

**Tell Labweh North** is another large archaeological site, a few hundred meters north on the other side of the village and springs. Finely denticulated sickle blades, [arrowheads](/source/Arrowheads) and trapezoidal, flaked [axes](/source/Axe) and fragments of whiteware along with burnished pottery with patterns and a fragment of [obsidian](/source/Obsidian) were collected from the surface of the site. Most of the finds indicated settlement around the time of Tell Labweh (South) and Byblos.[13] [Fauna](/source/Fauna) would have included forest animals and numerous domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats.[15]

## Roman temple

There are the ruins of a [Roman temple](/source/Roman_temple) in the village that are included in a group of [Temples of the Beqaa Valley](/source/Temples_of_the_Beqaa_Valley).[16] It was a [prostyle](/source/Prostyle) type but only one block of the western wall remained visible. Modern construction built a house inside the temple.[17] There are around twenty temples located between Labweh and [Ain el-Baid](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ain_el-Baid&action=edit&redlink=1).[18]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Brochure_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Brochure_1-1) [Ba'albeck - Al-Hermal, Bekaa - Tourist Brochure](http://www.discoverlebanon.com/en/panoramic_views/bekaa/el_hermel/hermel-pyramid.php)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Britain)1837_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Britain)1837_2-1) Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain) (1837). [*The journal of the Royal Geographic Society of London*](https://books.google.com/books?id=te8RAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA99). J. Murray. pp. 99–. Retrieved 16 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Halawi, Ayman; Messarra, Nasri; Bou Nader, Raymond (28 June 2020). ["Arabic and Latin keyboard Choice in Lebanese Students' Discussions on WhatsApp"](https://dx.doi.org/10.22453/lsj-022.1.127-147). *Lebanese Science Journal*. **22** (1): 127–147. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.22453/lsj-022.1.127-147](https://doi.org/10.22453%2Flsj-022.1.127-147). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1561-3410](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1561-3410).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Mazar1946_4-0)** Mazar (Maisler), B. (1946). "Topographical Studies V: Lebo-Hamath and the Northern Boundary of Canaan". *Bulletin of the Israel Exploration Society*. **12**: 91–102.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [1 Kings 8:65](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+8:65&version=nkjv)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Block1998_6-0)** Daniel Isaac Block (March 1998). [*The Book of Ezekiel: chapters 25-48*](https://books.google.com/books?id=uYemhagtCpgC&pg=PA713). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 713–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8028-2536-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8028-2536-0). Retrieved 16 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [2 Kings 14:25](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+14:25&version=nkjv): [NKJV](/source/NKJV) translation; cf. [NIV](/source/NIV) translation, which refers to the Dead Sea

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Burckhardt Barker, 1837, p. [99](https://archive.org/details/jstor-1797515/page/n5/mode/1up)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. [145](https://archive.org/stream/biblicalresearch03robiuoft#page/145/mode/1up)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Sir. William Smith, LLD, Ed. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854)](https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=syria-geo)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Britain)1842_11-0)** Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (Great Britain) (1842). [*Penny cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge*](https://books.google.com/books?id=GxwDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA469). C. Knight. pp. 469–. Retrieved 17 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kafafi1982_12-0)** Zeidan Abdel-Kafi Kafafi (1982). [*The Neolithic of Jordan (East Bank)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=RIdWAAAAMAAJ). Papyrus Druck. Retrieved 16 March 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Moore_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Moore_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Moore_13-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Moore_13-3) Moore, A.M.T. (1978). [*The Neolithic of the Levant*](http://ancientneareast.tripod.com/Labweh.html). Oxford University, Unpublished PhD Thesis. pp. 192–198.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["University of Cologne - Radiocarbon Context Database"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110813232913/http://context-database.uni-koeln.de/c14.php?vonsite=666). Archived from [the original](http://context-database.uni-koeln.de/c14.php?vonsite=666) on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MeadowZeder1978_15-0)** Richard H. Meadow; Melinda A. Zeder (1978). [*Approaches to faunal analysis in the Middle East*](https://books.google.com/books?id=HVMrAQAAIAAJ). Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-87365-951-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-87365-951-2). Retrieved 16 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Taylor1967_16-0)** George Taylor (1967). [*The Roman temples of Lebanon: a pictorial guide*](https://books.google.com/books?id=fL6fAAAAMAAJ). Dar el-Machreq Publishers. Retrieved 28 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Keel1997_17-0)** Othmar Keel (1997). [*The Symbolism of the Biblical World: Ancient Near Eastern Iconography and the Book of Psalms*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Fy4B1iMg33YC&pg=PA158). Eisenbrauns. pp. 158–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-57506-014-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-57506-014-9). Retrieved 28 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Baal:_Bulletin_d'archéologie_et_d'architecture_libanaises_18-0)** [*Baal: Bulletin d'archéologie et d'architecture libanaises*](https://books.google.com/books?id=a2x6AAAAMAAJ). Direction Générale des Antiquités. 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2012.

## Literature

- [Burckhardt Barker, W.](/source/William_Burckhardt_Barker) (1837). ["Notes Made on a Journey to the Source of the River Orontes in Syria, in September, 1834"](https://archive.org/details/quarterlystateme21pale). *[Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London](/source/Journal_of_the_Royal_Geographical_Society_of_London)*. **7**: [95](https://archive.org/details/jstor-1797515/page/n1/mode/1up)–102.

- Copeland, Lorraine and Westcombe, Peter, Inventory of Stone Age Sites in Lebanon Part 2: North - South - East Central Lebanon Volume 42 (Pages 1–174) Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph (Beirut Lebanon), 1966.

- Kirkbride, Diana, Early Byblos and the Bakaa, Volume 45 (Pages 43–60), Mélanges de l'Université Saint-Joseph (Beirut Lebanon), 1969.

- [Robinson, E.](/source/Edward_Robinson_(scholar)); [Smith, E.](/source/Eli_Smith) (1841). [*Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838*](https://archive.org/details/biblicalresearch03robiuoft). Vol. 3. Boston: [Crocker & Brewster](/source/Crocker_%26_Brewster).

## External links

- [Lebwe temple on www.lebanon.com](http://www.lebanon.com/tourism/lebwe.htm)

- [Laboueh](http://www.localiban.org/article4033.html), Localiban

v t e Archaeological sites in Lebanon Aadloun Aaiha Aammiq Aaqbe Ain Aata Ain Choaab Ain Harcha Akbiyeh Akkar plain foothills Al-Bireh Amioun Amlaq Qatih Anjar, Lebanon Antelias Cave Apheca Ard Saouda Ard Tlaili Arqa Augusti Pagus Baalbek Baidar ech Chamout Batroumine Batroun Bechamoun Beirut Beit Mery Belat temple Berytus (Roman Beirut) Bustan Birke Byblos Canalizations of Zenobia Dahr El Ahmar Dakoue Deir Al-Ahmar Deir al-Ashayer Deir Mar Maroun Dekwaneh Douris (Baalbek) Elaea (Lebanon) Flaoui Fadous Sud Hebbariye Hadeth south Haret ech Cheikh Hashbai Heliopolis in Phoenicia Hermel plains Iaat Jabal es Saaïdé Jbaa Jdeideh Jebel Aabeby Jeita Grotto Joub Jannine Jieh Kafr Zabad Kamid el-Loz Kamouh el Hermel Karak Nuh Kaukaba Kefraya Kafr Tebnit Kfar Qouq Kfarhata Khallet Michte Kharayeb Khirbet El-Knese Kouachra megalith field Ksar Akil Labweh Lake Qaraoun (Ain Jaouze) Libbaya Lion Tower Majdal Anjar Mansourieh Maronite mummies Mayrouba Mdoukha (Jebel Kassir) Moukhtara Mtaileb Nabi Zair Nachcharini Nahle, Lebanon Neba'a Faour Nebi Safa Hosn Niha Phoenician port of Beirut Plain of Zgharta Qaa Qal'at Bustra Qalaat Tannour Qaraoun Qasr el Banat Ras Baalbek I Ras Beirut Ras El Kelb Rashaya Roman Forum of Berytus Roman hippodrome of Berytus Roman temple of Bziza Sands of Beirut Saraain El Faouqa Shheem Sidon Sin el Fil Sarepta Stone of the Pregnant Woman Tahun ben Aissa Taire Tayibe Tell Aalaq Tell Ablah Tell Addus Tell Ahle Tell Ain Cerif Tell Ain el Meten Tell Ain Ghessali Tell Ain Nfaikh Tell Ain Saouda Tell Ain Sofar Tell Ayoub Tell Bar Elias Tell Beshara Tell Bir Dakoue Tell Deir Tell Delhamieh Tell Derzenoun Tell Dibbine Tell el-Burak Tell El Ghassil Tell El Hadeth Tell Fadous Tell Hazzine Tell Hoch Rafqa Tell Karmita Tell Khardane Tell Kirri Tell Jezireh Tell Jisr Tell Kabb Elias Tell Majdaloun Tell Masoud Tell Mekhada Tell Meouchi Tell Mureibit Tell Murtafa Tell Nahariyah Tell Neba'a Chaate Tell Neba'a Litani Tell Qasr Labwe Tell Rasm El Hadeth Tell Rayak Tell Saatiya Tell Safiyeh Tell Saoudhi Tell Serhan Tell Shaikh Hassan al Rai Tell Shamsine Tell Sultan Yakoub Tell Taalabaya Tell Wardeen Tell Zenoub Tell Zeitoun Temnin el-Foka Temple of Bacchus Temple of Eshmun Temple of Jupiter Temple of the Obelisks Toron Tripolis (region of Phoenicia) Tyre Necropolis Tyre Umm al-Amad Wadi Koura Wadi Yaroun Yammoune Yanta Ain W Zain Zahlé

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v t e Baalbek District, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate Capital: Baalbek Towns and villages Ain Ainata Al-Nabi Shayth Arsal Baalbek Barka Bednayel Bechwat Beit Chama - Aaqidiyeh Brital Btadhi Bodai Chaat Chlifa Deir el Ahmar Duris Fakiha - Jdeydeh Fleweh Hadath Baalbek Hallanieh Haouch Barada Haouch Er Rafqa Haouch Snaid Haouch Tall Safiyeh Harbata Hizzine Hlabta Iaat Jabbouleh Janta Jebaa Jdeide Kasarnaba Kfar Dane Khodr Khraibeh Kneisseh Laat Labweh Majdloun Mikna Nabi Osman Nahleh Qaa Qarha Ram - Jbenniyeh Ras Baalbek Ras el Hadis Saayde Seriine el Fawka Seriine el Tahta Shmustar - Gharbi Baalbek Talya Taraya Taybeh Temnin el-Foka Temnine Et Tahta Tfail Wadi Faara Yammouneh Younine Notable landmarks Ard Tlaili Jabal es Saaïdé

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Labweh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labweh) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labweh?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.