The Society for Libyan Studies promotes and co-ordinates the activities of scholars working on the archaeology, history, linguistics and natural history of Libya. It publishes a journal, detailed reports on its field projects, and a popular series of travel books. It also runs a regular lecture series in London on a wide range of topics relating to Libyan culture and heritage, which are open to the public.

The Society awards small grants principally for travel and research in Libya. Major projects are currently underway in Cyrenaica and in the Fezzan.

Anyone interested in the cultural, historical, archaeological and environmental riches of Libya is welcome to join the Society for Libyan Studies.

LECTURE

Monday, 1st February, 2010 at 5.30 p.m.

Professor Andrew Goudie, Master of St. Cross College, Oxford, "Motoring in the Libyan Desert, 1916-1941".
In the Lecture Theatre of the British Academy, 10 Carlton House Terrace, London, S.W.1. Non-members are welcome.

History

The Society is supported by the British Academy, oil companies operating in Libya, its book sales and its members. Since its foundation in 1969 the Society has sponsored many differing projects in Libya within the subject areas of archaeology, education, geography, geology, history and Islamic law. Hitherto it has concentrated on supporting long-term archaeological projects and their subsequent publication, including excavations and surveys at Euesperides (Benghazi), Sidi Khrebish (Berenice), Cyrene, Lepcis Magna and in the Fezzan, but recent projects have included a multi-disciplinary survey in the pre-desert valleys of Tripolitania, Islamic excavations at Barca (El Merj) and Medinet Sultan, and the publication of excavations conducted at Sabratha and Lepcis Magna in the 1950s.