The British Institute for Libyan & Northern African Studies [BILNAS] Archive is home to historically significant collections that document the archaeology, history, environment, and culture of Libya and the wider Northern African Region.  

_{Panoramic view of Sabratha (1949) © BILNAS. This panoramic photograph, taken from the Kathleen Kenyon and John Ward-Perkins Papers, captures the site of Sabratha, a key Punic and Roman trading hub on the Libyan Coast.}

_{Elevation of South-East End of Basilica at Lepcis Magna (1950s) © BILNAS. This detailed architectural drawing showcases the Severan Basilica at Lepcis Magna, a prominent city in Roman Libya.}

Spanning decades of research, the archive contains an extensive range of materials, including documents, drawings, maps, plans, and written records from British-led archaeological projects conducted since World War II. 

These include excavations at Hellenistic and Roman sites in Libya, like Sabratha, Lepcis Magna, Cyrene, Euesperides (Benghazi), and Sidi Khrebish (Berenice), as well as excavations at Islamic Barca (El Merj) and Medinet Sultan. The British Institute for Libyan and Northern African Studies Archive also holds valuable material from ground-breaking multi-disciplinary surveys in the pre-desert valleys of Tripolitania and the Saharan oases of Fazzan. 

_{Fragment of fineware from Wadi-el-Amud (LM4), UNESCO Libyan Valleys Survey (1979-1989) © BILNAS. This photograph of a pottery fragment, found in the Wadi Al-Amud, is part of a ground-breaking survey exploring the long-term relationships between settlement, land use and environment on the desert margins. The survey was led by Barri Jones, Graeme Barker and David Gilbertson, culminating in the publication of Farming the Desert vols I and II (edited by Graeme Barker and David Mattingly)}

The archive also preserves the work of many pioneering British archaeologists, whose research has shaped our understanding of Libyan and North African scholars such as Dame Kathleen Kenyon, Lady Olwen Brogan, Charles Daniels, John B. Ward- Perkins, and David Mattingly are well represented, with users able to access their correspondence, field notes, excavation plans, sketches, and photographic records. 

_{Panoramic view of Jami Sahnun Mosque (1971) © BILNAS. This panoramic photograph, taken from the Donald M. Bailey and David Whitehouse Papers, captures the Jami Sahnun Mosque at Ajdabiya.} 

_{Kathleen Kenyon at the basilica, Sabratha (c. 1949-1951) © BILNAS. This photograph shows Dame Kathleen Kenyon working in the basilica at Sabratha with Libyan workers looking on. Kenyon was a leading British archaeologist known for her significant work at Jericho (Tell es-Sultan), one of the world’s oldest cities, and the Jewry Wall in Leicester. The BILNAS Archive holds the records of Kenyon’s work at Sabratha.}  

Recently, a major project has been the digitisation of key collections from the archive, which are being made available online and open-access via the Archaeology Data Service. To view records of Kathleen Kenyon’s work at Sabratha, click here. Upcoming digital releases will feature records from archaeological projects at Ghirza, Ajdabiya, and in Tripolitania’s pre-desert valleys. 

_{Olwen Brogan making a squeeze of inscription at Ghriza (1950s-1970s) © BILNAS. This photograph captures Olwen Brogan making a “squeeze” of an inscription at Ghriza—an important method for preserving ancient texts by pressing paper or plaster onto carved surfaces. Brogan was a pioneering British archaeologist whose detailed field work redefined the study of classical sites in Libya. She is best known for her expertise in Roman frontier settlements, particularly in the Saharan regions.}

More than just a historical record however, the BILNAS Archive is a rich resource for further research. Packed with unpublished material and extensive data sets from previous fieldwork expeditions, the archive holds enormous potential for fresh insights and opportunities for re-interpretation.  

_{lllustration of Roman mould-made lamps, Sidi Krebish _ SK J95 1 994 (1971-1985) © BILNAS.}

For anyone fascinated by the deep and complex history of this region, the BILNAS archive is an invaluable resource. 

The archive catalogue may be consulted by visiting the University of Leicester Archive Catalogue here.  

Stay updated on news and events by visiting the BILNAS website here 

To learn more about the history and work of the BILNAS Archive, watch ‘The BILNAS Archive: Past, Present and Future’ by Felicity Crowe. Click here to watch it on YouTube.   

To learn more about BILNAS and how to access the collections they hold, click here.