Archaeology at AUB is founded on a rich departmental history stemming from myriad archaeological resources. The Lebanese landscape is covered with archaeological sites, both excavated and pristine. The country covers one of the most intensely studied areas in the world of archaeological research. For this reason AUB has been central to the study of the ancient Near East for over a century, and continues to work at the forefront of archaeological fieldwork.

The experienced faculty of archaeology has been involved in research and excavation on a scale beyond compare, spanning millennia of Near Eastern history and providing a strong base for a multitude of student interests. The current excavations at Tell Burak have been incorporated into student research involving international collaboration. The departmental participation in the historic excavations of the Beirut Central District, as well as the salvage excavation of Tell Fadous-Kfarabida, illustrates the faculty's eagerness to conserve the archaeological heritage of Lebanon.