British Institute for Libyan and Northern African Studies
{{Short description|British overseas research institute}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}
The British Institute for Libyan and Northern African Studies (BILNAS), formerly the Society for Libyan Studies, is a British academic body and charitable organisation.{{Cite web |title=BRITISH INSTITUTE FOR LIBYAN AND NORTHERN AFRICAN STUDIES - Charity 259262 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/259262/charity-overview |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk |language=en-GB}} Sponsored by The British Academy,{{Cite web |title=British International Research Institutes |url=https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/international/research-institutes/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=The British Academy |language=en}} it promotes scholarship on Libya and Northern Africa in the fields of archaeology, history, geography, the natural sciences and linguistics.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-14 |title=BILNAS |url=https://www.bilnas.org/}}
BILNAS hosts a programme of public lectures, seminars and other events in London and online on Libyan and Northern African culture and heritage.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
History
BILNAS was established in 1969 to support long-term archaeological projects in Libya and their subsequent publication. Projects supported include excavations and surveys at Sidi Khrebish (Berenice),{{Cite book |last=Lloyd |first=John |title=Excavations at Sidi Khrebish, Benghazi |publisher=The Department of Antiquities |year=1977 |location=Tripoli}} Cyrene, Lepcis Magna{{Cite book |last=Ward-Perkins |first=John |title=The Severan Buildings of Lepcis Magna: An architectural survey |publisher=Society for Libyan Studies |year=1993 |isbn=9780950836362 |location=London}} and the Fezzan.
Recent projects have included a survey in the pre-desert valleys of Tripolitania,{{Cite book |last=Barker |first=Graeme |title=Farming the Desert |publisher=Unesco; Department of Antiquities [of The] Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |year=1996 |isbn=9780950836386 |location=London; Tripoli}} Islamic excavations at Barca (El Merj) and Medinet Sultan (Surt),{{Cite book |last=Fehérvári |first=Geza |title=Excavations at Surt (Medinat al-Sultan) between 1977 and 1981 |publisher=Department of Antiquities; Society for Libyan Studies |year=2002 |isbn=9781900971003 |location=London}} and the publication of excavations conducted at Sabratha{{Cite book |last=Kenrick |first=Philip |title=Excavations at Sabratha |publisher=Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies |year=1986 |isbn=9780907764076}} and Lepcis Magna in the 1950s.
In 2022, the organisation changed its name from the Society for Libyan Studies to the British Institute of Libyan and Northern African Studies to reflect a broadening of the organisation’s geographical remit.{{Cite journal |last=Leitch |first=Victoria |last2=Mugnai |first2=Niccolò |date=November 2022 |title=Editors’ Introduction |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0263718922000255/type/journal_article |journal=Libyan Studies |language=en |volume=53 |pages=5–6 |doi=10.1017/lis.2022.25 |issn=0263-7189|url-access=subscription }}
Publications
Libyan Studies (0263-7189 (Print), 2052-6148 (Online)) is the annual journal of record of the British Institute for Libyan and Northern African Studies, appearing in November each year. Contributions cover archaeology, ancient and Islamic history, geology, geography and social sciences.{{Cite web |title=Libyan Studies {{!}} Cambridge Core |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/libyan-studies |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Cambridge Core |language=en}} It is currently published by Cambridge University Press.
BILNAS also produces academic monographs based on research in and around Libya, as well as more popular books designed to appeal to a wider audience with a general interest in Libya and North Africa under the imprint Silphium Press.{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Pieter |title=About BILNAS Publications |url=https://www.bilnas.org/shop |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=British Institute for Libyan & Northern African Studies |language=en-US}}{{cite journal | last=Thwaite | first=Anthony | title=Review products: Travellers in Libya | journal=Libyan Studies | publisher=Cambridge University Press | volume=37 | date=2006 | issn=0263-7189 | doi=10.1017/S026371890000409X | pages=163–164 | url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S026371890000409X/type/journal_article | url-access=subscription }}
Archive
The BILNAS archive is held at the School of Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Leicester. The archival material covers Libyan archaeology and heritage and includes collections of rare books, manuscripts, documents, photographs and drawings, including much material from before 1969{{Cite journal |last=Leitch |first=Victoria |last2=Nikolaus |first2=Julia |date=November 2015 |title=The Society for Libyan Studies Archive: Past, Present and Future |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0263718914000077/type/journal_article |journal=Libyan Studies |language=en |volume=46 |pages=151–156 |doi=10.1017/lis.2014.7 |issn=0263-7189|url-access=subscription }}