About 1,300 artifacts are exhibited, ranging in date from prehistoric times to the medieval Mamluk period mainly dealing with Lebanon’s Archeology and History. This museum was on the front line of the Lebanese civil war, and it suffered near complete destruction, it was occupied by militiamen and sustained bullet holes. Although much was lost, many of its most valuable items were saved by its Director of Antiquities at the time, Emir Maurice Chehab and his wife. Smaller objects were hidden in the basement, and larger objects and the mural were encased in concrete. One of the key galleries was rededicated to him as the Maurice Chehab Hall.