Arqa is a village near Miniara in the Akkar district of northern Lebanon, near the coast. It is known for the famous Tell Arqa, the archaeological site that goes back to Neolithic times. During the Roman era, the town was known as Caesarea of Lebanon or Arca Caesarea. The Emperor Alexander Severus was born there also. In addition, during the Crusades time a bridge and citadel were added to its famous historical background. The earliest level dates to the Neolithic period or New Stone Age (6,000 years ago). After that, people of the Early Bronze Age settled here. These were Canaanites -- later known as Phonecians--who developed a prosperous town at the Arqa site.