Bulletin of the Liège Archaeological Institute

The Bulletin of the Liège Archaeological Institute (French: Bulletin de l'Institut archéologique liégeois, often abbreviated BIAL) is the annual scholarly publication of the Institut archéologique liégeois, a Belgian learned society founded in 1850. First issued in 1852, the Bulletin is one of the oldest continuously published archaeological periodicals in Belgium. It appears in an in-8o format (24 × 15.5 cm) and has released a total of 129 volumes from its creation through 2025. The publication is dedicated to archaeology, art history and the local history of Liège and its surrounding region. The Bulletin was established shortly after the Institute itself. Its first issue in 1852 included the "Règlement pour la publication du bulletin," a set of publication rules that in many respects remain in force today. Initially no fixed periodicity was set, but the Bulletin quickly adopted an annual rhythm. Publication was durably interrupted only during the two World Wars, when the Institute chose to suspend issues to avoid the occupier's censorship and to assert its independence. Some issues carry multiple years, particularly in the immediate post-war period and during the first decade of the present century. After publishing two particularly voluminous tomes, the Institute's Bureau has since 2012 worked to restore the Bulletin's original annual rhythm. The Bulletin is published by the Institut archéologique liégeois, an independent association based in Liège. The Institute's headquarters are at Quai de Maestricht 13, 4000 Liège, Belgium. The Bulletin is distributed to members as part of their annual subscription; new members automatically receive the current year's issue. Individual membership is 30 € (for members who collect their Bulletin in person in Liège), while a "couple" membership is 35 € for two people (from 2026, excluding possible postal charges). Additional postal fees apply for delivery: 10 € for Belgium, 14 € for the European Union, and 25 € outside the EU. The Institute is an independent association that relies on memberships and the support of generous patrons. In addition to the Bulletin, the Institute publishes a range of other works, including the Cahiers series (e.g., La terre sigillée, 1984; Typologie des armatures et taxonomie des industries du Mésolithique au nord des Alpes, 1985; Catalogue illustré des pierres tombales commémoratives et armoriées des Musées d'Archéologie et d'Arts décoratifs, 1985; Iconographie des grès de Raeren, 1985; Actes du Colloque de Numismatique, 2000), conference proceedings (Actes de colloque, Congrès de Liège – 23-26 août 2012), and other publications such as Le verre au quotidien (1990), Presse-papiers de prestige, Presse-papiers populaires (1992), a CD by Patrick Dheur (1997), Petit florilège du meuble liégeois au XVIIIe siècle (2005), Le « Magasin » de Braives (2011), Les bronzes mithriaques d'Angleur (2011), and Étude archéologique du meuble liégeois au XVIIIe siècle (2012). The Bulletin's content is indexed: the Institute provides online indexes of authors (up to 1985), reviews, illustrations and lecturers. Volume 31 contains the table of contents for volumes 1 to 30 (up to 1901), and volume 73 contains the table of contents for volumes 32 to 65. All volumes published up to 1985 are freely accessible online. The Bulletin is recognized as a scientific publication and is listed in the Mir@bel research database.

The Bulletin of the Liège Archaeological Institute was established in 1852, two years after the founding of the Institut archéologique liégeois in 1850. The Institute's first statutes did not explicitly mention the Bulletin, but the first issue, published in 1852, included the "Règlement pour la publication du bulletin" (Rules for the publication of the bulletin), which in many respects remains current. At that time no periodicity had been fixed, but the Bulletin very quickly adopted an annual rhythm. The publication was durably interrupted only during the two World Wars, when the Institute suspended issues to escape the occupier's censorship and to mark its will for independence. Some issues carry several years, particularly in the immediate post-war period and during the first decade of the present century. After the publication of two particularly voluminous tomes, the Institute's Bureau has undertaken since 2012 to restore the Bulletin's original annual rhythm. Over its history, the Bulletin has published 129 volumes from its creation through 2025. Volume 31 contains the table of contents for volumes 1 to 30 (up to 1901), and volume 73 contains the table of contents for volumes 32 to 65. All volumes published up to 1985 are freely accessible online. The Institute also maintains online indexes of authors (up to 1985), reviews, illustrations and lecturers. In parallel with the Bulletin, the Institute has published a range of other works. The Cahiers series includes: 1. La terre sigillée (1984); 2. Typologie des armatures et taxonomie des industries du Mésolithique au nord des Alpes (1985); 3. Catalogue illustré des pierres tombales commémoratives et armoriées des Musées d'Archéologie et d'Arts décoratifs (1985); 4. Iconographie des grès de Raeren (1985); 5. Actes du Colloque de Numismatique (2000). Conference proceedings include the Actes de colloque, Congrès de Liège – 23-26 août 2012. Other publications include Le verre au quotidien (1990), Presse-papiers de prestige, Presse-papiers populaires (1992), a CD by Patrick Dheur (1997), Petit florilège du meuble liégeois au XVIIIe siècle (2005), Le « Magasin » de Braives (2011), Les bronzes mithriaques d'Angleur (2011), and Étude archéologique du meuble liégeois au XVIIIe siècle (2012). The Institute itself has a parallel institutional history. Between 1850 and 1874, its collections underwent various moves before the official inauguration of provincial premises in a wing of the Palais des princes-évêques. In 1909, the Musée archéologique liégeois was inaugurated in the Maison Curtius, purchased and restored by the City of Liège. In 1995, the EMAHL project merged several museums. The Grand Curtius opened in 2009, bringing together various historical collections of the City of Liège. The Institute is an independent association, based at Quai de Maestricht 13, 4000 Liège, Belgium, and relies on memberships and patrons. New members automatically receive the current year's Bulletin and can participate in the Institute's activities.

• 2025

  129 volumes published since the Bulletin's creation.

• 2012

  After two voluminous tomes, the Bureau undertakes to restore the Bulletin's annual rhythm.

• 2009

  Grand Curtius opens, reuniting historical collections of the City of Liège.

• 1995

  EMAHL project merges several museums.

• 1985

  Volumes up to 1985 become freely accessible online; several Cahiers published.

• 1984

  Cahiers series launched with 'La terre sigillée'.

• 1909

  Musée archéologique liégeois inaugurated in the Maison Curtius.

• 1901

  Volume 31 published, containing the table of contents for volumes 1 to 30.

• 1852

  First issue of the Bulletin published, including the 'Règlement pour la publication du bulletin'.

• 1850

  Institut archéologique liégeois founded.

A long-running, independent scholarly annual for archaeology, art and local history in Liège, distributed primarily to members and academic institutions.

• 1852

  Bulletin de l'Institut archéologique liégeois (annual journal)

• 1984

  Cahiers 1: La terre sigillée

• 1985

  Cahiers 2: Typologie des armatures et taxonomie des industries du Mésolithique au nord des Alpes

• 1985

  Cahiers 3: Catalogue illustré des pierres tombales commémoratives et armoriées des Musées d'Archéologie et d'Arts décoratifs

• 1985

  Cahiers 4: Iconographie des grès de Raeren

• 2000

  Cahiers 5: Actes du Colloque de Numismatique

• 2012

  Actes de colloque, Congrès de Liège – 23-26 août 2012

• 1990

  Le verre au quotidien

• 1992

  Presse-papiers de prestige, Presse-papiers populaires

• 1997

  CD – Patrick Dheur

• 2005

  Petit florilège du meuble liégeois au XVIIIe siècle

• 2011

  Le « Magasin » de Braives

• 2011

  Les bronzes mithriaques d'Angleur

• 2012

  Étude archéologique du meuble liégeois au XVIIIe siècle

1. 1Bulletins - Institut Archéologique Liégeoisialg.be
2. 2À propos - Institut Archéologique Liégeoisialg.be
3. 3Contact - Institut Archéologique Liégeoisialg.be
4. 4Devenir membre - Institut Archéologique Liégeoisialg.be
5. 5Bulletin of the Liège Archaeological Institute - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Bulletin de l'institut archéologique liégeois - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org