in 1887, bechara effendi was dispatched by order from the porte to assist with the excavations conducted by osman hamdi bey and yervant voskan at the necropolis near sidon, lebanon which unearthed the alexander sarcophagus among other artifacts. he is credited with discovering new burial chambers and with devising transport mechanisms and superintending the transit of the massive troves to a frigate bound for constantinople's museum.