Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit Tunisia

Dougga is one of the most beautiful Roman sites in Tunisia. Planted in a beautiful natural setting, many of the remains are superbly preserved.

The visit begins with the impressive theater: it could accommodate more than 3 500 spectators on 25 rows of terraces. Remains of columns with Corinthian capitals and a back wall, in good condition, frame an amphitheater damaged by the centuries. Behind the theater, to the north, the remains of a temple dedicated to Saturn. To the west of the theater was the village, with the forum and the original compass rose, a sundial on a paved square which lists the twelve winds blowing over the region. The best preserved monument is the capitol dedicated to the triad Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. It was built by a rich local family in 166, and the 6 beautiful striated columns are almost intact. They precede the main room which contained a statue of the goddess Juno. This capitol is considered as one of the most remarkable monuments of Roman Africa. Going along the forum by the path to the west, one reaches the temple of Juno Caelestis, built at the beginning of the 3rd century. There too, intact columns support a portico. South of the forum, we reach the Licinian baths, from the same period as the previous temple. These thermal baths have remarkably survived the ages: one can admire a room with 12 columns, mosaic floors as well as all the equipment of the thermal baths: palestra, where combat sports were practiced, changing rooms, steam rooms and a succession of rooms, going from hot to cold. Next to the baths is the house of Dionysus and Odysseus, which had sumptuous decorations, including a mosaic representing Odysseus charmed by the sirens (transferred to the Bardo Museum). Going back eastward, we arrive at the house of Trifolium (the clover). It is a brothel of the 3rd century whose rooms are arranged in a circle around a court. At its sides, one discovers private thermal baths, the thermal baths of the Cyclops, in bad state. One can observe latrines there: a simple stone bench in arc of circle, pierced of a dozen holes. These baths owe their name to the reason of a mosaic which was discovered there. It was then the place of heated political debates. In winter, a slave would sit there for an hour in order to heat his master's place!

Continuing towards the east, we discover the arch of Septimius Severus, first African emperor. Dated 205 AD, and in a bad state of conservation, it celebrates the accession of Dougga to the rank of municipality. Finally, we will complete the visit, further south, by one of the rare monuments testifying of the pre-Roman civilizations in Tunisia, the Libyan-Punic mausoleum of Dougga. It dates from the 2nd^century BC and was dedicated to a Numidian prince, Ataban. Supporting 3 floors and a pyramidion, this monument, of a total height of 21 m, is decorated with motives of Greek inspiration (pilasters with aeolian capitals, Ionic columns or statue of winged woman) as well as Egyptian (sphinx).

The mausoleum was damaged in the 19th century by the British, who stole the funerary plaque to exhibit it in the British Museum. The other damages were repaired by a restoration in the early 20th century. Product of a double culture, Libyan and Punic, this mausoleum has thus allowed, thanks to the inscriptions engraved in the two languages, to decipher the Libyan alphabet. A unique site!

We love this superb site on the Mediterranean coast! Remember to visit the small museum before starting your visit of the site: it reveals thanks to numerous objects found during excavations many aspects of the daily life, the spiritual life and the economic and commercial activities of the Punic period. Among them, a wooden sarcophagus discovered 500 m from the coast in the necropolis, whose carved top represents the princess Kerkouane who watches over the dead. The mask represents Astarte. Discovered in 1952, the ruins belong to a city whose name has not been determined. The first organized excavations began in 1953, but most of the city was exhumed between 1958 and 1959. This charming site has been inscribed by Unesco on the World Heritage List since 1986. These Punic ruins of the 6th century BC are precious because they respect the original layout of the Punic cadastre. Unlike the other Punic sites, the plan of this one was not modified by the Romans, who abandoned the city after having destroyed it in the second century BC. The scientific community agrees that this is the only preserved Punic city. The urbanistic facies, visible today on the ground, is situated between the end of the 4th century BC and the first half of the 3rd century BC. The urban space is divided between the citizens, the deities and the dead. Excavations show that Kerkouane lived mainly from the manufacture of purple. Traders, glassmakers, potters and jewelers who exported their products to the Mediterranean world were also present. Highly prized in Carthage and Rome (where it became the imperial color, the gowns of the imperial families were dyed with it), the purple comes from a shell, the murex, which abounded on the coasts of the Cape. The population, estimated at 2,100 inhabitants for 7 hectares within the city walls, had all the comforts of an advanced city life. The ruins, numerous and scattered, allow us to distinguish ancient dwellings, recognizable by the low boundary walls. Very comfortable for the time, these houses were equipped with elaborate bathrooms. We also find in Kerkouane a Carthaginian mosaic representing Tanit, the goddess of fertility, protector of the city. During a recent excavation, one of the most important temples of the Mediterranean dating from the Punic period was discovered.

Located on the seafront, slightly south of the famous Antonine Baths, the Magon district was the last one that had escaped urbanization. The excavations that were carried out there allowed the discovery of the only visible part of the ramparts of Carthage, dating from the end of the 6th or the beginning of the^5th century B.C., with its foundation blocks, one of which weighs more than 13 tons! The excavators were able to determine that there was then an organized urbanism, with streets three meters wide and a way nine meters wide!

If you only had one craft workshop to visit on your visit to Djerba, it would be that of Chadleya and Adel Ben Mahmoud on the main street of Guellala. This pair of potters is remarkable in more ways than one. Adel is a potters from father to son, and loves passing on his art. Chadleya is Djerba's only female potter. In a society where women are still too often relegated to domestic tasks, her husband Adel is proud to have her at his side in the workshop they share. While they both mold (beautiful) one-off pieces, it's only she who decorates them with superb Amazigh (Berber) motifs. It's easy to see why "Amazighs" means free men and women in the Berber language. As well as being artists, they're also incredible hosts, having welcomed ministers and heads of state, and they're just as happy to welcome the passing traveler. There's no obligation to buy anything here: they'll insist on serving you a cup of tea, or even breakfast! You can also try your hand at making your own pottery, using the couple's potter's wheel free of charge for as long as you like. Beautiful one-off pieces of pottery are on sale in the workshop at rock-bottom prices: you'll find candleholders and small mugs from 3 DT a piece. Don't forget to set aside some time for your visit - you'll find it hard to leave!

Located 15 km from Nefta, Oung Jemel (or "camel's neck") is famous for the sets of the movie Star Wars, at the GPS point 33° 59' 32" N - 7° 50' 41" in the middle of the chott Garsa. The site is quite surreal. You will see the Chott el-Gharsa, this saline depression generating mirages. You will find Mos Espa, the hometown of Anakin Skywalker (the future Darth Vader) because it is where the first Star Wars movie was shot. The #SaveMosEspa campaign helped save the film's sets from being buried by the advancing dunes, which are moving 50 feet a year.

The beautiful wild coastline stretches along the west coast of Djerba. Here, there are no buildings on the seafront, except for a few mosques that were once used as watchtowers. Take the road along the coast from Ajim in the late afternoon, heading north: you will have the setting sun in front of you and will be able to appreciate the wild landscape between the Mediterranean and the rocky landscape planted with palm trees! Stop at the beach of Sidi Jmour with its small eponymous mosque, about 16 km north of Ajim. Built at the beginning of the 17th century, the Sidi Jmour mosque owes its massive appearance to the military role it played for a long time. Indeed, the 18 mosques built on the coast of Djerba also had a defensive role. To remain discreet, these mosques had no minaret and were rather "packed", they are sometimes called dwarf mosques. They were topped with a lantern that served to send messages from one mosque to another in case of attack. This same lantern is lit today at the time of the prayer. All along the coast are also small beaches of jagged rocks where Djerbian families come to picnic. You will also meet men who practice traditional fishing. They plant palm branches in the sea forming corridors that narrow little by little to reach a trap. These assemblies of branches are judiciously placed by taking into account the marine currents. An art to be observed during your walk along the coast.

The beating heart of Houmt Souk (word for word "the souk district"). The souks in the center sell fabrics, carpets and tourist objects. Around it, the specialized souks: the souk of the boilermakers, the ironworkers and the goldsmiths. In the jewelers' souk, the craftsmen, of Jewish origin, make jewelry as in the time of their ancestors. In the south, the spice souk and the fish market (auction from 10 am to 1 pm) remain very lively, especially during the auction. In the surrounding restaurants, Djerbians cook their freshly bought fish!

In the southern suburbs (mines are located a little further in the mountains), like port facilities. This Faubourg is also a regular meeting for all the Sfaxiens of the Suburbs who invade a huge market where, in the sand and dust, we buy everything for the year: clothing, crockery, furniture and even household equipment.

"Archaeological excavations have revealed to the amazed eyes of Kerkennians and visitors one of the Roman quarters of Cercinae, the ancient capital of the archipelago. A survey carried out at the foot of the borj which is located on an eminence allowed to meet archaic strata dating from the seventh century B.C. This discovery shows that the site is a Phoenician foundation and that the strategic position of Kerkennah was noticed and occupied very early by the Phoenicians in their expansion in the West... Paved streets, some of which date back to the Punic era. Large transit port with its quays and its lighthouse whose submerged structures have just been found. On the sea side, it was defended by a beautiful and imposing wall built in the^5th century B.C. Very rich mosaics in the houses... Beautiful oblong cisterns very well preserved testify to the mastery that the Kerkennians of the Antiquity had to save water... " (Excerpt from La Presse.)

Today, there are no more excavations in progress in this area, which is nevertheless very rich and just waiting to reveal its secrets; the fineness of the visible elements allows us to affirm that the Phoenician city was civilized (mosaics everywhere, many cisterns, etc.) and rich. Given the rarity of Phoenician ruins, it is surprising that nobody cares about them! The fort, as for it, is of more recent construction, because Roman, and was built just behind the city. It is still standing and in a fairly good state of preservation.

Nestled in a 400 year old workshop, Amor will give you the opportunity to learn about the art of potters, crushing, mixing, and molding techniques. Jars, "Jeddiwa" (oil pot), dishes, "Rwabi" (container intended to contain or curdle milk), vases or "Serbya" (water container with a filter), Amor works all sizes. This know-how passed down from father to son can be enhanced by a short practical session.

A vast natural fishpond, the El Bihan lake represents a paradise for the fish that come to reproduce there. Fishing in Zarzis, a real spectacle, is practiced according to age-old techniques: as soon as a school of ouzaffs, highly prized dwarf fish, is spotted, the fishermen start beating the water with flippers to push it towards the opening of the kiss, a fine net skilfully stretched. Salted, then dried in the sun, the ouzaff is stored in amphorae and kept for winter consumption. The market starts at the Place de l'Horloge, where the minaret stands.

Gafsa can be proud to host in its land the largest snail farm in Tunisia. It is an artificial mound of about ten meters high, from an accumulation of ash, tools, human and animal bones, and especially snail shells, dating back to 7000 years BC. These piles are traces of human presence, when our ancestors lived in camps. They are found mainly in the south of the country, another one is found in a shelter under the rock located in the region of Oum El Araies.