BORJ EL HSAR

"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.