Mortuary Landscapes of North Africa (review)

Mortuary Landscapes of North Africa reveals the complex and dynamic nature of burial practices in early North Africa, shaped by cultural shifts such as Phoenician settlement, Roman colonization, and Vandal invasions. The study synthesizes archaeological findings from Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya, analyzing diverse tomb architectures—including Punic shaft tombs, rock-cut chamber tombs, and Roman cupola tombs—and burial rituals across regions and historical periods. It highlights the tension between native traditions and foreign influences, demonstrating how mortuary practices evolved in response to political and cultural changes. The volume also advances osteological research by critically assessing its historical development, offering new perspectives on early North African populations. Its interdisciplinary approach, combining digital mapping and osteological analysis, sets a precedent for future studies in cemetery archaeology.

(Ed.). (2010). Mortuary Landscapes of North Africa (review). University of Toronto Quarterly, 79(1), 345–346. https://doi.org/10.1353/utq.2010.0150