Introduction au dossier

A groundbreaking study at Dougga, Tunisia, reveals that crémations of perinatal animals alongside caprinés and plant offerings persisted in the sacred area of Baal Hammon – Saturne until 80 AD. This challenges previous assumptions about burial practices at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The research also highlights a high level of Hellenistic cultural influence among Numidian artisans, evidenced by new architectural forms such as a turriform mausoleum and circular bazinas. Additionally, the study provides preliminary insights into collective burial practices involving children and adults, with ceramic analysis dating pre-Roman burials from the late 4th to the 1st century BC. The findings integrate anthropological data with epigraphic evidence for the first time at Dougga, offering a multidisciplinary perspective on funerary customs spanning from the Hellenistic period to the mid-3rd century AD.

Aounallah, S., & Brouquier-Reddé, V. (2020). Introduction au dossier. Antiquités Africaines, 56, 175–181. https://doi.org/10.4000/antafr.2928