Publications
Memory and the urban environment: experiencing the streets of Severan Timgad
Urban landscapes in antiquity were not just physical spaces but also repositories of collective memory, shaped by both top-down planning and bottom-up practices. A study on Severan Timgad reveals how the city's grid plan, public buildings, and honorific inscriptions were deliberately staged to evoke a sense of continuity and development, reinforcing the urban environment as a living memory. Inhabitants further contributed to this memory through everyday interactions, demonstrating that memory was not solely an architectural or political construct but also a dynamic product of daily life. The research combines spatial analysis with epigraphic evidence to illustrate how Timgad's streets served as both a stage for imperial propaganda and a canvas for communal identity.
Archaeological Sites and Tourism: Protection and Valorization, Case of Timgad (Batna) Algeria
A comprehensive analysis of Timgad, Algeria, reveals that despite its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982 and its significant cultural and economic potential, the site lacks adequate tourism planning, leading to suboptimal protection and valorization efforts. The study identifies key socio-economic characteristics of visitors and their perceptions, highlighting the urgent need for a coherent strategy that balances heritage preservation with sustainable development. Using field studies, document analysis, questionnaires, and statistical methods, researchers propose recommendations aimed at enhancing Timgad's role as both a cultural asset and an economic resource. This work underscores the importance of integrated approaches in safeguarding archaeological sites for future generations.
Spatial Configuration Analysis via Digital Tools of the Archeological Roman Town Timgad, Algeria
A pioneering spatial analysis of the UNESCO-listed Roman town Timgad, Algeria, reveals critical insights into its urban and architectural configuration. Using advanced digital tools like Depthmap and Agraph, researchers applied space syntax methods to quantify aspects of accessibility, movement, and daily life within the site. The study identifies distinct spatial properties related to building amenities and human behavior, offering new perspectives on the archaeological value of Timgad. These findings provide valuable data for architects, urbanists, and archaeologists, enhancing our understanding of social domestic life in ancient Roman towns through a quantitative lens.
The orientation of Trajan's town of Timgad
A novel application of solar energy equations to archaeoastronomy reveals that Timgad, the Roman town founded by Emperor Trajan, was likely established during the first decade of September. This discovery leverages the sunrise amplitude equation, typically used in solar energy studies, to deduce the orientation of a town's main street based on its day of foundation. The research demonstrates how ancient urban planning may have aligned with celestial events, offering new insights into Roman architectural practices and chronological dating.
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