Publications
Perpetua in the Amphitheater: Spatial Power, Colonial Archaeology, and Christian History
Research reveals that the association of Saint Perpetua's martyrdom with Carthage's civic amphitheater, long considered definitive, lacks strong textual and archaeological support. Analysis of Latin and Greek Passion narratives, Acts, and later martyrologies shows the execution site was contested among three locations: Carthage’s municipal amphitheater, a military amphitheater in Carthage, or Thuburbo Minus’ amphitheater. This ambiguity persisted across late antiquity, the medieval period, and modernity. The study argues that early 20th-century French colonial Christian archaeologists, notably Alfred-Louis Delattre, deliberately linked Perpetua’s story to the civic amphitheater to bolster colonial Christian narratives, constructing a chapel beneath it for symbolic purposes. This finding underscores how spatial narratives in heritage sites can reflect and perpetuate colonial ideologies, challenging long-standing assumptions about ancient history.
A New Database on Carthaginian Coin Finds
A groundbreaking online database of pre-Imperial Carthaginian coin finds, geolocalized and standardized with contextual archaeological information, has been developed to address the long-standing gap in understanding Phoenician-Punic numismatics. This initiative aims to enhance visibility and accessibility of coin discoveries from Carthage, providing researchers with a comprehensive tool for studying this ancient currency phenomenon. The database integrates spatial data with detailed archaeological context, offering unprecedented insights into the economic and cultural dynamics of Carthaginian society. Presented at the XVI International Numismatic Congress, this resource promises to revolutionize numismatic research by bridging gaps in historical documentation.
Economy, Society, and the Church
Roman cities underwent significant transformations between the 4th and 6th centuries, marked by population decline, urban shrinkage, and repurposing of public spaces. While Western cities like Carthage shrank to mere hundreds of inhabitants, Eastern cities such as Constantinople remained large. A notable exception was Iustiniana Prima, built by Emperor Justinian around 530 in Serbia, which abandoned traditional Roman urban layouts in favor of a church-dominated center. This shift reflects broader societal changes, including the rise of the Church and the abandonment or repurposing of public buildings for economic activities, such as olive presses. Burials within central areas further disrupted earlier urban structures, signaling profound shifts in society during this transitional period.
Mineralogical and chemical study of the salt alteration of masonry blocks in the baths of Antoninus ruins at Carthage, Tunisia
Salt-induced deterioration poses a significant threat to the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of the Baths of Antoninus ruins at Carthage, Tunisia. A comprehensive mineralogical and chemical study reveals that calcarenite masonry is heavily contaminated by halite (NaCl), gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O), and traces of nitrates, originating from sea spray, atmospheric pollutants, and saline groundwater. These contaminants contribute to the formation of honeycombs and black crusts, accelerating physical and chemical decay under Tunisia's seasonally variable Mediterranean climate. The study employed advanced techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), ion chromatography, inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), digital and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), helium porosimetry, and optical microscopy to characterize the deterioration mechanisms. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate salt-related damage in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Phoenician-Punic urban and funerary landscapes of Carthage : the last results of the Tunisian-Italian Archaeological Mission (2021-2024) by INP-Sapienza
Recent excavations at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Carthage reveal a dynamic transformation of its funerary and urban landscapes. The Phoenician necropolis of Dermech, abandoned by the late 6th century BC due to its sacred status, was reoccupied in the 4th century BC as an artisan quarter, featuring Punic kilns and metallurgical workshops. This shift underscores Carthage's urban expansion and economic growth during its Mediterranean dominance. Meanwhile, the Punic necropolis on Odéon Hill uncovered monumental tombs with secondary burials disrupted by Roman construction, validating historical accounts. The findings shed light on Carthaginian funerary practices, urban development, and interactions in the pre-Roman Mediterranean.
Re-using Temples in the Contested Landscape of Vandal North Africa: The cella-Baptistery of Jebel Oust
A temple built atop a hot spring at Jebel Oust, southwest of Carthage, was repurposed as a baptistery during the early fifth century, suggesting continuity between ancient healing cults and Christian practices. The study proposes that this site may have been 'arianized,' aligning Arian Christianity with local pre-Christian traditions amid Vandal anti-Nicene policies. By analyzing archaeological evidence—including temple statues of healing deities (Aesculapius and Hygea) and the placement of a baptismal font in the former cella—the research reinterprets Jebel Oust as a symbol of ecclesio-political contestation during Vandal rule (439–533 AD). The findings challenge assumptions about the strict separation between pagan and Christian religious practices, highlighting how Arianism could be strategically linked to enduring local cults.
Smart Technology in Tunisian Tourism Management Through Virtual Spaces Design in Archaeological Sites: Sustainability and Enhancing Visitor Experience
Integrating smart technology into the design of tourist facilities at UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Carthage, can significantly enhance visitor experiences while preserving cultural heritage. This study demonstrates that blending traditional architectural elements with modern technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence creates interactive environments that deepen visitors' connections to local culture. Successful projects showcased in the research highlight how this approach not only supports sustainability but also boosts the appeal of tourist destinations, contributing to economic growth. The findings underscore the crucial role of space designers in merging aesthetics and functionality while collaborating with local communities to safeguard heritage for future generations.
Carthage
The archaeological site of Carthage, once a dominant Mediterranean power, has been rediscovered through centuries of exploration and excavation. This book highlights how the site's remnants were gradually uncovered, often controversially, bringing its legendary past back into public consciousness. From the first identification of Punic artifacts to the systematic excavations that followed, the narrative traces the efforts of antiquarians, travelers, and scientists who pieced together Carthage's history. The process revealed a city founded by Queen Dido, destroyed in wars with Rome, and later reborn as a Roman and Christian center. However, the exploration also involved the plunder of artifacts for European museums, raising ethical questions about the preservation and representation of heritage.
Karthago
Carthage, a city of antiquity renowned for its resilience and strategic significance, has been the subject of extensive archaeological research that traces its three-thousand-year history. From its founding to destruction, refounding, and eventual ruin, Carthage's layered past is now being reconstructed through systematic excavations and studies. The city, which once served as a colonial archdiocese and currently hosts Tunisia’s presidential residence, stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, symbolizing both its historical grandeur and modern relevance. This research sheds light on the complex narrative of urban evolution, settlement patterns, and cultural transformations that have shaped Carthage's enduring legacy.
Phoenician and Punic cities
Phoenician cities, flourishing from the 12th to the 4th centuries BCE along the Levantine coast, were independent city-states characterized by strategic topography, fortifications, harbors, and religious centers. While their homeland included Tyre and Sidon, Phoenicians expanded westward, establishing trade-focused settlements across the Mediterranean, notably in Carthage (modern Tunisia). Though early archaeological evidence for Carthage is limited, historical records provide insight into its development as a key hub for raw material procurement and maritime trade. This study synthesizes topographical and architectural features of Phoenician cities, contrasting their urban planning with later Punic adaptations.
UNESCO-UNDP’s “Save Carthage” Campaign: Americans and Internationalisation of Heritage in Tunisia
International collaboration in heritage preservation, exemplified by UNESCO's 'Save Carthage' campaign in the 1970s, faced significant challenges that undermined its postcolonial goals. The campaign, which involved 18 international teams—including two from the U.S.—aimed to balance conservation, tourism, and urban development at Tunisia’s sprawling archaeological site of Carthage. However, disputes between American archaeologists and Tunisian hosts, limited funding, and a lack of deep integration with North Africa’s postcolonial landscape hindered its success. This case study reveals the complexities of archaeology in international development assistance, highlighting the mixed achievements of UNESCO and U.S. efforts in Tunisia.
Animal Traffic in the Sahara
Recent archaeological evidence reveals that camels, horses, donkeys, and mules played a pivotal role in Trans-Saharan trade from at least the 1st millennium BC. Excavations in the Sahara, particularly at Jarma and Aghram Nadharif, alongside sites like Berenice, Leptiminus, and Carthage, demonstrate the widespread use of these animals for transport and traction. Faunal remains, combined with visual evidence such as reliefs and ostraca from Bu Njem, indicate that camels were used contemporaneously with donkeys and mules/horses in pre-Islamic caravan trade, further supported by the size of Mediterranean amphorae found in Garamantian Fazzān. This research significantly enhances our understanding of ancient North African trade networks and the logistical foundations of Saharan connectivity.
Staging Archaeology: Empire as Reality Effect at the 1906–07fêtes de Carthage
The 1906–07 fêtes de Carthage, staged at the recently excavated Roman theatre of Carthage, revealed archaeology's dual role as both a nostalgic celebration and a historicist tool during French colonization in Tunisia. These elaborate pageants, involving hundreds of actors and sumptuous period costumes, drew on archaeological findings to depict French colonizers as preservers of ancient culture while consigning colonial violence to the realm of performance. The 1907 pageant featured two specially commissioned plays, including one that juxtaposed a modern poet with a Carthaginian priestess at her excavated tomb site. This study demonstrates how archaeology, as an emerging science, helped police the boundary between past and present, serving a historicist sense of time that legitimized colonial narratives through the 'reality effect'—a technique that made staged performances appear authentic.
An Archaeological History of Carthaginian Imperialism
Archaeological evidence challenges traditional Greco-Roman narratives of Carthaginian imperialism, revealing that the 6th–4th century BCE Carthaginian Empire differed significantly from its portrayal in ancient sources. By prioritizing archaeological and epigraphic records over textual accounts, this study demonstrates that Carthage's expansion mirrored patterns seen in Athenian and Roman empires—through colonization, political integration of dependencies, and trade network centralization. Contrary to prior interpretations linking destruction layers in Sardinia to 6th-century military campaigns, the research argues that Carthaginian imperial manifestations closely resemble those of other ancient empires, suggesting a more nuanced and structured system than previously assumed.
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