El projecte de recerca arqueològica a Althiburos i els seus encontorns (El Kef, Tunísia)

Abstract

The archaeological digs carried out between 2006 and 2009 at Althiburos has have proved the existence of contacts with the Phoenician world since the end of the eighth century BC, as well as the adoption of Punic hydraulic techniques from the sixth century BC. The relationship with the Punic world became particularly intense from the fourth century BC. It is indicated by a significant increase in the pottery imports. There is also epigraphic evidence that demonstrates the existence of a municipal organization with strong Punic influence at least from the second century BC, when a sanctuary dedicated to Baal Hammon was also created. The intense penetration of the Punic culture raises the issue of what were the political relations between Althiburos and Carthage from the fifth century BC to the time of Massinissa; more precisely, whether the former was included in the territory of the latter, or, on the contrary, it depended on the Numidian kingdom, albeit maybe housing a Carthaginian garrison.