Geoarchaeology of the ancient city of Utica (Tunisia) and evolution of the palaeoenvironment of the Medjerda delta

Phoenician Utica remains today largely unknown, as is its role in the Phoenician expansion in the western Mediterranean. Aristotle and Pliny the Elder mention Utica as a maritime and port city and estimate its origin around the 11th c. BC. However, in the present state of research, no archaeological evidence is earlier than the 9th c. BC, and the location of the Phoenician and Roman port infrastructures remains unknown. Today, the ancient city is located on a promontory in the heart of the Medjerda delta, 10 km inland. This project proposes an interdisciplinary effort to understand the Medjerda delta landscape changes during the Holocene. It starts from an archaeological problem and proposes the contribution of geoarchaeology to the understanding of the relationship between ancient societies and their environment. The fluvial palaeoenvironments and sedimentary processes are studied through the mechanical extraction of cores (15-20 m deep) to reach the early Holocene. Selected sediment samples are then studied in laboratory, using different and complementary approaches. The location of port infrastructures will bring initial answers to the question of the foundation of the city. The study of river palaeoenvironments of the Medjerda delta during the Holocene aim at a better understanding of the nature of the settlement, as well as the function of the city of Utica over time. This study will also assess the impact of the ancient city on the environment and understand how the city adapted to the mobility of this Mediterranean delta. Furthermore, the analysis of sedimentary processes causing the filling of the harbour basin will lead to speculation about the causes of the abandonment of the structures and more generally the decline of the city in favor of Carthage. It will also examine whether natural or anthropogenic factors have influenced this deltaic progradation over the centuries

Photogrammetry as a New Scientific Tool in Archaeology: Worldwide Research Trends

Archaeology has made significant advances in the last 20 years. This can be seen by the remarkable increase in specialised literature on all archaeology-related disciplines. These advances have made it a science with links to many other sciences, both in the field of experimental sciences and in the use of techniques from other disciplines such as engineering. Within this last issue it is important to highlight the great advance that the use of photogrammetry has brought for archaeology. In this research, through a systematic study with bibliometric techniques, the main institutions and countries that are carrying them out and the main interests of the scientific community in archaeology related to photogrammetry have been identified. The main increase in this field has been observed since 2010, especially the contribution of UAVs that have reduced the cost of photogrammetric flights for reduced areas. The main lines of research in photogrammetry applied to archaeology are close-range photogrammetry, aerial photogrammetry (UAV), cultural heritage, excavation, cameras, GPS, laser scan, and virtual reconstruction including 3D printin

Marfil de hipopótamo procedente de estratos fenícios arcaicos en Utica (Túnez)

During the last excavation campaigns of the Tunisian-spanish team in Utica (Tunisia) an ancient Phoenician architectonic complex, associated to a partially excavated Phoenician building, was discovered. South of that building an almost circular well opens in the ground. The characteristics of the content of the well allowed to interpret it as a closed context, built up by the remains of a collective, possibly ritual, feast and dated to the last quarter of the 9th century BC. Among the fragments recovered from the well is a cuboid ivory piece. The scientific analysis of the piece revealed the raw material as hippopotamus ivory. This date is put in relation to other contemporaneous ivory finds and the question of Phoenician and orientalizing ivory trade is studied. Keywords: ivory – scientific analysis – hippopotamus – Northafrican elephant – Ivory trade – Phoenician colonization Während der letzten Grabungskampagnen des tunesisch-spanischen Teams wurde in Utica (Tunesien) ein phönizischer architektonischer Komplex entdeckt. Dieser ist mit einem teilweise ausgegrabenen phönizischen Gebäude verbunden. Südlich dieses Gebäudes öffnet sich ein nahezu kreisförmiger Brunnenschacht. Der Inhalt des Brunnens bildet einen geschlossenen Komplex, der aus den Resten eines kollektiven, vermutlich rituellen Gelages besteht und in das letzte Viertel des 9. Jhs. v. Chr. datiert wird. Unter den Funden aus dem Brunnen befindet sich auch ein quaderförmiges Elfenbeinfragment. Die naturwissenschaftliche Analyse des Stückes ergab Flusspferdelfenbein als Rohmaterial. Dieser Befund wird in einen Zusammenhang mit anderen zeitgenössischen Elfenbeinfunden gebracht und die Frage des phönizischen und orientalisierenden Handels mit Flusspferdelfenbein besprochen. Schlagworte: Elfenbein – naturwissenschaftliche Analyse – Flusspferd – Nordafrikanischer Elefant – Elfenbeinhandel – phönizische Kolonisation Durante algunas de las últimas campañas de excavación del equipo tunecino-español en Utica (Túnez) fue descubierto un complejo arquitectónico fenicio muy antiguo asociado a un edificio fenicio, parcialmente excavado. Al Sur de este edificio se abre un pozo prácticamente circular. Las características del contenido del pozo han permitido interpretarlo como un conjunto cerrado, formado por los restos de un banquete colectivo, posiblemente ritual, y datado en el último cuarto del siglo IX a. C. Entre los fragmentos recuperados en el pozo se encuentra una pieza de marfil en forma de paralelepípedo. Se ha estudiado esta pieza y mediante análisis científicos se ha podido determinar la materia prima como marfil de hipopótamo. Ponemos este dato en relación con otros hallazgos de marfil contemporáneos y revisamos la cuestión del comercio de marfil de hipopótamo fenicio y orientalizante. Palabras clave: marfil – análisis científico – hipopótamo – elefante norteafricano – comercio de marfil – colonización fenicia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

What the people of Utica (Tunisia) ate at a banquet in the 9th century BCE. Zooarchaeology of a North African early Phoenician settlement

In the paper are presented the results of a faunal set fromthe recent excavations at the Phoenician colony of Utica (Tunis). The set is composed by 536 fragments of bones found in an abandoned Phoenicianwater pit, filled intentionally with bones of consumed animals, drinking cups, plates, and bowls, as well as amphorae of Phoenician, Geometric Greek, Sardinian and Lybic productions. The hypothesis is that the well possibly was filled with the remains of a ritual banquet inwhich oxen, caprinae, pigs, horse and domestic dog were consumed. Another species such as turtle and African elephant complete this ancient faunal set. C14 dating samples from the deposit points to the last quarter of cal 10th century BCE to the middle of cal 9th century BCE, as the initial period of Phoenician presence in theWestern and CentralMediterranean. So the faunal remains are for the moment the oldest in a Phoenician settlement in North Africa and Central Mediterranean area

DATA ON 9TH CENTURY BC PALEOTSUNAMI IN UTICA (TUNISIA)

1. Spatial and stratigraphical location of tsunami stratum remains 2. Data of the sedimentary analysis of samples from Utica beach, Bizerta beach and Utica excavation tsunami stratum in Sector 3. Marine fauna of paleotsunami stratum from Utica excavations Sector 21 4. C14 datations of marine fauna of the tsunami sediment from Sector 21, Stratigraphic unit 21100 in Utica and North Africa contextContents: 1. Spatial and stratigraphical location of tsunami stratum remains 2. Data of the sedimentary analysis of samples from Utica beach, Bizerta beach and Utica excavation tsunami stratum in Sector 3. Marine fauna of paleotsunami stratum from Utica excavations Sector 21 4. C14 datations of marine fauna of the tsunami sediment from Sector 21, Stratigraphic unit 21100 in Utica and North Africa contex

Utica Project (Tunisia). Excavations in the Phoenician‑Punic city. Results of the 2016 season

Se presentan los resultados de la campaña de excavaciones de 2016 en Utica (Túnez). En la Zona II se continuó excavando en el corte 21 buscando la delimitación del muro perimetral de un edificio fenicio arcaico. Se continuó la excavación al norte de dicho corte de una fosa romana. En la zona I se continuó la excavación en los sectores 21 y 22 del corte 10. El primero dio como resultado un pavimento perteneciente a una vivienda quizá del siglo III‑II a. C. En el segundo sector, situado al extremo noreste del corte, se localizó una posible calle que delimitaría la manzana urbana fenicio‑púnica. En el corte 11 se efectuó una ampliación al norte que descubrió una plataforma de cimentación hecha con grandes bloques, posiblemente para sostener el muro perimetral noreste del templo del siglo IV a. C. Por último, se efectuó una prospección geofísica en las zonas I y II para comprobar los límites de la ciudad y la existencia de estructuras antiguas en las inmediaciones de la antigua línea de costa.In the article are presented the results of the excavation season of 2016 at Utica (Tunisia). In Zone II the excavation went on in square 21 searching the delimitation of a perimetral wall of an archaic Phoenician building. North of the square was continued the excavation of a Roman pit. In Zone I, square 10, the excavation focused in sectors 21 and 22. The first one gave as a result a pavement that belongs to a house maybe of the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. In the second sector, placed at the north-east extreme of the square, was localized a possible street which could delimitate an urban Phoenician-Punic block. In square 11 an enlargement in the north area discovered a foundation platform built with ashlars, likely to support the north-east perimetral wall of the temple of 4th century BC. Finally, a geophysical survey was done in zones I and II to check the limits of the city and the existence of ancient structures in the surroundings of the ancient coastal line

Céramique pré-impériale de Thysdrus (El-Jem, Tunisie)

The study of a series of ceramic finds from pre-Roman tombs in Thysdrus reveals a new aspect of this Roman site. Although there is little variation among the forms, this assemblage, which fits perfectly into the Punic repertoire of Byzacena, shows the importance of pre-Roman levels from this inland site of the Sahel. This new pre-Roman material sheds light on the indigenous population and its relations with the Phoenicians.L’étude d’une série d’objets céramiques provenant des tombes préromaines de Thysdrus permet de livrer une nouvelle facette de ce site romain. Malgré ses formes peu variées, ce matériel, qui s’insère parfaitement dans le répertoire de la Byzacène punique, témoigne de l’importance des niveaux préromains dans ce site du Sahel intérieur. On espère que ces niveaux susciteront désormais l’intérêt des chercheurs afin de mieux connaître le monde indigène et ses rapports avec les Phéniciens.Ben Jerbania Imed. Céramique pré-impériale de Thysdrus (El-Jem, Tunisie). In: Antiquités africaines, 44,2008. pp. 23-42

La production des amphores ovoïdes de type « Africaine ancienne » à Utique

Les nouvelles recherches menées à Utique ont permis de parvenir à une meilleure définition du lieu de production des amphores Africaines anciennes, que les dernières découvertes ont permis d’attribuer à l’aire nord-occidentale de la Tunisie. En effet, parmi le matériel céramique livré par la récente fouille d’un four construit en briques selon la tradition phénicienne, et d’un dépotoir céramique bien délimité par des murs en adobes, figurent plusieurs tessons de bords, d’anses et de pieds classés dans ce type amphorique à profil ovoïde. L’analyse pétrographique de certains échantillons a confirmé l’homogénéité de la pâte, et suggère que ces amphores appartiennent à un seul groupe de production locale.The new researches undertaken at Utica made it possible to better localize the production place of old African amphorae, that the last discoveries authorized their attribution to the north-eastern area of Northern Tunisia. Indeed, among the ceramic findings delivered by the recent excavation of a kiln built out of mud bricks according to the Phoenician tradition, and the excavation of a ceramic dump well delimited by adobe walls, are several shards of edges, handles and feet classified in this ovoid-shaped amphora type. The petrographic analysis of certain samples confirmed the homogeneity of the clay and suggests that these amphorae belong to only one same group of a local production