About This Site
Althiburos archaeological site is located in the governorate of Kef. It was an ancient Numidian city under Carthage‘s influence. Emperor Hadrian granted the city the status of Municipium Aelium Hadrianum Augustum Althiburitanum during his reign (117-138).
The city flourished during the 2nd and 3rd centuries and became a bishopric in the 4th-7th centuries. Eventually, its inhabitants abandoned Althiburos, leaving to settle in Ebba Ksour. This move led to some buildings’ preservation in the neighboring town of Dahmani.
Despite its importance, the site has only undergone a few archaeological excavations. A campaign in 1895, carried out by soldiers, uncovered the mosaic known as the Catalog of Althiburos ships. In 1908, excavations revealed part of the forum, a main street, and a monumental gate with a bay and an inscription dedicated to Hadrian.
Currently, Spanish and Italian teams are working on excavation projects on the site under the National Heritage Institute of Tunisia’s aegis. The Roman theater, situated atop a hill, remains an impressive sight, with only a series of 19 arcades still standing.
The Althiburos archaeological site also includes the remains of a Byzantine basilica and a Christian cemetery, both of which have a rich history. Visitors can explore the ancient city, its Roman aqueduct, and learn about its past, from its Numidian and Carthaginian roots to its Roman and Byzantine periods.
Overall, the Althiburos archaeological site is a fascinating glimpse into Tunisia’s rich history and cultural heritage. Its ruins and monuments provide a unique opportunity to explore the past and learn about the people who lived and worked in this ancient city centuries ago.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Althiburos is a Roman-era city in the Kef governorate of northwestern Tunisia, known under the Hadrianic period. The site is notable for a remarkably well-preserved theatre with 19 arcades still standing to nearly full height, and for the monumental Catalog of Ships mosaic discovered there in 1895.
The Catalog of Ships mosaic, discovered at Althiburos in the 19th century, is a large Roman mosaic depicting a wide variety of ancient vessels with their names inscribed, providing an invaluable visual and textual record of ancient Mediterranean ship types. It is now in the Bardo National Museum.
Althiburos has been subject to Spanish and Italian archaeological missions in recent decades, which have extended understanding of the site's layout. Despite ongoing work, much of the ancient city remains unexcavated.
Althiburos is near the village of Medeïna in the Kef governorate, about 200 km southwest of Tunis and roughly 50 km south of Le Kef. A hire car is the most practical approach. Le Kef makes a convenient base for a day trip.
In addition to the theatre, visitors can see remains of temples, forums, domestic structures, cisterns, and various monuments spanning Numidian through late Roman and Byzantine periods.
Althiburos is one of Tunisia's least-visited significant Roman sites, making it an exceptional destination for visitors seeking genuine solitude among ancient ruins. The landscape of the Kef region - rolling hills and cork oak forests - adds to the appeal.
