Neapolis archaeological site

The Neapolis archaeological site lies on the Tunisian coast. It sits two kilometers southwest of Nabeul’s city center. Neapolis is one of the rare Maghreb cities with a Greek name. Thucydides mentions it as early as the 5th century BC. It is the oldest city cited after Carthage. The same texts confirm its importance during the Punic period. Lucius Calpurnius Piso destroyed it in 148 BC.

Caesar or Augustus elevated the city to colony rank. Certain inscriptions still testify to its economic prosperity until the 5th century. The latest data on the city relate to bishops until 646.

Neapolis Archaeological Site, garum production and ancient remains

This economic prosperity relied mainly on garum production. The Romans highly appreciated this condiment made from fish. In July 365, a major earthquake struck the city. It caused a tidal wave that submerged an entire part of the city. In 2017, an Italian-Tunisian archaeological mission discovered the remains (about twenty hectares).

First excavations in 1965 revealed an industrial complex from the Roman era. This complex manufactured garum. They also discovered a residential area with houses paved with superb mosaics. Some mosaics remain on site. Others are exhibited in the Nabeul museum.

A site enhancement program took place from 1996 to 2002. The National Heritage Institute and the Heritage Enhancement and Cultural Promotion Agency carried it out. The agency restored the layout of the walls. Workers also covered the porticos of the galleries of the salting basins. In addition, they repaired the paving of the decumanus. Finally, they opened a new room at the Nabeul museum devoted to the site.