Kerkouane

36.94638888888911.099166666667Koordinaten: 36 ° 56 ' 47 " N, 11 ° 5' 57" E

The archaeological site of Kerkouane ( German: Kerkouan ) on the Tunisian Cap Bon Peninsula is one of the archeologically important of North Africa, and has been included by UNESCO in the list of world cultural heritage, because it is here to preserved Punic city probably only one.

Kerkouan was destroyed probably during the First Punic War in the so-called Regulusexpedition; However, never rebuilt. Excavations have taken place since 1953 and lasted intermittently until 1976. The city's origins are uncertain, but suspected it that it was here already a Berber settlement, before the Phoenicians arrived. The earliest Punic objects dated to the sixth century BC. The actual city formed a semi-circle facing the sea, which so far but no port facilities have been discovered, although the coastline is fairly well known in the city. A port is therefore presumed outside the city.

The approximately nine -acre city was densely built up with houses, in the middle there was a courtyard, around which clustered the individual rooms. Stairs to upper floors interpret. Building material was mostly local stone, with parts of the wall consisted of carefully hewn stones, between which rough stones have been placed earlier. The houses were relatively comfortable. There were bathtubs, floors were a preform of mosaics (opus signinum ) equipped and the walls had partially modeled stucco. There were gutters, rainwater launched from the rooftops. A temple could be identified. The city was surrounded by a wall.

There were potteries and signs of purple manufactory. It is also thought that glassware was produced in the village. An important economic function was certainly the trade. There were imports from almost all countries of the Mediterranean, among which are red-figure Attic pottery and painted Italic vases. Outside the city limits there were at least four cemeteries. In one of the graves there was still a wooden coffin, the lid of which is modeled in the form of a lady. The style of the cover is purely Hellenistic and dated well into the 4th century BC.