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DMP X: Survey and Landscape Conservation Issues around the Tāqallit headland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2015

David Mattingly ,
Salah al-Aghab ,
Muftah Ahmed ,
Farès Moussa ,
Martin Sterry ,
Andrew Wilson ,
Franca Cole ,
Victoria Leitch ,
Anita Radini  and
Toby Savage
...Show all authors
David Mattingly
Affiliation:
School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, UK
Salah al-Aghab
Affiliation:
Department of Antiquities, Tripoli, Libya
Muftah Ahmed
Affiliation:
School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, UK Department of Antiquities, Tripoli, Libya
Farès Moussa
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh, UK
Martin Sterry
Affiliation:
School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, UK
Andrew Wilson
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford, UK
Franca Cole
Affiliation:
Cambridge University, UK
Victoria Leitch
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford, UK
Anita Radini
Affiliation:
School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, UK
Toby Savage
Affiliation:
School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, UK
Katia Schörle
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford, UK
Djuke Veldhuis
Affiliation:
Cambridge University, UK
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Abstract

Survey by the DMP Burials and Identity team around the Tāqallit headland in 2009–2010 has revealed in exceptional detail a well-preserved Garamantian landscape, comprising extensive cemeteries, foggara irrigation systems and numerous oasis settlements. However, this remarkable survival of the Garamantian landscape was found in 2010 to be under direct and imminent threat of destruction. This report describes the landscape features recorded and the steps taken to try to preserve the evidence from obliteration in the face of modern agricultural development. Important new information was recorded about the date and furnishing of some key types of Proto-Urban tombs, linking with a refined view of the relationship of these cemeteries to contemporary foggara construction and the creation of pioneer farming settlement in the Tāqallit region. Significant additional details of the foggara systems were recorded through a combination of satellite image interpretation, surface observation and selective descent into rock-cut shafts. The discovery of an unexpected number of ancient settlements and structures of Garamantian date represents another major achievement of the work. The composite picture of the Garamantian landscape encompassing cemeteries, foggaras and settlements is arguably the most complete yet recorded in the FP/DMP work.

Type
Archaeological Reports
Information
Libyan Studies , Volume 41 , 2010 , pp. 105 - 132
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Libyan Studies 2010

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