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Excavating Roman Carthage: two contrasting (French and German) reports - CATHERINE BALMELLE, ARIANE BOURGEOIS, HENRI BROISE, JEAN-PIERRE DARMON, MONGI ENNAÏFER, avec la collaboration de Claude Brenot, Suzanne Gozlan et Marie-Pat Raynaud, CARTHAGE, COLLINE DE L'ODÉON. MAISONS DE LA ROTONDE ET DU CRYPTOPORTIQUE (RECHERCHES 1987-2000) (Recherches d'archéologie africaine publiées par l'Institut National du Patrimoine de Tunisie et L'École française de Rome; Collection de l'École française de Rome 457, 2012). Vol. 1. L'Architecture Et Son Décor. Pp. xii + 1-380. Vol. 2. Les Données de Fouilles. Pp. viii + 381-840. Total of 591 figs., most in colour, several folding, Tableaux 96. ISBN for the set: 978-2-7283-0881-1; ISSN 5099-. EUR 480,00. - HEIMO DOLENZ und CHRISTOF FLÜGEL, mit Beiträgen von H. R. Baldus, J. Eingartner, E. Flügel, A. Gerdes, J. Heinrichs, T. Schäfer, K. Schmidt, F. Schön, M. Sieler, B. Tremmel und B. Zach, DIE DEUTSCHEN AUSGRABUNGEN IN KARTHAGO. RÖMISCHE UND BYZANTINISCHE GROSSBAUTEN AM DECUMANUS MAXIMUS (Karthago Band IV; Deutsches Archäologisches Institut; Institut National du Patrimoine - Tunis; Verlag Philipp von Zabern, Darmstadt/Mainz 2012). S. x + 254, Abb. 40, Beilagen 21, Taf. 25, Farbtaf. 4. ISBN 978-3-80534467-8. EUR 89,00.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2013

Joann Freed*
Affiliation:
Edmonton, Alberta, jfreed@wlu.ca

Abstract

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Type
Reviews
Copyright
Copyright © Journal of Roman Archaeology L.L.C. 2013

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References

1 Wightman, E. M., “The plan of Roman Carthage. Practicalities and politics,” in Pedley, J. G. (ed.), New light on ancient Carthage (Ann Arbor, MI 1980) 2946 Google Scholar.

2 Rakob, F., “Ein punisches Heiligtum in Karthago und sein römischer Nachfolgebau. Erster Vorbericht,” RömMitt 98 (1991) especially 3540, with pls. 3-27Google Scholar.

3 Gutron, C., L'archéologie en Tunisie (XIXe-XXe siècles). Jeux généalogiques sur l'antiquité (Paris 2010) 8690 Google Scholar; Arnaud, A., “L'exploration archéologique de la Tunisie,” in Alexandropoulos, J. and Cabanel, P. (edd.), La Tunisie mosaïque. Diasporas, cosmopolitanisme, archéologies de l'identité (Toulouse 2000) 548 Google Scholar; Gran-Aymerich, È., “L'archéologie française au Maghreb de 1945 à 1962,” in Bargaoui, S. and Remaoun, H. (edd.), Savoirs historiques au Maghreb. Constructions et usages (Oran 2006) 243–46Google Scholar.

4 A. Ennabli, “Introduction,” in id. (ed.), Pour sauver Carthage. Exploration et conservation de la cité punique, romaine et byzantine (Paris-Tunis 1992) 18-24. Some international teams involved in the UNESCO project were still working at Carthage after 1992 and publications of their excavations continue to appear.

5 Tunisian resentment at French control of Tunisian archaeology increased through the 1960s. Against this background, Chedli Klibi, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, Mayor of Carthage and champion of Tunisian cultural independence, joined René Maheu, Director of UNESCO, to proclaim the international UNESCO project on May 19, 1972; Gutron (supra n.3) 50-57, 93 and 95-98.

6 Osman, W. Bairem-Ben, Catalogue des mosaïques de Carthage: Musée du Bardo, Musée des Thermes d'Antonin, Quartier de Dermech, Quartier de l'Odéon (diss., Aix-en-Provence 1980)Google Scholar. I have seen a copy at the library of the Musée National de Carthage.

7 Balmelle, C., Blanchard-Lemée, M. and Christophe, J., Le décor de la mosaïque romaine, vols. 1-2 (Paris 2002)Google Scholar.

8 This disconnect between Carthage and the rest of Roman North Africa in terms of mosaic styles has been noted by Dunbabin, K. M. D. at JRA 15 (2002) 702 Google Scholar.

9 Bairem-Ben Osman (supra n.6) vol. IV, 552-54, no. 254.

10 I have recently discussed the orientation of the street grid in more detail: Bringing Carthage home. The excavations of Nathan Davis, 1856-1859 (Oxford 2011) 6364 Google Scholar.

11 C. Zitrides noted the combination of a grandiose architectural plan with poor-quality materials and workmanship in the Byzantine phase of the house she excavated: Housing and urban transformation in Carthage, 400-700 C.E. (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2006) 135 Google Scholar.

12 Kaegi, W. E., Muslim expansion and Byzantine collapse in North Africa (Cambridge 2010) 116–65Google Scholar.

13 Zitrides (supra n.11) 127.

14 Ibid. 130.

15 Salomonson, J. W., La mosaïque des chevaux de VAntiquarium de Carthage (The Hague 1965) 16, fig. 2.Google Scholar

16 Zitrides (supra n.11) 140.

17 Baratte, F. et al., Le trésor de Carthage: contribution à l'étude de l'orfèvrerie de l'Antiquité tardive (Paris 2002) 611 Google Scholar; cf. Painter, K. at JRA 16 (2003) 692700 Google Scholar.

18 Letter of Héron de Villefosse dated April 14, 1874, in the Archives Nationales de France, 17 2975, cited in Laporte, J.-P., “Les Pricot de Sainte-Marie, père et fils, et l'exploration géographique et archéologique de la Tunisie et de Carthage,” in Briand-Ponsart, C. and Crogiez, S. (edd.), L'Afrique du Nord antique et médiévale: mémoire, identité et imaginaire (Rouen 2002) 230, n.125Google Scholar.

19 P. Gros, “Conclusions historiques,” in id. et al., Byrsa III. Rapport sur les campagnes de fouilles de 1977 à 1980: la basilique orientale et ses abords (CollEFR 41, 1985) 150-57.

20 Rakob, F. et al., Die Deutschen Ausgrabungen in Karthago (Mainz) vol. I (1991)Google Scholar (text and box of loose plates); vol. II (1997); vol. III (1999), henceforth cited as Karthago I, II, III.

21 Flügel, C. and Dolenz, H., “Vom römischen Grossbau zur christlichen Grabstätte. Neue Grabungen in Karthago,” AntWelt 27 (1996) 453–58Google Scholar.

22 Rakob (supra n.2) 78.

23 R. Reece with an appendix by Hurst, H., “Coins,” in Hurst, H. (ed.), Excavations at Carthage. The British mission, vol. II, 1. The circular harbour, north side. The site and finds other than pottery (Oxford 1994) 253–56Google Scholar.

24 Rakob (supra n.2) 78.

25 Rakob (supra n.2); the basilica is outlined on fig. 3 (fold-out plan facing 70).

26 Rakob, F. et al., “Forschungen im Stadtzentrum von Karthago. Zweiter Vorbericht,” RömMitt 102 (1995) especially 456, fig. 15Google Scholar.

27 Dolenz, H., Damous-el-Karita. Die österreichischen-tunesischen Ausgrabungen der Jahre 1996 und 1997 im Saalbau und der Memoria des Pilgerheiligtumes Damous-el-Karita in Karthago (Vienna 2001) 197, fig. 90Google Scholar.

28 Miles, R., “British excavations at Bir Messaouda, Carthage 2000-2004: the Byzantine basilica,” BABesch 81 (2006) 199226 Google Scholar; for the plan, 203, fig. 8; for the location south of the decumanus maximus and between kardines 9 and 10, see p. 199.

29 While this review was in press, S. T. Stevens pointed out that new excavations in 2012 on the rue Ibn Chabâat site ruled out the possibility of a Byzantine basilica continuing in the block to the west; this new evidence will require a complete re-evaluation of the Byzantine structures and their context.

30 I have found Rakob (supra n.26) especially helpful; also id., “The making of Augustan Carthage,” in E. Fentress (ed.), Romanization and the city: creation, transformations, and failures (JRA Suppl. 38, 2000) 73-82.

31 For a plan of the street grid with contours, see Karthago I (1991) loose pl. 36.

32 Freed (supra n.10) 58-63.

33 Zitrides (supra n.11) has the reference.

34 Gros et al. (supra n.19).

35 For such a plan, see Rakob (supra n.26) 417, fig. 3.

36 For such a plan, ibid. 415, fig. 2.

37 Karthago I (1991) 3, fig. 4. See also Vegas, M., “Phöniko-punische Keramik aus Karthago,” in Karthago III (1999) 94, fig. 1Google Scholar, for an outline of all of Rakob's trenches marked on a plan of the modern streets (north is on the left side of the page).

38 Niemeyer, H. G., Docter, R. F. and Schmidt, K., Karthago. Die Ergebnisse der Hamburger Grabung unter dem Decumanus Maximus. vol. I. Grabungs- und Baubefund, Häuser und Strassen, Die Funde I; Beilagen (Mainz 2007) 51, fig. 4Google Scholar.

39 Stanzl, G., Holst, J. C. and Wolff, A., “Die römische Stadtplan,” Karthago I (1991) 216–19Google Scholar.

40 Ehrhardt, W., “Römische Malerei in Karthago,” Karthago II (1997) 229–36Google Scholar; also Rakob in Karthago II, 7 and 9.

41 Hedinger, B. with von Schnurbein, S. and Schneider, G., “Die frühe terra sigillata aus den Grabungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts in Karthago, 1974-1991,” Karthago III (1999) 289402 Google Scholar; provenance, 289; dating of forms, 291.

42 Hurst, H., “Use of ceramics within the site,” in Fulford, M. G. and Peacock, D. P. S. (edd.), Excavations at Carthage. The British mission, vol. II, 2. The circular harbour, north side. The pottery (Oxford 1994) 99 Google Scholar.

43 Delattre, A.-L., “Le mur à amphores de la colline Saint-Louis à Carthage,” BCTH 1894, 89119 Google Scholar; Martin-Kilcher, S., “Amphores der späten Republik und der frühen Kaiserzeit in Karthago. Zu den Lebensmittelimporten der Colonia Iulia Concordia,” RömMitt 100 (1993) 286–90 and 288, Table 3Google Scholar; also Rakob 2000 (supra n.30).

44 Fünfschilling, S., “Gläser aus den Grabungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts in Karthago. Die Grabungen ‘Quartier Magon’ und rue Ibn Chabâat sowie kleinere Sondagen,” Karthago III (1999) 504–29Google Scholar.

45 Fünfschilling (supra n.43) 518, fig. 20, no. 773.

46 Vegas, M., “Ein frühkaiserzeitlichen Fundkomplex aus Karthago,” RömMitt 101 (1994) 339–64Google Scholar; depth of soakaway 2 m (p. 339).

47 Hedinger (supra n.41) 385.

48 Martin-Kilcher, S., “Karthago 1993. Die Füllung eines frühkaiserzeitlichen Pozzo,” Karthago III (1999) 403–34Google Scholar; depth of soakaway 3.4 m (p. 404).

49 Ibid. 404 n.2.