Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau
Greek Barca 560 BCE → Byzantine → Arab Barca medieval capital 640–1150 CE·Greek Barca → Arab Barqah capital of Cyrenaica Emirate 640 CE·🇱🇾 Cyrenaica, Barca (El Marj) plain, near Al Marj, inland Jabal al Akhdar plain, Barca 300 m Al-Marj, Libya
About
About Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau
Barca surveyed Goodchild, Barca Greek to Arab. Recorded context — Period: Greek Barca 560 BCE → Byzantine → Arab Barca medieval capital 640–1150 CE; Culture: Greek Barca → Arab Barqah capital of Cyrenaica Emirate 640 CE; Field status: unexcavated; Materials: limestone walls; Condition: ruins.
Why it mattersKey Greek Barca → Arab Barqah capital of Cyrenaica Emirate 640 CE fortress with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network extent
- 02Function of enclosure
Theories
- 01Seasonal gathering
- 02Defensive stronghold
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 560 BCE Barca Greek city; Arab citadel 640 CE
- Period
- Greek Barca 560 BCE → Byzantine → Arab Barca medieval capital 640–1150 CE
- Culture
- Greek Barca → Arab Barqah capital of Cyrenaica Emirate 640 CE
- Purpose
- Greek Barca hill citadel with medieval Arab capital ruins (3 ha enclosure) and Barca plain view
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1900
- Excavation
- Unexcavated
560 BCE Barca Greek city; Arab citadel 640 CE
Initial construction / first occupation at Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau
c. 1200 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau
1950 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau
On the ground
Structures & features
32.4930° N · 20.8300° E · 330 m · 4 mapped features
- Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau — outlier feature32.4920° N · 20.8303° E
- Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau — Northern Complexcomplexcomplex at Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau — subsidiary complex32.4932° N · 20.8313° E
- Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau — Southern Rock Artrock artrock art at Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau — outlier feature32.4941° N · 20.8283° E
- Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau — Eastern Structurestructurestructure at Barca — Medieval Islamic Fortified Citadel Plateau — subsidiary complex32.4948° N · 20.8294° E