Calama (Guelma) – Theatre & Baths
Calama · Guelma · Kalama
Punic to Byzantine (4th c BCE – 7th c CE)·Punic / Numidian / Roman·🇩🇿 Guelma Province, Seybouse valley, 60 km south of Annaba, Algeria
About
About Calama (Guelma) – Theatre & Baths
Seybouse spa city with marble-lined north baths (45×35 m), hillside theatre (62 m) restored by Joly 1905, and Byzantine citadel reusing theatre seats. Hot aquae still flow 28°C. Recorded context — Period: Punic to Byzantine (4th c BCE – 7th c CE); Culture: Punic / Numidian / Roman; Field status: excavated; Materials: limestone, marble, brick; Condition: theatre restored 1900s, baths 4 m vaults, fortress.
Why it mattersKey Punic to Byzantine (4th c BCE – 7th c CE) site illustrating Punic / Numidian / Roman urbanism and seybouse valley grain and spa town famed for hot springs.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Aquae Calamae spring capture Roman engineering
Theories
- 01Thermal spa colonization model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Punic town 4th c BCE; Roman municipium 1st c CE; baths under Severans
- Period
- Punic to Byzantine (4th c BCE – 7th c CE)
- Culture
- Punic / Numidian / Roman
- Builders
- Punic
- Purpose
- Seybouse valley grain and spa town famed for hot springs
- Excavation
- Excavated
Punic town 4th c BCE; Roman municipium 1st c CE; baths under Severans
Initial construction / foundation
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
36.4610° N · 7.4250° E · 280 m · 3 mapped features
- Calama (Guelma) — Principal GategateMain gate and rampart section at Calama (Guelma) – Theatre & Baths36.4616° N · 7.4256° E
- Calama (Guelma) — Central Forum/BasilicaforumForum–basilica complex at Calama (Guelma) – Theatre & Baths36.4610° N · 7.4250° E
- Calama (Guelma) — Baths/CisternsbathsBaths and cistern cluster at Calama (Guelma) – Theatre & Baths36.4604° N · 7.4244° E
Gallery