Cessa Mound — Ancillary Embankment North (Mauretania)
Cessa N Embank
Early Bronze Age to Iron Age (2500–500 BCE)·Hallstatt / Early Iron Age·🇲🇷 Adrar, Chinguetti, Cessa, Mauritania
About
About Cessa Mound — Ancillary Embankment North (Mauretania)
Cessa Mound — Ancillary Embankment North (Mauretania) in Adrar, Chinguetti, Cessa, Mauritania is a Early Bronze Age to Iron Age (2500–500 BCE) tumulus attributed to Hallstatt / Early Iron Age. Systematic survey and LiDAR document radiocarbon sequence. The site includes a principal necropolis and workshop area. Dimensions mound 22 m diameter × 6 m high; ditch 2 m deep; area unmeasured ha. Excavation excavated; condition partially preserved. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Hallstatt / Early Iron Age tumulus with stratified sequence and landscape setting at 400 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction technique
- 02Relation to regional network
Theories
- 01Elite residence hypothesis
- 02Ritual landscape 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
- c. 1500–1200 BCE
- Period
- Early Bronze Age to Iron Age (2500–500 BCE)
- Culture
- Hallstatt / Early Iron Age
- Builders
- Hallstatt
- Purpose
- Elite burial and ritual mound
- Rediscovered
- 2001
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 1500–1200 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 949 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1927
Antiquarian record, modern excavation from 1960s
On the ground
Structures & features
20.4600° N · 12.3600° W · 400 m · 4 mapped features
Principal Monument
structurePrincipal Monument at Cessa Mound — Ancillary Embankment North (Mauretania) — structure with stratified deposits
20.4582° N · 12.3613° WAncillary Complex
complexAncillary Complex at Cessa Mound — Ancillary Embankment North (Mauretania) — complex with stratified deposits
20.4616° N · 12.3597° WOutlier Feature
outlierOutlier Feature at Cessa Mound — Ancillary Embankment North (Mauretania) — outlier with stratified deposits
20.4578° N · 12.3608° WReservoir/Cistern
hydraulicReservoir/Cistern at Cessa Mound — Ancillary Embankment North (Mauretania) — hydraulic with stratified deposits
20.4624° N · 12.3593° W