Lithiam Harbour — North Cistern (Tunisia)
Lithiam Cistern N
Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE)·Bronze–Iron Age maritime·🇹🇳 Mahdia, Lithiam, Tunisia
About
About Lithiam Harbour — North Cistern (Tunisia)
Lithiam Harbour — North Cistern (Tunisia) in Mahdia, Lithiam, Tunisia is a Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE) submerged city attributed to Bronze–Iron Age maritime. Systematic survey and photogrammetry document ceramic seriation. The site includes a principal platform and workshop area. Dimensions grid 210 m × 180 m; mole 85 m long × 7 m wide; area 11.1 ha. Excavation ongoing; condition submerged 3–6 m. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Bronze–Iron Age maritime submerged-city with stratified sequence and landscape setting at -5 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction technique
- 02Function and labor organization
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
- 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 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age to Classical (2000 BCE–500 CE)
- Culture
- Bronze–Iron Age maritime
- Purpose
- Submerged harbour and urban insulae under sea
- Rediscovered
- 2010
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 1500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1043 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1936
Modern rediscovery and excavation
c. 1577 CE
Abandonment / submergence
On the ground
Structures & features
35.5000° N · 11.0600° E · -5 m · 3 mapped features
North Quay Mole
moleNorth Quay Mole at Lithiam Harbour — North Cistern (Tunisia) — mole with stratified deposits
35.5005° N · 11.0618° EStreet Grid Insula
insulaStreet Grid Insula at Lithiam Harbour — North Cistern (Tunisia) — insula with stratified deposits
35.4988° N · 11.0586° EHarbour Basin
basinHarbour Basin at Lithiam Harbour — North Cistern (Tunisia) — basin with stratified deposits
35.5018° N · 11.0604° E