The remains constitute the only example of a Phoenicio-Punic city to have survived. The houses were built to a standard plan in accordance with a sophisticated notion of town planning.
- Tunisia 1967. "Punic Bird". Wood carving of a decorated doorway.
Punic Town of Kerkuane and its
Necropolis (1985, 1986)
Tunisia
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This Phoenician city was probably abandoned during the First Punic War (c.
250 B.C.) and as a result was not rebuilt by the Romans.
The remains constitute the only example of a Phoenicio-Punic city to have survived. The houses were built to a standard plan in accordance with a sophisticated notion of town planning.
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| Tunisia seems to have not issued any postage stamps directly
related to Kerkuane, so I have found a set of Punic art, which might come
from Kerkuane, but might also be from the remains of any of the other
Punic cities in Tunisia.
No specific information has been provided about these stamps.
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Kerkouane is a Punic city in northeastern Tunisia, Cape Bon. A bit off the beaten track, the city has the best ruins after the ancient Carthaginian country, as they were only partly destroyed. Excavations have revealed ruins from the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. Around the site where the layout is clearly visible, many houses still show their walls, and the coloured clay on the facades is often still visible. The houses were built to a standard plan in accordance with a sophisticated notion of town planning.
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A sanctuary has some columns preserved, and in a small atrium parts of mosaics are found. Curbstones, doorsteps, thresholds, and floors of simple mosaic layers are found all over. Still archaeologists work on the Kerkouane site, but the best parts should be discovered by now. Kerkouane was one of the most important punic cities, with Carthage, Hadrumetum (modern Sousse), and Utica.
Sources and links:
Recommended publication.
Other World Heritage Sites in Tunisia (on this site). Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, Tunisia section for further information about the individual properties.
Revised 20 jul 2006 |
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