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Risks and destruction of coastal archaeological sites in Algeria – the case of the coast of El Hamdania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2023

Rafik Khellaf ,
Donia Bourai  and
Nazim Bensalah
Rafik Khellaf*
Affiliation:
University Center of Tipaza, Laboratory of Historical and Archaeological Studies, Tipaza, Algeria
Donia Bourai
Affiliation:
University Center of Tipaza, Laboratory of Historical and Archaeological Studies, Tipaza, Algeria
Nazim Bensalah
Affiliation:
National Centre of Archaeological Research, Algeria
*
Corresponding author: Rafik Khellaf, email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The Algerian coast is rich in cultural heritage. Many major historical cities and archaeological remains are scattered along its coastline. This cultural heritage is increasingly threatened by the rapid urbanisation that Algeria has experienced in recent years. In 2018 the area of El Hamdania (Cherchell region) was selected as the site of a new commercial mega port. This large construction project will affect a number of archaeological sites located in this region. This paper aims to highlight the archaeological importance of the El Hamdania region and assesses the risks of such a construction to the heritage of the region. The archaeological evidence discussed is based on survey work carried out by members of the Laboratoire d’Études Historiques et Archéologiques (LEHA), an institution that carries out research projects on coastal and maritime archaeology in Algeria.

مخاطر وتدمير المواقع الأثرية الساحلية في الجزائر – حالة ساحل الحمدانية

رفيق خلاف ، دنيا بوراي ، نزيم بن صالح

الساحل الجزائري غني بالتراث الثقافي، حيث تنتشر العديد من المدن التاريخية الكبرى و البقايا الأثرية على طول الشريط الساحلي . يتعرض هذا التراث الثقافي للتهديد بشكل متزايد بسبب التمدن السريع الذي شهدته الجزائر في السنوات الأخيرة . في عام 2018 تم اختيار منطقة الحمدانية (منطقة شرشال ) كموقع لميناء تجاري جديد ضخم . و سيؤثر مشروع البناء الضخم هذا على عدد من المواقع الأثرية الموجودة في هذه المنطقة . تهدف هذه الورقة إلى تسليط الضوء على الأهمية الأثرية لمنطقة الحمدانية وستقوم بتقييم المخاطر التي قد يشكلها بناء الميناء الضخم على تراث المنطقة . تستند الأدلة الأثرية التي تمت مناقشتها في هذه الورقة على أعمال المسح التي قام بها أعضاء مختبر الدراسات التاريخية والآثرية لجامعة تيبازة بالجزائر، وهي مؤسسة تنفذ مشاريع بحثية حول الآثار الساحلية والبحرية في الجزائر .

Keywords

El HamdaniaAlgeriaNorth Africacoastal and maritime archaeologyendangered archaeology
Type
Articles
Information
Libyan Studies , Volume 54 , November 2023 , pp. 187 - 194
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the British Institute for Libyan & Northern African Studies

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