An archaeological site is a place where evidence and testimonies of past prehistoric or historical activity of human populations are preserved. Algeria, being a country strategically located at the crossroads between different cultures, is rich in sites and traces of various past civilizations.
Indeed, not counting those in the north, no less than 4,000 archaeological points have been identified in southern Algeria alone, according to the National Center for Prehistoric, Anthropological and Historical Research.
Timgad
Timgad is an ancient city located in the wilaya of Batna, in northeastern Algeria, in the heart of the Aures region. It was founded by the Roman Emperor Trajan as a colony; one of the last in Roman Africa, that is to say, a colony populated mainly by Roman citizens.
Built with its forum, theatre, baths and temples. The city, which initially covered an area of 12 hectares, ended up occupying more than seven times its original size. Due to its excellent state of conservation and the fact that it was considered typical of a Roman city, Timgad was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. Thanks to its ancient richness, it attracts the curious and history lovers who come to recharge their batteries on its ruins by the thousands.
The Pyramids of Frenda
Some of them more than sixteen centuries old, the thirteen “pyramids” of Frenda, also called djeddars of Frenda, erected on two hills near the commune of Medroussa in the wilaya of Tiaret, contain many secrets. The only certainty is that these square-based stone buildings, built between the fourth and seventh centuries, remain unique in the whole of the Maghreb.
The pyramids were built over three centuries, during the time of the Berber kingdoms. At a time when profound upheavals were taking place in the north of what was not yet Algeria, but Roman Numidia. These monumental jeddars, some of which are up to 18 metres high, were erected on two hills six kilometres apart near Frenda, the three oldest on Mount Lakhdar and the other ten on Mount Arawi.
Today, the pyramids are part of Algeria’s national heritage. Archaeologists and authorities in the country would like to have them listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the future, which would make them better known and preserved.
Roman Ruins Of Tipaza
The Tipaza Archaeological Park is located about fifty kilometers west of Algiers and is considered one of the most important archaeological sites not only in the country, but in all of Africa.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982, it includes several historical monuments, represented by the various establishments of the ancient Roman city: amphitheatres, Christian basilica, theatrical temple, nymphaeum, the villa of frescoes, the Garum factory, etc. The park is also surrounded by a 2300-meter defense enclosure with several control towers.
Located on the shores of the Mediterranean, the site attracts a large number of visitors throughout the year and even enchanted many artists and writers, such as Albert Camus, who dedicated an entire essay to it entitled: Noces à Tipaza, published in 1938 and in which he suspected the ruins of being inhabited by the gods.
