Recent archaeological research on a monumental ancient hydraulic ensemble in the area of La M'alga in Carthage. Overall plan and architecture
Abstract
In this publication, I present research results and archaelogical works which I started operating on them in 2015 in the archeological zone of La M’alga in Carthage, concerning the ruins of an important hydraulic monument which is less known until now, built on an artificial hill in the western part of the above mentioned zone. Having as a whole a quadrangular plan, this monument is composed of three large oblong tanks built almost entirely in elevation and arranged as a letter U open towards the west and overlooking, on the one hand, the ruins of the amphitheater of ancient Carthage which are only two hundred meters distant and, on the other hand, the bath ruins known as "the baths of the Phoenix", below its south-west flank.
The results of my research on this monument show :
- that the monument was supplied with water by an aqueduct other than that of Carthage, probably drawing its liquid from a local source, intramural (intra-muros).
- that each of the three vessels forming it, had a well-defined function : the first, R1, served as a water intake basin, the second, R2, to provide drinking water to a fountain at its southwestern end and the third, R3, to supply the so-called Phénix baths mentioned above (Fig. 4)
- that two rows of nine shops each were arranged on the two lateral sides of the central area (north and south) by the three cisterns and which would have taken the place of an esplanade left to the free area. The floor of this area was covered with polychrome mosaic pavement with a floral pattern.
- that the monument is to relate both with the so-called baths of the Phoenix and the amphitheater that faced it.
- that the IIIth century constitutes a dating post quem to the construction of this whole monumental, while the beginning of the VIth century constitutes the terminus ante quem, and that the date of its definitive abandonment would be located during the VIIIth century in the Byzantine period after having experienced a second period of occupation.
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