Archaeology of the Early Islamic Period in Maghrib al-Awsat/ Algeria (1st -4th cent. A. H / 7th- 10th cent. C.E) –Cross-Readings

Since the establishment of the “Islamic Antiquities” specialization at the University of Algiers in 1923 under the supervision of Georges
Marçais (1876-1962), the archaeology of the first four centuries of the Islamic period in the Maghribal-Awsat (current Algeria) has not received significant attention. The relevant archaeological excavations thus far have been limited to merely seven sites, three of
which were excavated in hurried fashion during the period of the French occupation: Tihart by Marçais and de Lamare in the 1940s; Ashir by Marçais’ student Lucien Golvin (1949-1952); and Sedrata by the independent researcher Marguerite Van Berchem (1952-1953).

In his historical and geographical studies on medieval North Africa, Emile Felix Gautier (1864- 1940) denied the existence of local states and significant political entities in the Al-Maghrib al-Awsat, reducing the history of the region to a series of sterile tribal conflicts between "Bedouins" and urbanites, which he called the “Dark Ages”. For him, the lack of political development of the local population and its narrow-minded tribalism, resulted in an inability to establish durable statestructures On the twenty-fifth anniversary of its founding, the Archeology Department at the University of Tlemcen (2021-2025) is organizing an international symposium which recognises the need for a more intensive and comprehensive investigation of the Maghrib al-Awsat in the early Islamic period. The symposium seeks to evaluate archaeological and historical approaches and methodologies, past and present, and to foreground archaeological evidence that has been largely neglected since the pioneers of the colonial archaeological school. This critical work, it is hoped, will bring greater awareness of the early Islamic period and foster interest among young researchers and students.

The international conference will adress issues such as what types of material evidence survive from this largely obscure period in medieval Algerian history? What are some effective ways to foster collaboration between researchers working in the archaeological and historical (textual) fields? How can we combine different approaches i.e. archeology, histotiografy, numismatic and material culure to shed light on the early Islamic period of the Maghrib al-Awsat?

[ programm ]

[ impressions of the trip following soon - currenty have a look at our FB acount ]