Excavations at Tocra (1985-1992)

Buzaian, Ahmed

doi:10.1017/s026371890000532x

Cited by 24 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Like Apollonia, Tocra is said to have been founded from Cyrene in the seventh century BC [ 57 , 58 ]. It prospered to become one of the five cities of the Pentapolis , next to Apollonia, Cyrene, Ptolemais and Berenice.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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The impact of coastal erosion on the archaeology of the Cyrenaican coast of Eastern Libya

et al. 2023

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Coastal erosion in Cyrenaica (Eastern Libya) represents a major problem for archaeology and heritage management. The area is rich in archaeological sites, often understudied or not fully documented, but also has extensive stretches of vulnerable eroding coastline. This study demonstrates the extent and impact of erosion via shoreline change assessment at two spatial scales. Firstly, wide area assessment using shorelines extracted from a time-series of medium-resolution Landsat imagery. Secondly, site-specific assessment using recent and historic Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery. In both cases, extracted shorelines at different timesteps were compared using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) tool to quantify rates and magnitudes of shoreline movement. The results show extensive zones of erosion at and around the key ancient harbour sites of Apollonia, Ptolemais and Tocra. They also suggest increased rates of coastal retreat in recent years, which is likely linked to anthropogenic actions such as sand mining and urbanization. Forecasts based on present-day shoreline change rates, coupled with ground-level documentation of the vulnerable shorelines is used to identify archaeological features and structures which will likely be progressively damaged or destroyed over the next 20 years. The ability to actively protect archaeological sites is unclear, but there is a clear need for mitigation in the form of enhanced awareness of environmental problems (e.g. caused by sand mining) and more intensive survey/documentation of sites and areas which will be lost in the coming years.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its harbour was an artificial construction with two quays running out from the shore. A mole, ~220 m in length, offered some protection from the elements [8,[56][57][58].…”

Section: Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of coastal erosion on the archaeology of the Cyrenaican coast of Eastern Libya

et al. 2023

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“…12). Another very welcome development in recent years has been the series of student training excavations mounted by Gar Yunis University at Tocra (Buzaian 2000), and by the Department of Archaeology at Omar Mokhtar University, al-Baeda, at Balagrae (the ancient settlement at al-Baeda). The Department of Antiquities has also organised its own training excavation at Medinat Sultan (Fehervari et al 2002).…”

Section: The Archaeological Infrastructurementioning

confidence: 99%

Protecting Libya's Archaeological Heritage

Bennett

Barker

2011

Afr Archaeol Rev

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Libya's archaeological heritage is truly spectacular, comparatively little studied and hugely under threat. Following an extended period of isolation, improvement in Libya's relations with the rest of the world and a rise in the price of oil have stimulated a huge amount of development in the country, especially in the hydrocarbon and infrastructure sectors of the economy. With a rapidly growing population, and expanding youth unemployment, the Libyan government is attempting to develop a new way forward for its society and economy. Archaeology and heritage have not traditionally been high on Libya's agenda. The custodian of Libyan heritage, the Department of Antiquities, has been poorly supported by the state (perhaps in part relating to postcolonial Libya's ambivalent feelings towards its past) and is now badly positioned to deal with the nature and scale of development threats in the cities, the agricultural zone, and especially the desert where the greatest number of heritage assets are located. Most major development projects in these areas and elsewhere have been undertaken with little or no archaeological impact assessment, monitoring or mitigation activities, with unfortunate consequences for buried and standing archaeological remains. There are some encouraging signs of a sea change in the state's attitude to archaeology, heritage, conservation and tourism.Résumé Le patrimoine archéologique libyen est absolument extraordinaire, relativement peu étudié et gravement menacé. Après une période prolongée d'isolement, l'amélioration des relations entre la Libye et les autres pays du monde ainsi que l'augmentation du prix du pétrole ont stimulé un haut niveau de développement dans le pays, en particulier dans les secteurs économiques des hydrocarbures et des infrastructures. Compte tenu de l'accroissement rapide de sa population et de l'augmentation du chômage parmi les jeunes, le gouvernement Afr Archaeol Rev (2011) 28:5-25 libyen essaye à présent de trouver de nouveaux modes de développement social et économique. L'archéologie et le patrimoine n'ont traditionnellement pas fait partie des priorités du gouvernement libyen. Le Département des Antiquités, chargé de la conservation du patrimoine libyen, a reçu peu d'aide de l'État (peut-être en raison, du moins partiellement, des sentiments ambivalents de Libye postcoloniale envers son passé) de sorte qu'il se trouve actuellement incapable de gérer la nature et l'ampleur des menaces liées au développement, dans les villes, les zones agricoles et particulièrement dans le désert, où se trouvent la plupart des richesses patrimoniales. Dans ces régions et ailleurs, la plupart des projets de développement ont été entrepris avec peu ou sans mesures d'évaluation de l'impact archéologique, de surveillance ou d'atténuation, ce qui a eu un effet dévastateur sur les vestiges archéologiques enfouis ou hors sol. Toutefois, des signes encourageants annoncent un profond changement dans l'attitude de l'État envers l'archéologie, le patrimoine, la conservation et le tourisme.

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Cyrenaica

Kane

2024

A Companion to the Archaeology of the Roman Empire

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Excavations at Tocra (1985-1992)

Cited by 24 publications

References 13 publications

The impact of coastal erosion on the archaeology of the Cyrenaican coast of Eastern Libya

The impact of coastal erosion on the archaeology of the Cyrenaican coast of Eastern Libya

Protecting Libya's Archaeological Heritage

Cyrenaica

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