The archaeology of the southern Fazzan and prospects for future research

Abstract

Since the beginning of archaeological fieldwork in the Fazzan in the 1930s, the focus of research has remained mainly on the Wadi al-Ajal/Wadi al-Hayat and the ‘Garamantes’. While recent work in the Ghat region has identified ‘Garamantian’ sites much further west than previously known, in the Wadi Tanezzuft, very little is known of other parts of the region, notably the southern oases and their towns with their rich medieval and post-medieval heritage.While preparing materials from the Charles Daniels archive for publication, a brief review of the archaeology of the southern Fazzan identified some 130 sites in the region. While detailed studies are still lacking, there was clearly a significant ‘Garamantian’ presence in many of the southern oases, with several sites in the Wadi an-Nashwa, a significant settlement at Ghuddwa and further cemeteries in the Dujal area and probably at Tsawah. Despite Daniels' reservations, it is clear that a large settlement at Sharaba dated back to the Garamantian period. There is little evidence from the major towns to the east, although Roman imports found at Zuwila suggest that it was at least integrated into ‘Garamantian’ trade networks. Some indications of potentially significant cultural differences between Garamantian remains found in this region and those of the Wadi al-Ajal were also noted.The potential for medieval and post-medieval archaeology in the region is also very considerable, with the presence of numerous qsur and other settlement sites which await systematic recording. The presence of some groups of foggaras in the region is also of interest and these certainly merit further investigation.

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