Image Details

Hershel Shanks

Founded in the mid-sixth century B.C., Kerkouane (shown here, compare with photo of bathtub) is one of the rare Tunisian sites with extensive Punic remains. In two decades of excavations, Tunisian archaeologist M’hamed Hassine Fantar has uncovered much of the carefully planned ancient city—revealing an intact sanctuary, city gates, Kerkouane’s checkerboard-shaped streets, mosaics and fancy glass bottles. The city’s houses were all strikingly similar, consisting of an entrance corridor opening into a central courtyard around which rooms were clustered.