Late Roman African Urbanism

191 Pages·2007·97.995 MB·English

by  Gareth Sears

Late Roman African Urbanism

Continuity and transformation in the city

Gareth Sears

BAR International Series 1693
2007

Sears, Gareth. Late Roman African Urbanism: Continuity and Transformation In the City.
E-book, Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2007, https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407301310.
Downloaded on behalf of University College London
Late Roman African Urbanism

Continuity and transformation in the city

Gareth Sears

BAR International Series 1693
2007

Sears, Gareth. Late Roman African Urbanism: Continuity and Transformation In the City.
E-book, Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2007, https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407301310.
Downloaded on behalf of University College London
ISBN 9781407301310 paperback
ISBN 9781407331720 e-format
DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407301310
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
BAR
PUBLISHING
Sears, Gareth. Late Roman African Urbanism: Continuity and Transformation In the City.
E-book, Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2007, https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407301310.
Downloaded on behalf of University College London
TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................................................i
TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................................................................................................ii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS................................................................................................................iv
LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................................................................vi
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS....................................................................................................................vii
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................1
THE DEBATE......................................................................................................................................1
THE EXISTING SCHOLARSHIP.......................................................................................................1
FOCUS AND STRUCTURE...............................................................................................................2
THE EVIDENCE.................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................5
THE HISTORICAL AND RELIGIOUS CONTEXT.........................................................................6
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................6
THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND....................................................................................................6
RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY...........................................................................................................8
DONATISM: A NATIONAL OR SOCIAL REVOLT?....................................................................13
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................16
NORTH AFRICA IN CONTEXT: MEDITERRANEAN URBANISM IN THE LATE ROMAN
PERIOD................................................................................................................................................17
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................17
CHRISTIANISATION OF THE CITY..............................................................................................17
CONSTRUCTION OF WALL CIRCUITS........................................................................................21
THE ‘EPIGRAPHIC HABIT’............................................................................................................23
PROCESSES IN THE WESTERN EUROPEAN PROVINCES.......................................................23
Urban Shrinkage.............................................................................................................................23
Public euergetism...........................................................................................................................24
A change in priorities.....................................................................................................................25
PROCESSES IN THE EASTERN ROMAN PROVINCES...............................................................26
Urban maintenance and transformation..........................................................................................26
Vitality of trade routes....................................................................................................................28
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................29
CASE STUDIES...................................................................................................................................30
WAYS OF EXAMINING THE CASE STUDIES.............................................................................30
DEFINING SECTARIAN CHURCHES............................................................................................34
CASE STUDIES................................................................................................................................37
Carthage (Karthago).......................................................................................................................37
Ammaedara (Haïdra)......................................................................................................................45
Thuburbo Maius (Henchir Khasbat)...............................................................................................47
Theveste (Tébessa).........................................................................................................................50
Sufetula (Sbeitla)............................................................................................................................52
Cuicul (Djemila).............................................................................................................................55
Thamugadi (Timgad) .....................................................................................................................58
Sitifis (Sitifis).................................................................................................................................63
Tipasa (Tifech)...............................................................................................................................66
ii
Sears, Gareth. Late Roman African Urbanism: Continuity and Transformation In the City.
E-book, Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2007, https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407301310.
Downloaded on behalf of University College London
Lepcis Magna (Lebda)....................................................................................................................70
Sabratha..........................................................................................................................................74
DISCUSSION........................................................................................................................................78
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................78
CONTINUATION OF EUERGETISM?............................................................................................78
THE FUNDING OF CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION.............................................83
THE CONSTRUCTION OF WALL CIRCUITS...............................................................................84
WATER PROVISION IN LATE ROMAN NORTH AFRICA.........................................................85
False Water.....................................................................................................................................85
Fountains and Nymphaea................................................................................................................86
The maintenance and construction of baths....................................................................................86
THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES..............88
DOMESTIC STRUCTURES.............................................................................................................91
CONTRACTION AND EXPANSION OF THE URBAN AREA.....................................................91
TEMPLES AND PAGANISM...........................................................................................................92
Conversion of temples....................................................................................................................93
CONSTRUCTION OF CHURCHES.................................................................................................99
Christian basilicas in the forum....................................................................................................100
Basilicas in the rest of the urban area...........................................................................................102
Basilicas on the periphery of the urban area.................................................................................104
Basilicas in the cemeteries............................................................................................................105
The placing of churches................................................................................................................106
Dating the Christianisation of the city..........................................................................................108
RESULTS OF THE TRANSFORMATION OF SPACE.................................................................110
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................116
DECLINE, CONTINUITY OR TRANSFORMATION?...............................................................117
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................117
DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH AFRICA.......................................................................................117
Occupation of the urban area........................................................................................................117
Erection of inscriptions and construction of buildings.................................................................118
Wall circuits..................................................................................................................................120
Religion and the North African cities...........................................................................................120
AFRICAN URBANISM IN CONTEXT..........................................................................................123
URBAN TOPOGRAPHY IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE WIDER DEBATE............................126
ENVOI..............................................................................................................................................127
ABBREVIATIONS.............................................................................................................................129
Ancient Sources................................................................................................................................129
Books, Journals and Corpuses..........................................................................................................130
BIBLIOGRAPHY...............................................................................................................................131
Ancient Sources................................................................................................................................131
Modern Authors................................................................................................................................132
ILLUSTRATIONS.............................................................................................................................144

iii
Sears, Gareth. Late Roman African Urbanism: Continuity and Transformation In the City.
E-book, Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2007, https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407301310.
Downloaded on behalf of University College London
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The illustrations in this book were drawn by myself and Mr Henry Buglass based on the following
source material. The hatched areas mark cemeteries whilst the wadis are marked by block, black lines.

MAP 1 – AFRICA IN RELATION TO THE REST OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (AFTER: BURN, L.
1991)........................................................................................................................................144
MAP 2 – NORTH AFRICAN CITIES AND VILLAGES MENTIONED IN THE TEXT (AFTER:
LEPELLEY 1981: MAPS 1-5 AND FREND 1952: Fig. 2-3) ...............................................145
MAP 3 – NORTH AFRICAN CITIES AND VILLAGES MENTIONED IN THE TEXT (AFTER:
LEPELLEY 1981: MAPS 1-5 AND FREND 1952: Fig. 2-3) ...............................................146
FIGURE 1 – DRAWING OF CARTHAGE (AFTER: ENNABLI 1997: p.6) .................................147
FIGURE 2 – THE CENTRE OF CARTHAGE (AFTER: ENNABLI 1997: p.6) .............................148
FIGURE 3 – AMMAEDARA (HAÏDRA) IN THE CHRISTIAN PERIOD (AFTER: DUVAL 1982b:
Fig. 2) ......................................................................................................................................149
FIGURE 4 – THUBURBO MAIUS IN THE LATE THIRD CENTURY (AFTER: ALEXANDER,
BEN ABED-BEN KHADER, BESROUR, MANSOUR, AND SOREN 1980: Plan 34) ......150
FIGURE 5 – THUBURBO MAIUS IN THE EARLY FIFTH CENTURY (AFTER: ALEXANDER,
BEN ABED-BEN KHADER, BESROUR, MANSOUR, AND SOREN 1980: Plan 34) ......151
FIGURE 6 – THE CENTRE OF THUBURBO MAIUS (AFTER: ALEXANDER, BEN ABED-BEN
KHADER, BESROUR, MANSOUR, AND SOREN 1980: Plan 34) ....................................152
FIGURE 7 – DISTRIBUTION OF ARTISANAL WORKSHOPS AT THUBURBO MAIUS (AFTER:
ALEXANDER, BEN ABED-BEN KHADER, BESROUR, MANSOUR, AND SOREN 1980:
Plan 34) ...................................................................................................................................153
FIGURE 8 – THEVESTE (TÉBESSA) IN THE ROMAN PERIOD (AFTER: DE ROCH 1952: Fig. 2)
.................................................................................................................................................154
FIGURE 9 – SUFETULA (SBEITLA) BEFORE THE FOURTH CENTURY (AFTER: DUVAL 1982:
Fig. 2) ......................................................................................................................................155
FIGURE 10 – SUFETULA (SBEITLA); EARLY FIFTH CENTURY (AFTER: DUVAL 1982a: Fig. 2)
.................................................................................................................................................156
FIGURE 11 – CUICUL (DJEMILA) BEFORE THE FOURTH CENTURY (AFTER: FÉVRIER 1964:
Fig. 8) ......................................................................................................................................157
FIGURE 12 – CUICUL (DJEMILA); THE EARLY FIFTH CENTURY (AFTER: FÉVRIER 1964:
Fig. 8) ......................................................................................................................................158
FIGURE 13 – THAMUGADI (TIMGAD) BEFORE THE FOURTH CENTURY (AFTER: BALLU
1911 PLATE PRIOR TO PAGE 1 AND COURTOIS 1961: Fig. 1) .....................................159
iv
Sears, Gareth. Late Roman African Urbanism: Continuity and Transformation In the City.
E-book, Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2007, https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407301310.
Downloaded on behalf of University College London
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The illustrations in this book were drawn by myself and Mr Henry Buglass based on the following
source material. The hatched areas mark cemeteries whilst the wadis are marked by block, black lines.

MAP 1 – AFRICA IN RELATION TO THE REST OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (AFTER: BURN, L.
1991)........................................................................................................................................144
MAP 2 – NORTH AFRICAN CITIES AND VILLAGES MENTIONED IN THE TEXT (AFTER:
LEPELLEY 1981: MAPS 1-5 AND FREND 1952: Fig. 2-3) ...............................................145
MAP 3 – NORTH AFRICAN CITIES AND VILLAGES MENTIONED IN THE TEXT (AFTER:
LEPELLEY 1981: MAPS 1-5 AND FREND 1952: Fig. 2-3) ...............................................146
FIGURE 1 – DRAWING OF CARTHAGE (AFTER: ENNABLI 1997: p.6) .................................147
FIGURE 2 – THE CENTRE OF CARTHAGE (AFTER: ENNABLI 1997: p.6) .............................148
FIGURE 3 – AMMAEDARA (HAÏDRA) IN THE CHRISTIAN PERIOD (AFTER: DUVAL 1982b:
Fig. 2) ......................................................................................................................................149
FIGURE 4 – THUBURBO MAIUS IN THE LATE THIRD CENTURY (AFTER: ALEXANDER,
BEN ABED-BEN KHADER, BESROUR, MANSOUR, AND SOREN 1980: Plan 34) ......150
FIGURE 5 – THUBURBO MAIUS IN THE EARLY FIFTH CENTURY (AFTER: ALEXANDER,
BEN ABED-BEN KHADER, BESROUR, MANSOUR, AND SOREN 1980: Plan 34) ......151
FIGURE 6 – THE CENTRE OF THUBURBO MAIUS (AFTER: ALEXANDER, BEN ABED-BEN
KHADER, BESROUR, MANSOUR, AND SOREN 1980: Plan 34) ....................................152
FIGURE 7 – DISTRIBUTION OF ARTISANAL WORKSHOPS AT THUBURBO MAIUS (AFTER:
ALEXANDER, BEN ABED-BEN KHADER, BESROUR, MANSOUR, AND SOREN 1980:
Plan 34) ...................................................................................................................................153
FIGURE 8 – THEVESTE (TÉBESSA) IN THE ROMAN PERIOD (AFTER: DE ROCH 1952: Fig. 2)
.................................................................................................................................................154
FIGURE 9 – SUFETULA (SBEITLA) BEFORE THE FOURTH CENTURY (AFTER: DUVAL 1982:
Fig. 2) ......................................................................................................................................155
FIGURE 10 – SUFETULA (SBEITLA); EARLY FIFTH CENTURY (AFTER: DUVAL 1982a: Fig. 2)
.................................................................................................................................................156
FIGURE 11 – CUICUL (DJEMILA) BEFORE THE FOURTH CENTURY (AFTER: FÉVRIER 1964:
Fig. 8) ......................................................................................................................................157
FIGURE 12 – CUICUL (DJEMILA); THE EARLY FIFTH CENTURY (AFTER: FÉVRIER 1964:
Fig. 8) ......................................................................................................................................158
FIGURE 13 – THAMUGADI (TIMGAD) BEFORE THE FOURTH CENTURY (AFTER: BALLU
1911 PLATE PRIOR TO PAGE 1 AND COURTOIS 1961: Fig. 1) .....................................159
iv
Sears, Gareth. Late Roman African Urbanism: Continuity and Transformation In the City.
E-book, Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2007, https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407301310.
Downloaded on behalf of University College London
FIGURE 14 – THE CENTRE OF THAMUGADI IN THE ROMAN PERIOD (AFTER: BALLU 1911
PLATE PRIOR TO PAGE 1 AND COURTOIS 1961: Fig. 1) ..............................................160
FIGURE 15 – THAMUGADI (TIMGAD) IN THE LATER FOURTH/EARLY FIFTH CENTURY
(AFTER: BALLU 1911 PLATE PRIOR TO PAGE 1 AND COURTOIS 1961: Fig. 1) .......161
FIGURE 16 – SITIFIS (SÉTIF) IN THE ROMAN PERIOD (AFTER: FÉVRIER 1964: Fig. 14) ..162
FIGURE 17 – TIPASA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FOURTH CENTURY (AFTER: LANCEL
1982: Fig. 17) .........................................................................................................................163
FIGURE 18 – TIPASA IN THE LATER FOURTH/EARLY FIFTH CENTURIES (AFTER: LANCEL
1982: Fig. 17) .........................................................................................................................164
FIGURE 19 – LEPCIS MAGNA IN THE LATE THIRD CENTURY (AFTER: MATTINGLY 1993:
p.117 AND DI VITA, DI VITA-EVRARD, AND BACCHIELLI 1999: p.47) .....................165
FIGURE 20 – LEPCIS MAGNA IN THE FOURTH AND EARLY FIFTH CENTURIES (AFTER:
MATTINGLY 1993: p.117 AND DI VITA, DI VITA-EVRARD, AND BACCHIELLI 1999:
p.47) ........................................................................................................................................166
FIGURE 21 – THE FORUM VETUS AT LEPCIS MAGNA (AFTER: DI VITA, DI VITA-EVRARD,
AND BACCHIELLI 1999: p.77) ...........................................................................................167
FIGURE 22 – SABRATHA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FOURTH CENTURY (AFTER:
KENRICK 1986: Fig. 122) .....................................................................................................168
FIGURE 23 – SABRATHA IN THE LATER FOURTH AND EARLY FIFTH CENTURIES (AFTER:
KENRICK 1986: Fig. 122) .....................................................................................................169
FIGURE 24 – RESTORATION/CONSTRUCTION INSCRIPTIONS IN NORTH AFRICA.........170
FIGURE 25 – DEDICATIONS TO EMPERORS AND OFFICIALS IN AFRICA .........................170
FIGURE 26 – TOTAL NUMBER OF DEDICATORY INSCRIPTIONS IN NORTH AFRICA.....171
FIGURE 27 – DEDICATION INSCRIPTIONS FOR ENTERTAINMENT BUILDINGS..............171
v
Sears, Gareth. Late Roman African Urbanism: Continuity and Transformation In the City.
E-book, Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2007, https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407301310.
Downloaded on behalf of University College London
LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 1 – CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION INSCRIPTIONS IN AFRICA...................80
TABLE 2 – EXPECTED DISTRIBUTION OF INSCRIPTIONS IN AFRICA........................................80
TABLE 3 – LATE THIRD TO EARLY FIFTH CENTURY BUILDING WORK...................................80
TABLE 4 – BATHS IN THE FOURTH AND FIFTH CENTURY AD....................................................87
TABLE 5 – THEATRES, AMPHITHEATRES AND CIRCUSES IN THE FOURTH CENTURY AD..89
TABLE 6 – TEMPLE BUILDING AND RECONSTRUCTION..............................................................93
TABLE 7 – TEMPLE CONVERSIONS/DESTRUCTIONS.....................................................................97
TABLE 8 – BASILICAS AROUND THE FORUM/JUDICIAL BASILICA COMPLEX......................101
TABLE 9 – BASILICAS WITHIN THE URBAN AREA.......................................................................101
TABLE 10 – BASILICAS ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE URBAN AREA........................................104
TABLE 11 – BASILICAS IN THE CEMETERIES................................................................................104
vi
Sears, Gareth. Late Roman African Urbanism: Continuity and Transformation In the City.
E-book, Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2007, https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407301310.
Downloaded on behalf of University College London
LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 1 – CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION INSCRIPTIONS IN AFRICA...................80
TABLE 2 – EXPECTED DISTRIBUTION OF INSCRIPTIONS IN AFRICA........................................80
TABLE 3 – LATE THIRD TO EARLY FIFTH CENTURY BUILDING WORK...................................80
TABLE 4 – BATHS IN THE FOURTH AND FIFTH CENTURY AD....................................................87
TABLE 5 – THEATRES, AMPHITHEATRES AND CIRCUSES IN THE FOURTH CENTURY AD..89
TABLE 6 – TEMPLE BUILDING AND RECONSTRUCTION..............................................................93
TABLE 7 – TEMPLE CONVERSIONS/DESTRUCTIONS.....................................................................97
TABLE 8 – BASILICAS AROUND THE FORUM/JUDICIAL BASILICA COMPLEX......................101
TABLE 9 – BASILICAS WITHIN THE URBAN AREA.......................................................................101
TABLE 10 – BASILICAS ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE URBAN AREA........................................104
TABLE 11 – BASILICAS IN THE CEMETERIES................................................................................104
vi
Sears, Gareth. Late Roman African Urbanism: Continuity and Transformation In the City.
E-book, Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2007, https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407301310.
Downloaded on behalf of University College London