Over almost 800 pages, Stefan Altekamp presents an archaeological urban biography of Carthage. Given his extensive involvement with the archaeology of North Africa and Carthage, Altekamp is able to cover the city’s history “in equal parts from the time of the Phoenician settlement to the present” (p. 40). The term “Stadtbiographie” (urban biography), which Altekamp does not define further from his perspective[1], immediately gives an indication of the intended audience. The publication aims to bridge the gap between academic readership and non-experts, which is expressed through detailed passages peppered with technical terms that alternate with more general descriptive sections on archaeological methodology (and thus contribute to a heterogeneous reading experience). Altekamp’s work succeeds in addressing the need of a comprehensive and accessible overview on Carthage for a German-speaking audience.[2]
The book is divided into two sections, covering the archaeological history of the city of Carthage (chapters 2-10) and the Carthaginian history of archaeology (chapters 11-15). The introduction touches upon a variety of subjects, including the nomenclature of the city and its population, an overview of the differences and objectives of useful sources, which could be regarded as an introduction to the study of primary sources and a comparison of Carthage, Troy, Rome, and Pompeii. Altekamp emphasizes the development of Carthage’s four successive metropolises, marked by disruption rather than continuity, as a distinctive feature. The author does not hesitate to make reference to the current political situation (e.g. the conflict in Ukraine, p. 11) and to criticize the use of outdated images of Carthage in various media.
Chapter 2 deals with the foundation myths and the earliest archaeological evidence for an occupation of the site, dating back to the 9th century BC. The text makes mention of the advantageous location, although it only briefly touches upon the coastal evolution and sea regression.
The third chapter is dedicated to the development of the Punic metropolis, from the archaeologically documented residential complexes of the latter half of the 8th century BC to the evolved late Punic city with a regular street layout, port facilities and wealthy residential buildings bordering the sea wall. Altekamp places emphasize on the agricultural production and the growth of the city within a multi-religious environment shortly before its conquest – despite the reprisals imposed by the Romans. Overall, the analysis of surviving material culture reveals the Punic city as a metropolis embedded in local traditions, characterized by eclectic architecture, locally adapted ceramic production, and highly specialized textile craftsmanship.
A separate chapter is dedicated to the destruction of Carthage by Rome and the newly founded Colonia Iulia Concordia Karthago under Augustus, marked by the extensive layer of debris referencing the levelling of the ruins, as well as the backfill of the Byrsa hill. Despite the fragmentary state of preservation, surviving fragments of architecture and imperial cult monuments point to a representative arrangement of certain areas. The city underwent gradual expansion within the confines of urban land division.
In chapter 5, Altekamp attempts to identify the distinctive characteristics of Carthage as a typical Roman imperial city without a “centro storico” (p. 216): a vertical defined skyline formed by extensive new building activities that characterised the second half of the second century AD (e.g. waterfront, Antonine baths, residential quarters, aqueduct, and the transformed representative centre of the Byrsa hill). By examining the urban attraction spaces around odeum and circus, as well as the briefly discussed port facilities and associated commercial transactions[3], Altekamp provides a picture of a cosmopolitan city, in which sanctuaries offer evidence of a pluralistic, syncretic religious practice.
The following two chapters deal with Late Antique urban change (chapter 6) and separately with the Christian buildings (chapter 7) up to the Arab conquest in AD 698. Altekamp argues for change and continuity in the urbanistic model, a focus on the maintenance of existing buildings, the adaptation of major buildings to new living conditions, and thus the reuse of older building materials. The construction of the fortification wall in AD 425 and the rule of the Vandals over Carthage resulted in significant changes to the cityscape: districts and buildings fell into disrepair and became deserted, while other areas experienced a boom. Newly built residences and church buildings acted as points of attraction in the center and on the outskirts, fundamentally changing the ruinous skyline. Following the Byzantine reconquest in AD 533, archaeological evidence indicates a substantial programme of infrastructural and ideological endeavours to reintegrate the city into the Eastern empire. In contrast, the interpretation of the remains from the second half of the 6th century and the transition to Islamic horizons are often ambiguous; they are likely isolated settlement units.
For the subsequent period of Arabic Qartajena (chapter 8), a continuity with Late Antique practices can often be discerned from material perspective. The inhabitants engaged in the dismantling of ruins and the preparation of materials for Tunis and Kairouan, partly on industrial scale; however, there is hardly any archaeological evidence for these activities. Altekamp underscores the descriptions of Arabic literary sources, which prioritize the external appearance of extant cisterns and the aqueduct. He ascribes the cultural transformation to the implosion of ecclesiastical structure. For the medieval period, the author delineates the area as a wasteland devoid of any vestiges of the former city, characterized by village settlements and agricultural cultivation.
The ninth chapter focuses on the changing fate of Christian relics and their veneration by the Christian community. Altekamp emphasises the close links of the Re-Christianisation and De-Christianisation of Carthage with local political conditions, as well as those in Europe. The retrospective and forward-looking extent of this chapter, however, stretching from Roman times to the 20th century, makes it seem somewhat out of place as a main chapter.
A thorough analysis is devoted to the graphic documentation of the conquest of Tunis in 1535 under Charles V by the painter Jan Vermeyen (chapter 10). Altekamp observes a transition in the topography from the plain by the sea to the surrounding hills, noting the practically complete absence of above-ground ruins. The period of Ottoman rule (1574-1881) is only briefly discussed.
Chapter 11 marks the start of the section on the history of archaeology focusing on early history of research in the 19th century, with Altekamp emphasizing the close links between archaeological research and early colonial endeavours. Researchers, travellers, as well as civil servants gained important insights into the Punic city (ports, first topographical map, first Punic stelae, residential houses). Nevertheless, they expressed their disappointment about the bygone ruins with melancholy and an oriental imagined reality. Toward the end of the 19th century, advancements in field archaeology and dating led to a re-focusing on Roman Carthage. Altekamp convincingly shows how archaeological research, interaction with local inhabitants, European tourism, and the political reappropriation of Carthage went hand in hand – and how the conquest of Carthage by Rome was brought into line with the refoundation of the third Carthage under the aegis of a European power.
For the period of the French protectorate as of 1881 (chapter 12), the author places emphasis on the competitive dynamics among the newly established Antiquities Service, amateur researchers methodologically in line with established standards, intellectuals excavating on behalf of the church, and the interests of the local population. Altekamp explains the fact that excavations in Carthage were hardly professionalized by the fragmented accessibility of the center, being occupied by summer palaces, villas of European consuls and local rulers, and subsequently by the Tunisian head of state – the usual full-scale excavation was not possible.
The Bourguiba era is presented in chapter 13 as a contrasting concept to the protectorate. The previously pejorative Punic image was positively corrected by archaeology, which led to its recognition as an identity by the new political leadership. Cultural tourism initiatives, spearheaded by Minister Chedli Klibi in the 1970s, served as a catalyst for the 20-year UNESCO “Save Carthage” program. In addition to the protective decrees, Altekamp highlights the enthusiasm and networking among the participating countries, leading to reference works on ceramics and the application of the Harris-Matrix in the field.
In chapter 14, Altekamp comprehensibly demonstrates the ambiguity of the Ben Ali era (1987-2011), whose publicly displayed cultural concern for Carthage was accompanied by illegal activities involving real estate and financial business. In line with the renewed rapprochement with the West, Punic Carthage was promoted as cosmopolitan and multicultural.
In the aftermath of the 2011 revolution, archaeological sites in Carthage underwent preparation for tourism through symbolic acts; new international research projects were approved. The UNESCO, whose reticence during the construction of the mosque El-Abidine under Ben Ali is attributed to Tunisia’s omnipresent role in the international cultural bureaucracy at the time by Altekamp, revived its active and admonitory role. The issues of illegal land use and numerous government buildings in the archaeological zone give rise to a pessimistic outlook on the future. Without a proper conclusion, the city biography ends offering a concise list of tourist sites and recommendations for enhancing archaeological awareness.
The publication is accompanied by a bibliography of ancient, medieval, early modern, and Islamic written sources, as well as nearly 100 pages of secondary literature, which present the extensive international research on Carthage considered until 2022. An index of places, subjects, persons, and textual sources is supplemented.
The 139 illustrations, the majority of which are in colour, are of consistently high quality, legends facilitate the identification of place names that may otherwise be difficult to decipher in printed form (e.g. p. 48). It is comprehensible that grammatical and typographical errors cannot be entirely avoided in a book of 800 pages. Although these rarely impede reading comprehension, the editorial process could have been more meticulous.[4] Due to the book’s structure, certain themes are reiterated (e.g. number of inhabitants, roofscape) – yet this does not affect the reader’s experience.
In summary, the author has succeeded in providing a detailed and critical account of Carthage’s urban development from its foundation to the present from an archaeological perspective. Altekamp meticulously evaluates divergent research opinions and avoids extreme viewpoints (literally, e.g. p. 197, p. 355). The archaeological challenges for research, which are particularly relevant to Carthage, are embedded in their political and research-historical context – a major strength of the book, in addition to its topicality. The minor quibbles expressed here should not detract from the fact that Karthago – eine Stadtbiographie will be a valuable resource for students and researchers, teachers and interested non-specialists alike.
Notes
[1] Cf. Jaroslav Ira, “Rethinking the Genre: Urban Biographies as Means of Creating Critical Public Spheres,” Urban History 48, 2021, 162-178.
[2] The use of numerous analogies with a specifically German context potentially constricts some passages’ informative value for an international readership (e.g. “Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe”, p. 233).
[3] Neither chapters 5 nor 6 discuss the breakwater structures off the coast; furthermore, the so-called Quadrilatère du Falbe is not addressed (briefly mentioned on p. 525): Cf. for example Henry Hurst, Understanding Carthage as a Roman Port, Bollettino di Archeologia On-Line 1, 2010, 49-68. Finally, the consideration of exports is limited to the perspective of the consumer cities of Rome and Ostia.
[4] To name just two: on p. 649, footnotes 204-206 are completely missing; on p. 776, the date should be 1926 instead of 2026.