"Hamburger Grabung, Bir Massaouda"
Concept and Preservation

Location:
Carthage, Tunisia 
Client:
Archäologisches Institut Universität Hamburg
Completion:
1992 -1996
Subject:
Conservation and Presentation of Archaeological Relics, Protection Hall    
Cooperation:
Institut National du Patrimoine INP, Foreign Office FRG

Location:
Client:
Completion:
Subject:
Cooperation:

Carthage, Tunisia 
Archäologisches Institut Universität Hamburg
1992 -1996
Conservation and Presentation of Archaeological Relics, Protection Hall    
Institut National du Patrimoine INP, Foreign Office FRG

aAfter excavations in the end of the 80ies, H.G. Niemeyer from the University of Hamburg, started the conservation works for the presentation of the archaeological relics in the so called “Bir Massaouda” within the framework of the UNESCO in the 90ies. Because of the site’s location in the historic crossway of the Roman Decumanus Maximus and a cardo some Punic relics were not totally destroyed by foundations of upper Roman buildings, so that those Punic structures of different historic phases from early periods about 8th century till the last Period at about the 2nd century  B.C. remained and could be conserved.  Parts of a sanctuary of the 5th century B.C. could be restored and partly reconstructed inside a protection building in the dimensions of the former original room. The deep groundlevel of the archaeological presentation is surrounded by solid retaining walls, which form a kind of arena with hight differences up to 4 m with their terraces and staircases. Different housing structures are shown by varying colored floor covers.