Althiburos Excavations (Dahmani)

Althiburos Excavations (Dahmani): An Archaeological Campaign of Unprecedented Rigor at the El-Mdaïna Theatre

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, a joint archaeological mission between the National Heritage Institute (INP) and the Department of Cultures and Societies at the University of Palermo (Italy) took place from October 11 to 22, 2026, at the ancient site of Althiburos (El-Mdaïna, El Kef Governorate).

Led by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, heritage curators, and students, this joint Tunisian-Italian campaign focused on documenting occupation layers from Late Antiquity as well as the Aghlabid and Fatimid periods. Notably, archaeologists uncovered medieval residential structures built directly within the heart of the Roman theatre.

In addition to bringing to light precise architectural features of the stage and seating areas (cavea)—alongside decorative elements found in situ or reused in later masonry—the operation stands out for its meticulous stratigraphic approach. By studying the post-Roman occupation phases, this pioneering research fills a major gap in the documentation of ancient theatres across North Africa.