The main focus will be on public monuments, with evidence of private contexts highlighted occasionally. How this process evolved in the later period, until the 10th century when most cities were abandoned, is difficult to say due to the lack of stratigraphic excavations and past destruction carried out during the colonial period 3.ĤThis paper aims to follow the various steps of the transformation of cities in Late Antiquity in North Africa, giving specific attention to the urban fabric and decoration of both marble elements and statuary. The impact of Christianisation was initially minimal and became progressively more visible and important in the Byzantine period. The evidence indicates clearly that the transformation was a consequence of progressive changes in the structure of the Roman Empire and its governance, which affected both the use/reuse of buildings and the recycling of their building and decorative materials.ģA close inspection of the archaeological evidence allows us to follow the process of de-structuration of cities that occurred from the 3rd century onwards and that characterised the transition from the classical city to a new city. Here, for instance, the civic basilica on the Byrsa Hill was derelict by the end of the 4th century, and only restored in the early Byzantine period when it was transformed into a church 2. Many fora show evidence of decay, including some very important urban settlements such as Carthage. A complete survey of all the published material on North Africa indicates quite clearly that already from the beginning of the 4th century some North African cities were struggling to maintain their monumentality 1. Collectively, this territory was one of the most urbanised areas of the Roman Empire, especially in the area of the Mejerda Valley (map 1, p. 276). modern Tunisia, part of Algeria, and part of Libya). 2 G ros 1985, p. 114 and L eone, 2007, p. 159, p. 174.ĢThis paper considers part of North Africa, specifically Africa Proconsularis, Byzacena, Tripolitania, and Numidia (e.g.
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