Tipasa Archaeological Park

World Monuments Watch
Tipasa, Algeria

2000 World Monuments Watch

Phoenician merchants established Tipasa on Algeria's western Mediterranean coast in the sixth century B.C., but the city did not reach its apex until the second and first centuries B.C. When it was annexed to the Roman Empire in A.D. 40, Emperor Claudius granted residents Jus Latii (rights of fellow Roman citizens). Over the centuries, Tipasa suffered assaults from Berbers and Vandals and was abandoned in the sixth century after a brief revival under the Byzantines. Archaeologists rediscovered the site in 1856 and excavations have been continuous. Remains have been unearthed on both sides of a Roman wall, including one of the most important paleo-Christian cemeteries in North Africa, an amphitheater, temples, forum, fourth-century basilica, baths, and mosaic works. Physical deterioration from windborne salts and vegetation affect the structures and illegal new building has affected the edges of the site. Tipasa is on the World Heritage List.

Since the Watch

After the 2000 Watch, this World Heritage Site was also added to the List of World Heritage in Danger by UNESCO. Following strong commitments from the government of Algeria to prepare and implement a remedial action plan, the site was removed from the endangered list in 2006. The World Heritage Committee has continued to monitor Algeria's progress towards the long-term protection of the site. January 2011

Last updated: June 2018.

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