gems, archaeology, archaeogemology, Africa, Sahara

The Joint Italo-Libyan Mission to the Tadrart Acacus and Messak of the CIRSA (University of Rome «La Sapienza») is investigating new avenues of research, including the archaeology of the protohistoric and historical periods. The Garamantian citadel Aghram Nadharif, near the Barkat oasis and dating back to the third and fourth centuries, is being excavated and is already the most important Garamantian site outside the Germa area. Moreover, other testimonials of the Garamantes period have been found at Fehwet and in the Irlarlaren pass. A detailed reconstruction is made of the southern frontier of the Garamantes kingdom and the caravan network that connects Fezzan with the central and western Sudanese regions (the Chad basin and the Niger bend). The transition from the Late Pastoral horizon to the Garamantes period, with the related questions regarding the domestication of the camel, the working of iron and the salt trade, is becoming more and more clear.