DMP X: Survey and Landscape Conservation Issues around the Tāqallit headland
Abstract
Survey by the DMP Burials and Identity team around the
Ta¯qallit headland in 2009–2010 has revealed in exceptional
detail a well-preserved Garamantian landscape, comprising
extensive cemeteries, foggara irrigation systems and
numerous oasis settlements. However, this remarkable
survival of the Garamantian landscape was found in 2010
to be under direct and imminent threat of destruction.
This report describes the landscape features recorded and
the steps taken to try to preserve the evidence from obliteration
in the face of modern agricultural development.
Important new information was recorded about the date
and furnishing of some key types of Proto-Urban tombs,
linking with a refined view of the relationship of these cemeteries
to contemporary foggara construction and the creation
of pioneer farming settlement in the Ta¯qallit region.
Significant additional details of the foggara systems were
recorded through a combination of satellite image interpretation,
surface observation and selective descent into
rock-cut shafts. The discovery of an unexpected number
of ancient settlements and structures of Garamantian date
represents another major achievement of the work. The
composite picture of the Garamantian landscape encompassing
cemeteries, foggaras and settlements is arguably
the most complete yet recorded in the FP/DMP work.
, (11-2010)
