Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis

The Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis is an archaeological site on Tunisia’s Cap Bon peninsula containing the remains of a Punic coastal town and associated burial grounds. The ruins preserve street plans and building outlines that illustrate urban planning in the Punic period.

Excavated areas reveal house foundations, streets and funerary structures that are representative of Punic town organisation; the necropolis contains burial constructions associated with the settlement. The preservation and clarity of the urban layout are notable compared with many other Punic sites.

The town dates to the Phoenician/Punic period and was occupied prior to and during the era of Punic influence in the central Mediterranean; it was later abandoned and preserved as archaeological remains. Excavations in the 20th century documented the site’s plan and funerary features.

Kerkuane is located on the northeastern coast of Tunisia on the Cap Bon peninsula, set in a coastal Mediterranean landscape and accessible from nearby coastal towns.

• Preservation: The site preserves an unusually complete plan of a Punic settlement on the Cap Bon peninsula, with street grid and residential blocks visible in the ruins.

What to See #

• Urban remains: An urban quarter with street layouts and house foundations that preserve the plan of a Punic town and its domestic architecture.
• Necropolis: A funerary area with tombs and burial structures that illustrates Punic burial practices and necropolis organisation.