Funerary Monuments
Mankind has been presenting one achievement after another since their appearance on earth, that all were an indicator of the evolution of their mind. Mankind has gone through numerous phases in this history, and in terms of civilizational achievements, the protohistory is regarded as one of the most crucial phases of human progress.
Since prehistoric times, people in North Africa have used graves to bury their dead, but their practise of burial ceremonies was unknown. This is because the remains of Neanderthals discovered in North Africa do not provide a clear picture of burial rites, and funerary tomb elements did not exist until the beginning of the Neolithic era. There is evidence that the remains of human bones discovered in these tombs were covered with stones and dust mixed with ash. In addition to the postures of some human skeletons discovered in shelters, some of which had traces of red, revealed to researchers the practice of some burial rituals based on this human being's beliefs. Placing the deceased in cemeteries outside of residential caves demonstrates an intense need to separate the living from the dead. This practice also reflects man's intellectual progress at the dawn of history (during the protohistory era), since scholars deemed it an indicator of the beginnings of history in North Africa.
The massive stone graves, or megalithic tombs, are among the most notable aspects of the protohistoric era, which some academics trace back to the second half of the second millennium BC in North Africa.
The earliest research on protohistory in Algeria occurred in early 20th century. Algeria witnessed a surge in the number of research and excavations related to this time period. As a consequence of this extensive investigation, the most notable effect of civilizational expressions is the noticeable appearance of megalithic tombs. Because of their enormous quantity, diversity, and dispersal in different parts of Algeria. Professionals identified and categorized them under several labels based on their geometric form, geographical distribution areas, and the nature of each of its kind. Among these labels we mention: Tumulus, Bazinas, Choucha, Dolmens and Hawanit
Tumulus graves:
This tomb is known under other names drawn from the local languages of the inhabitants of the region and the countryside, including Karkour in the Algerian west and Rajm in the Algerian east.
The most notable characteristic of this monument is its conical form, which covers what was known as the burial chamber. A big pile of mud and stones was found covering the remnants of human bones. Its existence was not confined to the northern areas, but traces were discovered from the arid regions to Niger in the south, and from the Balearic Islands in the west to the Nile Valley in the east. Researchers have divided it to three categories:
1- Category that lacks funerary chamber:
This primitive kind of burial, distinguished by the lack of a burial room and the poverty of its funeral furnishings, emerged when the corpse was exposed to predatory animals in the open air. The evolution of human cognition led to human acknowledgment of this fact, which drove them to seek a location to conceal the corpses of their dead in order to protect them from predators, and then developed a burial procedure that met their goal.
In terms of geographical distribution, remnants of this form of burial have been discovered in the steppes, such as Ain al-Safra, and in desert locations in general. Perhaps the earliest concept for establishing such cemeteries stemmed from a simple notion portrayed by laying the corpse on the ground and covering it with mounds of delicate stones and gravel, which reflected the graves' conical shape.
2 - Category that contains funerary chamber:
In terms of outward appearance, this form of burial is comparable to the previous model. It varies from it in that the latter comprises a burial hole the walls of which are supported by stones in the shape of panels and covered by tiny stones, whilst the former does not. This tomb may be found in steppes, notably in Ain As-Safra. It was also discovered in the Telagh region of western Algeria and Bougar near the Bukhari Palace in the center region, and one of the scientists compared it to the Ain Al-Hamam model in the Djurdjura highlands.
It is worthwhile to mention that the phenomena of individual and group burial, as well as its one-time usage, is one of the hallmarks of this form of timilus tomb.
3 - Category that contains a sarcophagus:
Man has gradually taken care of burying his dead throughout the years, as evidenced by the creation of the Timilus tombs. The second model of these funerals arrived, which contains a burial room, which was seen as a significant advancement in the burial process since this room indicates respect for the deceased and a covering for him. They ended up burying their dead in a tomb containing a rectangular stone sarcophagus carved in a rock and covered by a thin room in the form of a slab or several stones, this is from the inside, but its appearance from the outside does not differ from the previous two types, as it is in the form of a cone formed by a group of stones. This timilus was discovered in the Ain al-Safra region in the desert's north and the Ain Kerman region north of Bousaada.
A model of the Timilus tombs from Tassili
A model of the Timilus tombs from Tassili N’Hajer (5500 year ago)
Bazinas tomb:
Researchers refer to Bazinas as a sort of stone burial topped with stone buildings, and sometimes composed of stones and dust, circular or engraved in the pattern of successive circles, whose diameter diminishes as the building climbs higher. Its exterior appearance mimics the shape of a snail's shell. They are often compared to Timilus graves in that they can contain a burial pit or a stone sarcophagus, just like the Timilus. The main exception is the passage leading to the burial chamber, which is not found in Timilus graves. Bazinas tombs are preceded from the east by a tiled external area the use of which is uncertain. For a long time, this form of tomb was used in the Numedian history and Moore Kingdoms.
The earliest scientific efforts to analyze this sort of burial date back to the 1960s, with one of them being the French researcher Loutorno, who researched them in 1867 AD and limited their existence to the plateaux surrounding the Aures Mountains.
Bazinas tombs, like Timilus graves, have been proved by research to be of five varieties that professionals have classified:
1 - Dome Bazinas:
Many models of tombs of the sort with domed Bazinas examined by Julie and Ruffo in the Aures area have been discovered via research. Their range stretches from Algeria's central highlands to Ouedi Jedi in Biskra, including the Aures Mountains.
Dome Bazinas in Bou Nouara site
2 - Steep Bazinas
The most notable feature of this type of Bazinas tomb is its great size and breadth, some of which span an area of 6 metres. Their existence is abundant in the Algerian east, notably in the geographical zone ranging from Constantine to the Tunisian border, where several models were discovered in Mount Mestiri in Tebessa, Bashokan, and Aures. Bou Nouara tombes are amongst the finest of steep Bazinas.
Steep Bazinas from Mastiri Mountain Steep Bazinas from Bou Nouara site
3 - Bazina graves with cylindrical base:
Unlike its predecessors, this category is heavily present in the northern rims of the desert, with specimens discovered in Tebessa's Jebel Mestiri, Ain As-Safra, Jnan Borzek, and Ouled Jalal. Among the outstanding examples of this sort are the models of the Ain al-Hamra cemetery in Ouled Jalal. Geometry-wise, it is distinguished by its cylindrical base, and it was occasionally provided with a paved path extending to the interior, however the purpose for why this passage was built is unknown.
Bazina with a cylindrical base from Ain al-Hamra site (Ouled Jalal)
4- Multi-tombs Bazinas:
As per the name, this sort of Bazinas is used for mass burial. The multitude of burials in it, which professionals generally agreed on, is perhaps the finest proof for practice. Several models of this sort of adornment were discovered in the western part of Algeria, such as the Safa project in Tiaret, and at the Segos site in eastern Algeria, with Zaina Tadis being one of the better specimens.
Multi-tombs Bazinas in Tedis and Segois
5 - Developed Bazinas :
Based on the evolution of its building techniques and the excellence of the decorative methods that cover various areas of its architecture, Professor Mohamed Husein Fantar named as such. The Mauritanian mausoleum in Sidi Rached, which is located on the road connecting Algiers and the city of Tipaza, and the Mausoleum of Imedghassen, which is located in the north-east of the Wilayat of Batna on the road connecting it with the city of Constantine, are two prominent examples of this type. This advanced Bazinas type is regarded as one of the greatest to have emerged from Numidian architecture, whose building methods were developed from Punic architecture and inspired by Mediterranean civilizations such as Greek and Egyptian.
Picture of the Imedghassen Mausoleum
Plan Gsell 1901.
The outline of the Imedghassen tomb, the oldest royal mausoleum in Algeria
Plan Christofle, 1951
The Mauritanian mausoleum, which is known as the tomb of the Christian
The splendour of the Mauritanian mausoleum, which overlooks the sea to the north and the El Metidja haut plateaux to the south.
Mauritanian Mausoleum
- Choucha Tombes:
It is another form of stone tomb that arose in protohistorical Maghreb. The name "Chicha" is derived from "Chicha," which means "cap" in the local dialect, which the local population wear on their heads, due to the resemblance of the general shape of this kind of tomb to the shape of the hat (the cap). It is a modest, circular funerary structure with a slab-shaped rock on top. Its walls are meticulously and firmly constructed, increasing its longevity, and its average height ranges from two to three meters. This style of burial is surprisingly common in the Aures and El-Huda areas, and it was discovered and studied in 1859 AD by the French officer Payen, who excavated sixty tombs at the Rumaila site, followed by further excavations in the Aures Mountains and Boudrisen Mountains. These findings led to the grouping of these cemeteries into three groups based on their shape, burial manner, and number of burials in one burial.
1 Choucha with one grave:
This sort of burial is distinguished by its rectangular or square geometric shape. It has small room for burial and the deceased is folded in the shape of a squatting position, thus rendering it difficult to bury them lying down. Excavations at the sites of Al Hodna, Podrisen, and Ishokan, have supported this claim. Some bodies were discovered with their feet bent till all the way to the deceased's head. The Choucha burials are similar to the Bazinas graves in that they have a corridor, but it is gradual in the Choucha graves and leads to the south or east. This corridor leads to the burial chamber at the foot of the tower, which is generally rectangular and sometimes square. Because of the height of the tiered ceiling, those inside the burial chamber may easily pass through it.
2- Multi tombs Choucha
The most notable feature of this kind is its scarcity, since prospectors could not uncover many samples, and just a trace was discovered in the Hodna region. It is notable because this burial was not confined to one grave, but the burial contained numerous graves, each grave covered with a slab of stone, indicating that it was used several times in the burial.
Multi-tomb choucha from Ain-Lahnache site
3 - The Circular Funeral Chamber:
This style of tomb is regarded unusual in comparison to its predecessors, and its presence is confined to the site of Ishokan, which is located in the municipality of Foum Toub, 35 km from Batna.
The site contains numerous types of tombs close to each other, some of which are architecturally comparable to the royal mausoleum Imedghassen, which is just approximately 32 km to the west. This studied site is approximately seven hectares in size and has a set of Choucha tombs with circular funeral chambers varying in diameter from 6 to 8 m. While people interested talk about a hundred hectares, which is the overall size of the site, its remnants are still under the ground and have yet to be discovered. The burial procedure is notable in that the bodies of the dead were oriented eastward.
It should be emphasized that the physical topology of this place, which is in the center of Sab Roqoud's Corridor from the east and the Akhira Corridor from the west. Where the remnants of Berber antiquities were discovered, which boosted the site's immunity, making it, according to some scholars, a shelter for the Berber kings throughout their conflicts with the Romans and Byzantines, while others point to the Berber habitation in it before to the Roman presence.
A representation of a circular burial chamber
A view of the Choucha cemetery, showing a circular chamber.
A circular room's general form
Dolmen's Tombs
It is a type of stone burial that is regarded as significant in the history of funerary architecture in the ancient Maghreb during the protohistory. It also reveals important aspects of civilization that occurred during this period, which researchers rely on in the absence of traces of residential communities. Through the latter, the civilizational reconstruction is conducted, of these Maghreb societies who lived during protohistory and are considered the first organized societies, can be accomplished. This is what gave dolmen tombs a significant place in studies dealing with the start of history.
Because of the large number of dolmen tombs unearthed in various parts of the world, they have been given many names by scholars, and diverse notions have been assigned to them based on their cultural origins.
We have already noted that Dolmen graves are not restricted to North Africa, but may also be discovered in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Low Countries, and the Balkans. Its spread did not end at the limits of the Balkan nations, but expanded to the Russian lands, and because of this, it is regarded as a civilized phenomena that embraced all of the aforementioned countries, rather than a civilized trait of a specific civilization.
In Algeria, a substantial number of dolmen graves were discovered in a geographical region stretching from Constantine to the Tunisian border. This territory includes various places such as Sila, Segos, Bunwara, Qastal, Ras al-Ain in Marzouk, al-Raknia, Ain al-Arabi, Bushan, and Collo, which stretched from the Mediterranean coast in the north to the Aures Mountains in the south. This is in the eastern region of Algeria, while in the middle regions, the desert Atlas mountain range and the Laghouat region are the farthest point known to the spread of dolmen graves to the south, Among the sites of this region are Ait El Rahouna in Bejaia, Tigzirt in Tizi Ouzou, and Beni Mesous in Algiers. The latter being one of the most important dolmen sites on the coastal strip, in addition to some inland sites in El Djelfa.
Dolmen tombs, like the tombs of Timilus and Al-Basina, are stone tombs composed of three short stone columns in the form of pillars, on top of which a horizontal stone slab depicting the dolmen's roof is put, bordered by a fence of medium-sized rectangular stones.
It is noticeable on the graves of dolmens in North Africa, their small size compared to their European counterparts, and this is due, according to one of the specialists, to the fact that dolmen graves in Europe have been prepared for mass burial since they were first established, whereas the Maghreb was used for individual burial in its early beginnings and later developed to be used for collective burial.
Scholars have traced the
historical roots of dolmen tombs in North Africa back to the second half of the
second millennium BC.
The Dolmen, according to Western archaeologists, are a sign of European
civilization that went from Europe to North Africa via the Iberian Peninsula
during the enormous migrations that this region saw. According to them, its
impacts first showed on the Maghrebi coastlines before spreading to the
interior areas via the hills.
Model of the Dolmen's Tombs from Roknia site (Guelma)
Model of the Dolmen's Tombs from Roknia site (Guelma)
Model of the Dolmen's Tombs from Bounouara site
Model of the Dolmen's Tombs from Ait Rhouna site (Bejaia)
Hawanit tombs
Hawanit, singular Hanout, a local term usually used to refer to a shop. Residents of the Corniche region in the Wilayat of Guelma termed this type of Maghreb cemetery built in the rocks and mountain slopes in a horizontal and occasionally vertical way, maybe because of the likeness of these cemeteries with shops in Algerian villages and small towns.
Hawanit are stone chambers that vary in shape from one location to the next, some of them are in the shape of a cube and are successive, either horizontally or vertically on the rock. Architecturally, the shop comprises of one or two rooms whose sizes seldom surpass two metres in big models, and it does not rise beyond ground level. The ceiling is barely one metre above the ground, and the burial chamber may be preceded by a modest corridor. Because of their small size, some of these chambers cannot hold outstretched buried corpses.
The most notable feature of these tombs is their modest size, as well as their narrow and steep entrances. They rise slightly from the floor of the room, giving them the appearance of windows. Their diameters range from 0.50 m to 0.80 m. It is firmly closed by stone or wooden panels, as shown by the grooves carved at the opening's edge. The best evidence of this is in the Hawanit of the Qastal site in the Wilayat of Tebessa, and this phenomenon also confirms the entrances to the shops of the corner site, where polishing works were carried out to perfection on the edges of their entrances, facilitating the process of placing the panels that block the entrances from the outside. It is noteworthy that all of the tomb doors are missing, which might be owing to the fact that they were made of wood.
According to certain experts, the areas of distribution of Hawanit in Algeria are concentrated in the northern, particularly the eastern, regions. In addition to the aformenetioned sites (Roknia in Guelma, Qastal in Tebessa) researchers have discovered M’Daourouche site in Souk Ahras. In addition to a number of tombes in far sites, including Hawanit of Bejaia and Tipaza in the Center region, and Ouedi Rhiou Hawanit in the Algerian west.
Hawanit Roknia
Model of Hawanit Roknia
