Ifriqiya and the Central Maghreb

Recent advancements in Islamic archaeology have significantly expanded our understanding of North Africa's historical development, particularly through the study of Ifriqiya and the Central Maghreb. This region, encompassing modern-day Tunisia, Algeria, and western coastal Libya, has seen a surge in archaeological projects since the 1990s, providing substantial evidence that challenges long-standing models. The Qal'a of Beni Hammad in Algeria, one of the earliest Islamic sites excavated by European archaeologists in the late 19th century, stands as a testament to this progress. While the field was dominated by art historians for much of the 20th century, contemporary research now integrates multi-disciplinary approaches to revisit and refine our knowledge of palatial-cities, mosques, ribats, and fortresses, revealing new insights into the region's complex history.

Fenwick, C. (2020). Ifriqiya and the Central Maghreb. The Oxford Handbook of Islamic Archaeology, 243–266. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199987870.013.9