The Roman Frontier Settlement at Ghirza: An Interim Report

Abstract
The ruins of Ghirza are the remains of a settlement of the Roman period which lie 250 km. (150 miles) south-east of Tripoli in a direct line, or about 375 km. (225 miles) by road and track, and some 130 km. (80 miles) from the nearest point on the Syrtic coast. The site (p. 176, fig. 3) is on the left bank of the Wadi Ghirza, about 10 km. south-west of its junction with the Wadi Zemzem, and is the southernmost Romano–Libyan frontier settlement known to have existed in the region between the Gheriat and Bu Ngem. Its two groups of mausolea with their striking and varied sculptures have been known for many years, but little attention has hitherto been paid to the settlement itself. A general survey of Ghirza, its tombs and its settlement, is being carried out by the writers in collaboration with Dr. E. Vergara-Caffarelli, Director of the Department of Antiquities of Tripolitania. It is the purpose of this article to summarize the results of the survey of the buildings and associated features of the settlement, initiated in 1952 and 1953 and nearly completed in 1955.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: