Gafsa — Capsian Engravers' Secret

Your quest for the "Capsian Engravers" begins at the El Hamma de Gafsa thermal spring, a hot water site used since Roman times and noted as a thermal landmark. This Gafsa oasis, in the heart of the city, provides a compact setting for your 1.5 km walking tour. Here, the waters that witnessed Roman legions and Capsian tribes prepare you to decipher the first clues. Jabal al-Maqta, an archaeological site where Capsian fragments were discovered, is one of eight sacred sites you will explore, revealing the extent of this civilization.

Your itinerary then leads to the Gafsa Archaeological Museum, located in the heart of the old city, opposite the Roman baths. This museum houses a Capsian figurine dating back to 8000 BC, a major artifact proving Capsian occupation of Gafsa. You'll discover an extensive collection of prehistoric flint and lithic tools, bone objects, and human and animal representations from the Mesolithic era. A large section is also dedicated to the Roman period with mosaics, sculptures, and a 4th-century AD circus game mosaic.

Directly opposite the museum, the ancient Roman Baths of Gafsa bear witness to the era when Gafsa was a Roman frontier town (Capsa), home to a high-ranking military garrison. These baths, still in use today, immerse you in a setting marked by centuries of occupation and transformation. Here, you'll decipher hidden symbols, connecting Roman engineering to the mysteries of Capsian engravings, proving that even distinct cultures can leave lasting traces in the same location.

Continue your exploration of Gafsa towards the Kasbah, a major historical fortification that, although partially destroyed during World War II bombings, represents post-Roman military architecture and the city's defenses through medieval and modern periods. The Gafsa Souk, the commercial and social heart of the medina for centuries, will lead you through the vibrancy of local life, while searching for hidden clues that link the present to the Capsian and Roman past of this city in southwestern Tunisia.

Finally, your route will take you to the Great Mosque of Gafsa, a major religious monument whose history dates back to the conquest by Oqba Ibn Nafi in 688 AD. Not far, a prehistoric Capsian tumulus, a snailery composed of thick ash deposits and snail shells, is the last preserved example of its kind. It testifies to the Capsian diet and the ingenuity of this civilization, which marked a major turning point in the history of North Africa. This interactive visit to Gafsa allows you to understand how different eras overlap, from Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to Roman builders and Arab conquerors.