https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/tipasa-algeria * Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member. [ao-app-toa] It's finally here! Download our iOS app and discover the world's hidden wonders on the go! It's finally here! Download our iOS app and discover the world's hidden wonders on the go! [ao-app-lan] LAUNCH PARTNER * Trips + Upcoming Trips + All Trips Trips Blog [bmc] Get the Atlas Obscura book Shop Now >> Upcoming Trips View All Trips >> [blank-11b9] In the Footsteps of Pharaohs: Exploring Ancient Egypt [blank-11b9] Oaxaca: Tastes of Past & Present [blank-11b9] Mexico City to Oaxaca: Tracing the Threads of Frida Kahlo's Dresses [blank-11b9] Past Future Monuments of the Balkans * Experiences Upcoming Experiences View All Experiences >> [blank-11b9] Members only The Secret Arts: Underwater Archeology [blank-11b9] Members only Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Clowns [blank-11b9] Members only Cooking for the Holi Festival w/ Chef Aarthi Sampath Clown Illusionist, automaton, c.1905 Jean or Edouard Henri Phalibois, Paris, France 34 1/2" h x 18" w x 15 3/4" d 2003.18.21ab Members only Automata in Action: Music and Machines at The Morris Museum [blank-11b9] Members only The AO Challenge: A Game of Curious Missions * Courses Upcoming Courses View All Courses >> [blank-11b9] Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown [blank-11b9] 3D Paper Art: Pop-Ups and Paper Engineering With Yoojin Kim [blank-11b9] The Living Art of Dead Things: Fox Taxidermy With Allis Markham [blank-11b9] Why Eat Bugs?: An Intro to Edible Insects With Joseph Yoon [blank-11b9] The Language of Art With Regina Mamou of Art Muse LA * Places + Top Destinations + Latest Places + Most Popular Places + Random Place + Lists + Itineraries + ------------------------------------------------------------- Add a Place + ------------------------------------------------------------- DOWNLOAD THE iOS APP Download on the Apple App Store Latest Places View All Places >> This 16-mile long tramway was used to transport copper. Encampment, Wyoming Grand Encampment Museum 41.2040, -106.7890 [blank-11b9] Nuremberg, Germany Albrecht Durer's Grave 49.4585, 11.0612 Along M Street Washington, D.C. The Transportation Walk 38.8759, -77.0028 [blank-11b9] Lisbon, Portugal Museu do Fado 38.7111, -9.1276 Top Destinations View All Destinations >> Countries + Australia + Canada + China + France + Germany + India + Italy + Japan Cities + Amsterdam + Barcelona + Beijing + Berlin + Boston + Budapest + Chicago + London + Los Angeles + Mexico City + Montreal + Moscow + New Orleans + New York City + Paris + Philadelphia + Rome + San Francisco + Seattle + Stockholm + Tokyo + Toronto + Vienna + Washington, D.C. * Foods Latest Places to Eat & Drink View All Places to Eat >> If it comes from the sea, you can get it here. La Nueva Viga Market Maison du Charolais Maison du Charolais The Shelter lit up at night The Shelter Cocktail Lounge Owls still keep watch over the bar. The Owl Bar [blank-11b9] Amani Vanilla * Stories Most Recent Stories View All Stories >> Nornie Bero with her line of condiments. This Torres Strait Islander Chef Wants You to Cook With Wattleseeds and Bush Tomatoes Today, the Changma Basin in China is a dry, rocky expanse but 120 million years ago it was a thriving lake teeming with Mesozoic birds. The World Has Two New Flying Dinosaurs Loggers from Maxville in an undated photo in the Oregon forest. Meet the Woman Preserving the History of Oregon's Black Loggers Rows of surviving column bases hint at the scale of Algeria's ancient site of Tipasa Algeria's Ancient Melting Pot Faces an Uncertain Future [blank-11b9] Podcast: The Last Sears in New York City * Sign In Join * Sign In ----------------------------------------------------------------- Join * What's near me? Algeria's Ancient Melting Pot Faces an Uncertain Future For more than a millennium, Tipasa was a symbol of cross-cultural exchange. Now the sea is coming for it. by Gemma Tarlach February 17, 2022 Algeria's Ancient Melting Pot Faces an Uncertain Future Copy Link Facebook Twitter Reddit Flipboard Pocket Rows of surviving column bases hint at the scale of Algeria's ancient site of Tipasa Rows of surviving column bases hint at the scale of Algeria's ancient site of Tipasa Made by FL/Getty Images In This Story [blank-11b9] Place Tipasa Roman Ruins An extraordinary mix of Phoenician, Roman, early Christian, and Byzantine ruins beautifully set overlooking the Mediterranean. [blank-11b9] Destination Guide Algeria 3 Articles 9 Places Along the rocky, rumpled Algerian coast, just east of where the bulky silhouette of Mount Chenoua slides into the Mediterranean, the sea and bureaucratic indifference may finally do what the Vandals did not. There, for more than 2,500 years, through a succession of civilizations both local and foreign, has stood Tipasa. Considered one of the most important archaeological sites in North Africa, Tipasa is home to Phoenician and Mauretanian tombs, Roman fortifications and an amphitheater, bath complexes and an early Christian basilica. Tens of thousands of people have lived there at different points in its history. In its architecture and its graves, Tipasa recorded a millennium of unique multicultural exchange, of trade, innovation, conflict, conquest, and colonization. After more than a millennium of activity, Tipasa fell into ruin in the sixth century. Both its main complex on the coast and an inland monumental tomb were all but forgotten amid the olive trees and slender pines. Most of the ancient city, in fact, remains buried beneath sediment up to 12 feet thick. For the last few decades, however, what's left of Tipasa's past has been increasingly hemmed in on three sides by the expanding modern town of Tipaza. And to the north, the waves lap ever closer. Despite its precarious location, the complex of tombs, defensive walls, colonnades, and mosaics still tantalizes with echoes of its past as a cultural crossroads. What's special about Tipasa, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site since 1982, is "the rhetoric of its landscape, the (shared) presence of history and archaeology, culture, nature, and architecture. It's the spirit of the place," said Lynda Aoudia Benali via email. A lecturer at Algeria's Universite Mouloud Mammeri de Tizi-Ouzou, Aoudia Benali has studied Tipasa and the ongoing challenges from both rapid urbanization and insufficient site management. Tipasa's unique architecture and art are a blend of influences from throughout the Mediterranean, including Punic and Roman styles. Tipasa's unique architecture and art are a blend of influences from throughout the Mediterranean, including Punic and Roman styles. Hana Aouak/(c) UNESCO Now, Tipasa is entering a new chapter, perhaps its last: It's become a symbol of an entire continent's heritage in crisis. In a recent Nature Climate Change paper, a multidisciplinary team reported the results of unprecedented, painstaking work mapping how sea level rise is affecting nearly 300 World Heritage Sites around Africa's roughly 20,000 miles of coastline. About 20 percent of the sites examined, including Tipasa, are already at heightened risk from flooding and erosion. By 2050 that figure is expected to more than triple. "We had no idea before this work started how many coastal African heritage sites were at risk from climate change," says University of Cape Town's Nick Simpson, a coauthor who studies climate change risk and adaptation. "I don't think anyone on the team expected this number of sites to be exposed." While some previous research had modeled the effects of sea level rise on select African heritage sites--a 2018 Nature Communications paper, for example, included some North African sites in an overview of Mediterranean World Heritage Sites at risk--the new research is unprecedented in its scope and detail. "We are the first to comprehensively map and model World Heritage Sites, Tentative Sites, and Ramsar Wetlands for the entire African coast," says coauthor and University of East Anglia archaeologist Joanne Clark, naming different UNESCO designations for sites of outstanding value. The ruins of Tipasa's early Christian basilica, which was the largest building of its kind in Africa in the third century. The ruins of Tipasa's early Christian basilica, which was the largest building of its kind in Africa in the third century. Michael Runkel/robertharding /Getty images The sites identified at greatest risk in the paper span the incredible cultural complexity and rich biodiversity of Africa itself, from the ruins of a British fort that held enslaved people on tiny Kunta Kinteh Island, where the Gambia River opens to the Atlantic Ocean, to Togo's Aneho-Glidji, established in the 17th century, and still the seat of power for rulers of regional clans. Sites of particular natural value mapped in the project include Cape Verde's Curral Velho wetland and Aldabra Atoll in Seychelles, home to most of the world's giant tortoises. Tipasa, in many ways, encapsulates the multiple challenges these sites face. As sea levels rise, the locations become more prone to both flooding events, including storm surges, and coastal erosion. "Tipasa is considered a very high vulnerability area in the Algerian space, in terms of natural disasters," said Aoudia Benali. She added that, in addition to the direct threat from the sea, the remaining architectural features are also scoured by wind-driven salt and sand. But like many of the sites studied, sea level rise is, for Tipasa, just the latest in a long list of modern existential threats. In 2002, UNESCO added the site to the World Heritage in Danger list. Inadequate management, according to UNESCO, had left Tipasa vulnerable to deterioration and vandalism--the latter a somewhat ironic twist given that Tipasa weathered a brutal fifth-century invasion by the actual historical Vandals, a Germanic people from what is now southern Poland. A satellite image from February 8 shows the thin slice of the ancient ruins of Tipasa squeezed between the modern city of Tipaza and the Mediterranean Sea.A satellite image from February 8 shows the thin slice of the ancient ruins of Tipasa squeezed between the modern city of Tipaza and the Mediterranean Sea. European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery The site's 21st-century problems have only increased in the last two decades; UNESCO has repeatedly threatened to strip the site of World Heritage status. As recently as 2021, the organization noted a litany of problems at Tipasa, such as modern construction, including a proposed port, that threatened the site's integrity. The crisis facing Tipasa and other heritage sites along Africa's coast is about more than preserving the past. These sites are often significant to the present--and the economic future--of the communities surrounding them. "Many African economies are highly dependent on heritage tourism. Perhaps more importantly, many local and Indigenous communities have heritage-dependent livelihoods," says Simpson. Despite the sites' economic value, he adds, many lack both recognition and adequate protection from a variety of threats. Simpson believes an increase in tourism to sites such as Tipasa could boost their profiles within their countries' borders, garnering more attention and ultimately improving management while also providing local communities with needed cash. Of course, tourism has downsides. Increased traffic means more footfalls on what could be fragile areas, more trash, and more strain on local infrastructure already stressed by a growing population. For most international tourists, experiencing these locations in person also requires first stepping onto a fossil fuel-guzzling airplane. Clark, who acknowledges the economic value that heritage sites can provide to local communities, also advises would-be explorers: "Don't go by air if you can possibly avoid it." Visiting threatened sites such as Tipasa without contributing to the threats they face is almost impossible. The excavated area of Tipasa stretches along the Mediterranean coast. The excavated area of Tipasa stretches along the Mediterranean coast. Vikoula5, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Despite the challenges, Aoudia Benali believes Tipasa can survive if it receives the resources it needs, including management of the encroaching urbanization and steps to mitigate erosion and flooding. Getting those resources, however, remains uncertain--in a distracted world, the recent paper caused barely a ripple. Tipasa's name derives from the Phoenician for "crossing point," a reference to its earliest days along a key maritime route that linked ancient Carthage to colonies around Gibraltar. The ancient city is now at a tipping point, the devilish business of securing resources on one side, the deep blue sea on the other. Read next The Quest to Reacquaint Japan With Its Forgotten Native Citrus Once revered by royals and celebrated by poets, the tachibana is now endangered. [blank-11b9] climate changeoceansancientsciencearchaeologyruinshistory Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member. Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member. Using an ad blocker? We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world's hidden wonders. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Continue Using Ad-Block Support Us Keep Exploring [blank-11b9] science Mongolia's Melting Ice Reveals Fragile Prehistoric Artifacts Researchers scramble to find and study everyday items preserved for millennia and now at risk. William Taylor September 20, 2021 [blank-11b9] ruins Drought Has Revealed Spain's Long-Submerged 'Stonehenge' Up close with the 7,000-year-old Dolmen of Guadalperal. Alyssa McMurtry September 6, 2019 [blank-11b9] ancient What Poop Can Teach Us About an Ancient City's Downfall Cahokia's decline is at least partially a story of climate change. Matthew Taub February 25, 2019 [blank-11b9] science Following the Mysterious Trail of Europe's Last Wild Lions Researchers use art and ancient bones to make the case for modern lions once freely roaming Southeastern Europe. Katarina Zimmer January 31, 2022 [cGc] Video * PinDrop This Once-Thriving Hotel Couldn't Compete With Climate Change 1:27 [LmpwZw] Video New York's Disappearing Sunken Forest 6:50 [TVMgU3RpbG] Video Atlas Obscura Tries: Magnet Fishing 6:00 [ZW5TVElMTC] Video * PinDrop A 30-Acre Garden Inspired by the Principles of Modern Physics 1:32 [dGlsbDAxMS] Video The Flesh-Eating Beetles of Chicago's Field Museum 3:58 [bGwwMTIuan] Video Inside Ohio's Experimental Archaeology Lab 7:29 [bDAwNC5qcG] Video A Visit to Buffalo's Lava Lab 4:51 [LmpwZw] Video Where Scientists Play With Fire 7:22 [MDAzLmpwZw] Video * Object of Intrigue A Colossal Squid Is Hiding in New Zealand 3:07 [MDEuanBn] Video * Wonder From Home Show & Tell With a Pull-Tab Archaeologist 10:07 [NC5qcGc] Video * PinDrop An Ancient Cemetery, Resurrected 1:51 [MDEuanBn] Video * AO Docs The Abandoned 'Ghost Mansion' of Northern Italy 2:59 [YVN0aWxsMD] Video Explore the Ruins of a Medieval East African Empire 3:41 [bGwuanBn] Video There's an Abandoned Futuristic Fort in Portland, Maine 3:32 [OC5qcGc] Video See the Ruins of an Estonian Ghost Town 5:25 [aWlTdGlsbC] Video * AO Docs Hawai`i's Native-Language Newspaper Archive 3:35 Sponsored by Olukai [cmNoMDIuan] Video * AO Docs 'Discovering' Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Migration 6:46 [dXJlcyAwMy] Video * Object of Intrigue The Real Story Behind George Washington's Dentures 3:30 [anBn] Video * Object of Intrigue Behold, the Vampire-Killing Kit 4:19 [cGc] Video See the Mysterious Horned Helmet of Henry VIII 4:00 Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member. From Around the Web THE GASTRO OBSCURA BOOK Taste the World! An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. Order Now Gastro Obscura Book [] See Fewer Ads Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups. Learn More Get Our Email Newsletter [ ] [Subscribe] Thanks for subscribing! View all newsletters >> Follow Us * * * * * Get the app Download on the Apple App Store Places * All Places * Latest Places * Most Popular * Places to Eat * Random * Nearby * Add a Place Editorial * Stories * Food & Drink * Itineraries * Lists * Video * Podcast Trips * All Trips * Trips Blog * Art & Culture Trips * Food Trips * Hidden City Trips * History Trips * Photography Trips * Wildlife & Nature Trips * FAQ Experiences * Experiences * Online Courses * Online Experience FAQ * Online Course FAQ Community * Membership * Travel Forum * Latest Posts * Top Posts Company * About * Contact Us * FAQ * Work With Us * Advertising * Press * Unique Gifts * Privacy Policy * Cookie Policy * Terms of Use (c) 2022 Atlas Obscura. All rights reserved. Questions or Feedback? Contact Us Thanks for sharing! Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Want a Free Book? Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book, Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders. [ ] Subscribe No Thanks Visit AtlasObscura.com Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders Stay in Touch! Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Follow Us on Instagram No Thanks Visit AtlasObscura.com No purchase necessary. Winner will be selected at random on 03/01/ 2022. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Offer subject to change without notice. See contest rules for full details. Add Some Wonder to Your Inbox Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. [ ] Subscribe No Thanks We'd Like You to Like Us Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. No Thanks [p] Quantcast