Return to Archaeology Department home page.Since 1985, a joint Anglo-Algerian team has been excavating the Roman town of Lambaesis, situated in the east of Algeria, under the joint supervision of Mme Nacéra Benseddik and Steve Roskams. The British are the only foreign archaeologists allowed to work in the country at the moment. The project is financed by the Algerian government, the British Academy and the British Council, Algiers.
Lambaesis is a major Roman town in the north of Africa, situated on the northern slope of the Awes mountains, which divide the fertile High Plateau from the Sahara to the south. It was the headquarters of the third legion, controlling one of the few natural routes through the mountains. But the present excavations are concerned with investigating part of the civilian town which grew up beside the army fortress. In particular, we are concerned with the temple of Aesculapius, the Roman god of medicine and healing and its relationship with the military occupation of the area. There are also a series of questions concerning what happened to the area after the departure of the army - the arrival of the Vandals, the coming of Byzantine rule and, ultimately, the Arab conquest of North Africa - which we are hoping to elucidate.
We are working in Algeria not only to learn about Lambaesis, but also to teach Algerian archaeologists the approaches and methods of archaeology employed in Britain. So a number of professional archaeologists from units in England are employed on the team, as well as some students from York, to work with and complement the Algerian archaeologists. The season lasts from four to six weeks in late August to September. Most of the team speak French, as do the local workforce, though this is not essential. Because the work involves instructing others, as well as learning ourselves, those who have some experience in work on site are preferred to those with none. Also an ability to work within in the restrictions of an alien, and sometimes difficult culture, and in the heat of North Africa, are a definite advantage.