An order from the Minister of Cultural Affairs, dated November 13, 2026 and published in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic (JORT), provides for the protection of six historic and archaeological monuments located in the governorate of Kasserine, more precisely in the delegations of El Ayoun and Thala.
The text classifies these sites among the protected historic and archaeological monuments, specifying the area of each as well as a 200-meter protection zone around each monument.
Five archaeological sites affected in El Ayoun
The order concerns five archaeological monuments located in the delegation of El Ayoun, comprising two Roman presses, a set of Roman dwellings, an ancient basin and a mausoleum.
The areas of the sites concerned are distributed as follows:
- A Roman press, located at Henchir El Bakraâ, covering 1,371 m².
- A set of Roman dwellings, located at Henchir El Bakraâ, covering 20,000 m².
- An ancient basin, located at Henchir El Bakar, covering 3,360 m².
- A second Roman press, located at Henchir El Bakar, covering 1,800 m².
- An ancient mausoleum, located at Henchir El Bakar 2, covering 90 m².
Thala: an ancient agricultural complex also protected
The order also includes the ancient agricultural complex known as “Roman press and its dependencies,” located at Henchir El Kabbassi, in the El Jaoua sector, within the Thala delegation.
This monument extends over an area of 1,200 m², with a 200-meter protection zone, like the other sites covered by the order.
A total area of 27,821 m² placed under protection
The cumulative area of the six monuments concerned reaches 27,821 m², calculated by summing the areas listed in the order, excluding the surrounding protection zones.
The set of Roman dwellings located in the El Ayoun delegation represents the largest site among the monuments concerned, with an area of 20,000 m².
This measure is part of the legal protection framework for the historic and archaeological monuments expressly designated by the order, whose Article 2 provides for publication in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic (JORT).
