A team of archaeologists in Tunisia has unearthed the Roman Empire’s second-largest olive oil processing complex.

The archeological dig, with Prof. Luigi Sperti, Deputy Director of the Department of Humanities and Director of CESAV (Centro Studi Archeologia Venezia) of Ca’ Foscari at the helm, is focusing on two ancient olive farms located in the heart of the Jebel Semmama massif.

Their efforts revealed oil mills, cisterns, and a water collection basin. Mills and millstones indicate that the site processed cereals as well as oils.

Production spanned the 3rd century to the 6th century AD.

The 33-hectare (more than 80-acre) site, called Henchir el Begar, features a Latin inscription that confirmed senatorial approval for a bimonthly market on the land in 138 AD.

This mission offers an unprecedented perspective on the agrarian and socio-economic organization of the frontier regions of Roman Africa, said Sperti.

“Olive oil was a very important product in the daily life of the ancient Romans, who not only used it as a condiment in the kitchen, but also as a product for body care, both in sports and medicine, and even – if of poor quality – as a fuel for lighting,” he added. 

How to get there (from the UK)

Most travellers from the UK land at Tunis–Carthage International Airport, which enjoys regular flights,  including from budget and charter airlines, making the flight a convenient around 3 hours from London.

From the airport you’ll likely need to hire a car or arrange a local transfer to reach Henchir el Begar.

Where to stay:

Because the region around Kasserine is remote and, as of now, not built up for mass tourism, the most practical base for many foreign visitors remains near the coast, in or around the capital or established tourist hubs.