Dr. Imran Ben Khalifa has been dreaming about important discoveries since childhood. Having grown up in Pissida, which was discovered in 2001 in Abu Kammash, near the western city of Zuwara– some 20 kilometers from the Tunisian border, Ben Khalifa was certain there were mysteries to uncover. This led him to study archeology then make many attempts to coordinate with the Antiquities Department under Gaddafi to get support for his research, but to no avail.

Dr. Imran Ben Khalifa has been dreaming about important discoveries since childhood. Having grown up in Pissida, which was discovered in 2001 in Abu Kammash, near the western city of Zuwara– some 20 kilometers from the Tunisian border, Ben Khalifa was certain there were mysteries to uncover. This led him to study archeology then make many attempts to coordinate with the Antiquities Department under Gaddafi to get support for his research, but to no avail.

Since the revolution, Ben Khalifa has been optimistic that he may finally be able to discover something that satiates his curiosity about the historical facts that concern his heritage, especially his Berber identity— which is what led him to start working in Pissida.

The city of Poseidon

“The site of Abu Kammash is in fact the city of Pissida which was mentioned in many Grecian and Roman historical references,” says Ben Khalifa. “The Greek sources clearly link this region to the Greek mythology about the birth of Poseidon – the god of the sea – on a small island off Libya’s west coast. The Roman references, specifically historian Ptolemy’s books, contend that Pissida was an important commercial port located within a gulf naturally protected by a peninsula.”

“Examining many Roman manuscripts, we can clearly conclude that the archaeological site of Abu Kammash is de facto Pissida settlement whose natural and geographical site enabled it to become an important commercial, cultural and administrative center in the western part of the Tripolitania Province, and even a major and secure port for Roman military fleets,” concludes Ben Khalifa.

Discovered by accident

History researcher Wa’el Ftaiss concurs with Ben Khalifa’s views and stresses that this settlement “was mentioned by Alexandrian Ptolemy who also talked about its latitude and longitude and identified it as a commercial port.” A large number of geographers and historians also mentioned it, and the region was recently called Abu Kammash after a type of cholera that was prevalent there for a while.

“This discovery was made by accident while a company was working on a project in the region,” says economist Riad Hamissi who is also in charge of the site protection. “Excavations resulted in the discovery of a group of family tombs containing a variety of collectibles, prompting the Antiquities Department to conduct supplement excavations in 2003 and 2004.”

European missions visited the region, says Hamissi, “but the former regime’s policy of history delusion and forgery thwarted the identification and promotion of such treasures as required, especially since they are clear evidence of the Berber civilization the regime had long worked to erase.”

“During the Italian occupation, many antiquities were found in the region, importantly a lion statue and a number of pottery jars housed now in the Museum of Tripoli,” stresses Ftaiss.

“The Tripoli Region, where Pissida is located, was a Roman colony during the Roman Republic,” says Ben Khalifa. “Shortly before the Roman conquest, the region was under the Punic state which collapsed with the destruction of its capital Carthage in the third Punic War (149-146 BC).”

Protected by youth

“Despite the difficult circumstances experienced by the country, we were keen to protect the site during the liberation war. Directly after the liberation of the city, I found the site completely unprotected, so I went to the Zuwara Local Council and the military council,” says Hamissi. “I was assigned to form an ad hoc committee for documentation and protection. In collaboration with the city youth and without any charge, we began documenting everything we found as well as the settlement situation. Unfortunately, we found that all the excavations were carried out unsystematically, especially in respect of a number of architectural graves in the central cemetery.”

Populated by Libyans

Hamissi feels distressed because of the devastation caused to some graves in the settlement. He has always deemed the site a part of his history which reflects his Libyan Berber origins and roots and an important economic resource for the region and its inhabitants.

Unlike Roman colonies, such as Sabrata or Leptis Magna that had population and cultural diversity – both Libyan and Roman – and were only governed by Roman law, says Ben Khalifa, Pissida was mostly inhabited by Libyans and only governed by local laws and customs under the Romans. “Its proximity to Sabrata made it important for trade, making people too rich. This is evidenced by the ornate and dexterously built tombs,” says Ftaiss.

Great expectations

Noha Kamel, an architecture student from Zuwara, and a number of her colleagues have chosen to focus on Pissida settlement as their graduation dissertation. “This settlement is one of the most wonderful and beautiful items of Libya’s heritage. We, the city’s youth, strive to exploit the settlement in a way that is commensurate with its great value,” says Kamel. “We have found unique and magnificent designs and architectural art. Hopefully, the results of our work will be a step forward towards examining and introducing this settlement to establish communication; otherwise, a severe separation between our history and our current conditions will occur, particularly with regard to the Berber civilization.”

Grave city     

The most remarkable antiquities of Pissida are cemeteries. “Cemeteries have different types and shapes,” says Hamissi. “This is perhaps due to the economic and social status of the dead and to the religious and funeral beliefs that existed in each historical period the country experienced. Many artifacts and collectibles were found within those graves, most importantly bone brooches, a double Corinthian capital lamp, mosaic floor pieces, a bronze mirror and Roman jars, which indicates special religious beliefs.”

“Pissida’s architecture is not Roman at all; it is rather characterized by a style that only existed in North Africa, which proves that the populations of Pissida are natives. In addition, the fact that the tombs have doors proves that they were used for more than a generation as family graves, reflecting social cohesion,” stresses Ben Khalifa.