Quercuan is an ancient and rather large Punic city from the time of Carthage, dating back to the 5th-4th centuries BC. It was destroyed during the First Punic War and afterwards, unlike Carthage, was not rebuilt by either the Romans or the Arabs. But the more valuable things found on its territory, because they show the life of that time, not distorted by foreign influence.
In Kerkuan almost no important historical documents have been found, but a whole collection of everyday objects has been discovered, stored in the nearby archaeological museum, opened in 1986. According to one version, the city was destroyed in the 2nd century BC by the Roman emperor Marcus Regulus, according to another - already during the war with Agathocles in 310 BC, it was badly damaged, but the inhabitants remained in the city until the conquest of Kerkouan by Rome.
The city was quite wealthy, because of the extensive trade and trade routes through its territory. In addition, purple dye for fabrics was mined and produced here, which was a very expensive commodity at the time. Some archaeologists believe that the city could have been built before Carthage - in the 6th century BC, as there are several houses on its territory, much older than the others. Judging by the number of foundations, Kerkouan was home to about 2,000 people, had a sanctuary and a market square in the centre.
The necropolis, located northwest of the city, was found by a local resident in 1929 while he was working in the fields, but French archaeologists did not begin excavations there until 1952, 20 years later. In 1985, UNESCO declared Kerkouan, including the adjacent necropolis, a World Heritage Site as the best-preserved Punic settlement.
Tourists visiting Kerkouan have the opportunity to see the layout of the Punic city in its original form, to walk its streets and enter houses where unique pink marble baths and mosaic panels have been preserved.
