Studies in the History and Archaeology of Sufetula and Its 'Territorium' Down to the Vandal Conquest.

This dissertation explores aspects of the development of Sufetula and its territorium under Roman rule and hence is a preliminary step to a larger investigation of the Roman cities in the Steppe/Atlas Dorsal region of Tunisia. Sufetula was probably founded as a castellum during the war with Tacfarinas (A.D. 17-24). Some circumstantial evidence for the existence of a fort may indeed be found in the later urban plan. Sufetula remained a fort until the reign of Vespasian when a civil settlement with the rank of municipium was established. The city and territorium remained largely undeveloped until olive cultivation was introduced in the late first/early second century by settlers from northern and eastern Africa Proconsularis. By the late second century, the prosperity engendered by exporting olive oil seems to have contributed to the construction of a number of public monuments in the city and to the emergence of at least five equestrian and senatorial families. A brief decline in the rate public building in the mid-third century may stem primarily from the monetary inflation of the period, though some redirection toward the construction of private villas by the local aristocracy is evident. In the fourth century the production of olive oil in the territorium reached its peak reflecting the Empire-wide demand for African oil. In Sufetula itself, public building increased once again in spite of apparent limits placed on municipal autonomy by the provincial governor. In the same period, the presence of Donatist and Catholic bishops and the construction of churches in former temples indicates that the city was becoming Christianized. The city remained prosperous until sometime in the mid-fifth century when public building evidently ceases and the number of olive farms begins to decrease. Although the causes of this are uncertain, V and al l and confiscations, a decline in trade, and devastations by renascent pastoral tribes cannot be ruled out. Overall, the dissertation suggests that Sufetula was a prosperous Roman foundation in Africa, but one which could not remain viable once Roman ( and later Byzantine) control of Africa was lost.PhDAncient historyUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/158845/1/8215014.pd