Camarata (Mauretania)

Camarata

A coin of Camarata, with the Neo-Punic legend KMʾ
Shown within Algeria
Location	Sidi Djeloul
Region	Sidi Safi, Aïn Témouchent, Algeria
Coordinates	35°21′16″N 1°17′14″W

Camarata (Punic: 𐤊‬𐤌‬𐤀‬, KMʾ)^[1][2] was a Carthaginian and Roman port on the Mediterranean near Siga in Mauretania. Under the Romans, it was part of the province of Mauretania Caesariensis. Its ruins are thought to be those at the mouth of the Wadi Ghazer^[3] at Sidi Djeloul in Sidi Safi, Algeria.^[4] The maritime town was near Siga.^[5]

History

Camarata released bronze coins stamped with the town's Punic name and a crudely-done head obverse and grapes and an ear of wheat reverse.^[1] It has been associated with Zimran or described as a Zimrite country along with Thamarita and Tumarra.^[6]

After the French occupation of Algeria, the area around Camarata became known for its high-quality iron ore.^[7] The road to Beni Saf, for instance, which had large deposit of iron ore, traversed Camarata.^[8]

See also

• Maghreb placename etymology

References

Citations

1. Head & al. (1911), p. 889.
2. Huss (1985), p. 561.
3. De Graauw, Arthur (2018), "North Africa", Ancient Ports, Grenoble.
4. "Camarata", Barrington Atlas, 2000.
5. Head, Barclay Vincent (1887). Historia Numorum: A Manual of Greek Numismatics. Clarendon Press. p. 748.
6. Scadding, Henry (1878). The Canadian Journal of Science, Literature and History. Toronto: Canadian Institute. p. 292.
7. Playfair (1878), p. 274.
8. Playfair, Sir Robert Lambert (1891). Handbook for Travellers in Algeria and Tunis, Fourth Edition. J. Murray. p. 279.

Bibliography

• Head, Barclay; et al. (1911), "Mauretania", Historia Numorum (2nd ed.), Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 887–890.
• Huss, Werner (1985), Geschichte der Karthager, Munich: C.H. Beck, ISBN 9783406306549. (in German)
• Playfair, Robert Lambert (1878), Handbook for Travellers in Algeria and Tunis... (2nd ed.), London: John Murray.