UZITTA
(Henchir Makhreba) Tunisia.
A
city of high antiquity, famous for certain episodes of
Caesar's campaign in Africa and for its role in 46 B.C.
It has been identified with the site of Henchir Makhreba,
situated about 24 meters along the route from Sousse
to Mahdia by Jemmal.
The ruins are scattered on a small eminence overlooking the surrounding plain. Until recently, the site, although known and even identified, had not been the object of excavations. A large sector belonging to a residential district was uncovered around 1960. Although
surviving to only a small height, the walls reveal the
plans of the houses, which constituted fairly regular insulae. There were large villas with a peristyle, some with
private baths, next to others more modest in dimensions
and appearance. The most luxurious are paved with
mosaics whose geometric or pictorial art is remarkable:
peacock plumes, a scene of the hunt, fish flowing through
a trap. Some mosaics bear inscriptions. So far these excavations are unpublished.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
L. Foucher in
Karthago 9 (1958) 135-36
P.
A. ENNABLI
