PORT ROMAIN
(Kherbet Ramoul) Algeria.
A small settlement on the coast between Mostaganem
and Ténès, ca. 274 km W of Algiers, on the ancient
route from Caesarea (Cherchel) to Portus Magnus
(Bettioua, ex-St. Leu). The excavations have been too
limited to uncover the whole. The name is erroneous,
since it was not in fact a port, but a quarry at the
edge of the sea; one sees only the traces of blocks extracted from a cliff on which the ruins lie.
Near the road, a large rock is hollowed out into a
funerary chamber with bench, of the Punic type. Further W, backed up against the rock, are the remains of
a fairly important structure. To the N, and close to the
sea, is a Christian basilica of perhaps the end of the
5th c., its apse flanked by two square rooms; this is
the simplest type of rural church in the region, found
also at Cap Ivi, 68 km farther W. Clandestine excavations have brought to light there a roofed tomb with
a mosaic representing a standing figure, arms stretched
out, by a candelabrum, on the model of the tomb mosaics of Tunisia, in particular Thabraca. Beside this structure are small baths and a cement-lined basin filled with fish scales and bones, possibly a garum factory. To the
NW is a fine private house, of good masonry, opening
to the E with a set-back porch giving on a concealed
entry overlooked by a balcony; the asymmetrical construction is ordered around a courtyard open to the
sky and bordered by a portico supported by four corner pillars and by columns, two on the long sides, one on
the short ends. To the S are four rooms, to the N two
double rooms; to the W finally a suite with a semicircular oecus adorned with mosaic and marble opus sectile, and traces of wall paintings.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
J. Marcillet-Jaubert, “Mosaïque tombale de P. R.,”
Libyca 3 (1955) 281-86
P; J. Lassus,
Libyca 5 (1957) 126-29
PM.
J. MARCILLET-JAUBERT
