Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad and Ancient City
Qal'at Bani Hammad
Algeria · M'Sila
In brief
Founded in 1007, the fortified city was the first capital of the Hammadid emirs. Excavations uncovered rich architectural decoration along with mosque and palace complexes.
What was found?
- 1Great Mosque and its minaret
The mosque’s prayer hall consists of 13 aisles and sections eight bays deep. The building shows the scale of religious architecture in the Hammadî capital.
- 2Architectural fragments from Manar Palace
Architectural elements recovered from excavations at Manar Palace are in the site museum’s collection. They provide a source for researching the palace’s structural and decorative arrangement.
- 3Architectural fragments from Bahr Palace
These are building fragments from Bahr Palace, also known as the Lake Palace. They are among the tangible remains of Hammadî palace architecture.
- 4Ceramic fragments and flooring
Ceramic fragments and ceramic flooring elements found during excavations are preserved in the museum. They allow the city’s material culture to be studied alongside its architectural remains.
What does it point to?
The mosque, palaces, and city walls show that defense, administration, and worship were organized within the same capital. Architectural fragments and ceramics from the palaces reflect the importance Hammadî court culture placed on craftsmanship and decoration.
What did it teach us?
- It documents the transformation of a military center founded in 1007 into a major capital.
- It shows that monumental mosques and palaces stood together in the Hammadî city.
- It provides a tangible example of an architectural tradition that influenced the architecture of the Maghreb, al-Andalus, and Sicily.
Images
Record
- Culture
- Hammadids
- First modern dig
- 1897
- Coordinates
- 35.8184°, 4.7868°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- Djémila 102 km
- Lambaesis 138 km
- Timgad 156 km
- Tipasa 227 km
- Hippo Regius / Hippone Ancient City 291 km
- Chimtou Ancient City and Marble Quarries 348 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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All excavation sites (495)
Türkiye
- Acemhöyük
- Aizanoi
- Alabanda
- Alacahöyük
- Amos
- Anemurium
- Ani
- Aphrodisias
- Arslantepe Mound
- Aspendos
- Assos
- Ayanis Fortress
- Aşıklı Höyük
- Barcın Höyük
- Blaundus
- Boncuklu Höyük
- Büklükale
- Can Hasan I
- Cape Gelidonya Shipwreck
- Carchemish
- Claros Sanctuary
- Clazomenae
- Domuztepe
- Ephesus
- Euromus
- Gordion
- Göbekli Tepe
- Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia
- Hasankeyf Citadel and Upper Town
- Hattusha
- Hierapolis
- Iasos
- Kaman-Kalehöyük
- Karahantepe
- Karatepe-Aslantaş
- Kaunos
- Kayalıpınar
- Kibyra
- Knidos
- Kültepe-Kanesh
- Laodicea on the Lycus
- Letoon Sanctuary
- Limyra
- Magnesia on the Maeander
- Medieval City of Beçin
- Metropolis in Ionia
- Miletus
- Myra
- Nemrut Dağ
- Nysa on the Maeander
- Olympus in Lycia
- Oylum Höyük
- Oymaağaç Höyük — Nerik
- Patara
- Pergamon
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Pisidian Antioch
- Pompeiopolis
- Priene
- Sagalassos
- Sanctuary of Apollo at Didyma
- Sanctuary of Labraunda
- Sapinuwa
- Sardis
- Sayburç
- Side
- Soli Pompeiopolis
- Stratonikeia
- Tell Atchana – Alalakh
- Teos
- Tripolis on the Meander
- Troy
- Uluburun Shipwreck
- Uşaklı Höyük
- Xanthos
- Yenikapı – Theodosian Harbour Excavations
- Yeşilova Höyük
- Yumuktepe
- Zerzevan Castle
- Zeugma
- Zincirli Höyük — Sam'al
- Çatalhöyük
- Çavuştepe Fortress
- Çayönü
- Çukuriçi Höyük
Greece
- Acropolis of Athens
- Aigai
- Akrotiri
- Ancient Corinth
- Ancient Dion
- Ancient Gortyn
- Ancient Messene
- Ancient Pella
- Antikythera Shipwreck
- Delos
- Delphi
- Gournia Minoan Settlement
- Heraion of Samos
- Knossos
- Mycenae
- Olympia
- Palace and Settlement of Zakros
- Palace of Malia
- Palace of Nestor at Pylos
- Phaistos
- Philippi
- Sanctuary of Apollo at Despotiko
- Sanctuary of Artemis at Amarynthos
- Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus
- Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Eleusis
- Sanctuary of Dodona
- Sanctuary of the Great Gods at Samothrace
- Tiryns
- Zominthos
