Archaeology in Algeria: Challenges of Multidisciplinary Research and the Identity Question

Published: 2021
Blog for Transregional Research

Abstract

The worrying condition of archaeological sites and monuments and the alarm bells about the looting and destruction of antiquities are periodically reported on by Algerian media and social media outlets. Such reports are usually met with a sympathetic response from those with an interest in antiquities and are duly followed by statements from the institutions in charge of antiquities regarding urgent measures being taken and a team of experts being sent to rescue the situation. By contrast, an outcry concerning the state of academic archaeology in Algeria meets with a more muted response, since sympathy is restricted to specialists in the field. It is as though the state of archaeologists and their discipline had absolutely nothing to do with archaeological monuments.