The quarries of the El Haouaria coast (north east of Tunisia): identitary heritage and scientific and landscaping value

The El Haouaria region occupies the north-western coast of the Cap Bon peninsula (North-East Tunisia). Its landscape is marked by great diversity, both in terms of historical monuments and in terms of the remarkable natural sites. Indeed, morpho-structural features and slopes are modelled in the Miocene sedimentary sequences outcrops and Quaternary sedimentary cover, mainly of aeolian nature, partially covered by Mediterranean of maquis associations. Approaching the shore there is a rich variety of landforms and coastal formations that contain a genuine interest in the Mediterranean Quaternary chronostratigraphy. El Haouaria is characterised by a large surface with numerous open pits and underground ancient quarries fashioned in a thick sequence of reddish Pleistocene fossil dunes bordering the Mediterranean Sea. These archaeological remains of the Punic and Roman age are distinguished by the other, in Mediterranean coast, for their different typical characteristics, in terms of historical exploitation methods and management. Through field reconnaissance and photo interpretation, using a mapping approach, this work aims to identify the originality and importance of the cultural and natural components of the site and assess the scientific interest and geo-turistic importance for the promotion of territorial identity and heritage of the region of El Haouaria.