Founding of Kerkouane – Originally a Lybic agglomeration, Kerkouane took advantage of the Phoenician-Punic contributions. Its name seems to have been originally jealously guarded by the nearby locality Tamezrat, original Berber.
The earliest evidence for a town appears to go back into the 6th century BC as testified by some examples of Greek black figured pottery (Ionian).
Punic period: The urban side, now visible on the field, is dated between the end of the 4th century BC and the first half of the 3rd century BC.
Around 310 BC Kerkouane is destroyed by the army of Agathocle, tyrant of Syracuse
Destruction of Kerkouane:
The Phoenician city was probably abandoned during the first Punic War and as a result was not rebuilt by the Romans. Today’s remains constitute the only example of a Phoenicio-Punic city to have survived.
Discovery of the ancient Kerkouane. After the independence of Tunisia in 1956 excavation works have lasted several decades.