Annaba

Annaba is a city in the northeastern corner of Algeria near the river Seybouse and the Tunisian border. It is located in the Annaba Province. It has a population of 348,554 (1998 census).

Annaba has provided evidence of remarkable workmanship in tool-making. Early remnants of hominid occupation have been found in Ain el Hanech, near Saïda (ca. 200,000 before the present). Later, modern human (Homo sapiens) tool makers produced artefacts in the Levalloisian and Mousterian styles from well before 100,000 years ago, similar to those in the Levant. According to some sources, prehistoric Algeria was the site of the highest state of development of Middle Stone Age (or Middle Paleolithic) flake-tool techniques. Tools of this era, starting from at least as early as about 85,000 years ago, are called Aterian (after the site Bir el Ater), south of Annaba in the north-eastern corner of Algeria. These tools are marked by a high standard of workmanship, great variety, and specialization.

Annaba, which was called Hippo Regius during Roman times, was probably established by the Phoenicians in the 12th century BC. It was a center of early Christianity. Augustine of Hippo was bishop here from 396 until 430. The city has Christian, Muslim, and Roman buildings.

During French rule the city was known as Bône, and was one of the main European settlements with a sizeable pied-noir minority. One famous pied-noir from Bône was Alphonse Juin, a Marshal of France and a former NATO Central Europe Commander.

JOURNEYS trips that include Annaba:

Ancient Algeria and Morocco from Nov. 3-17, 2007 with Will Weber

Information based on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annaba