Libya's Department of Antiquities and BP Exploration Libya Limited host archaeology lecture series in Tripoli

Major research has recently been published providing additional evidence of how Libya's ancient Garamantes people were pioneers of civilisation across the Sahara - responsible for the spread of innovative ideas and technologies throughout the region and for a massive expansion in trade and cultural relations between North Africa, the Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa.

In a series of lectures at the newly-refurbished Museum of Libya in Al-Dahra, Tripoli, Professor David Mattingly of Britain's Leicester University described how the Garamantes - who existed in Libya's Fazz?n region between 1000 BC and 1000 AD - may represent the first flourishing of a highly sophisticated civilisation in the Sahara, existing independently of the influence of Mediterranean contacts.

The lectures - hosted by Dr. Salah Agab, Chairman of the Department of Antiquities with support from BP Exploration Libya Limited - were based on the third volume of the "Archaeology of the Fazzan" series, a new book recently published by the Department of Antiquities and British Society for Libyan Studies.

This publication (and earlier volumes in the series) presents archaeological research undertaken under the stewardship of the Department of Antiquities and directed by the late Charles Daniels of Britain's Newcastle University and Professor Mattingly. The research began in 1958 and is ongoing.

"Inhabiting a region that had already for several thousand years been an arid desert environment - with negligible rainfall, high summer temperatures and blistering expanses of barren sand and rock - the Garamantes have long been an enigma," explained Professor Mattingly.

"They were depicted by the Romans as ungovernable nomadic barbarians, who raided the agricultural zone and cities along the Mediterranean coast."

"But with over 500 Garamantian sites now recorded - many which are being dated for the first time - a reappraisal of the Garamantes story can now be made on the basis of concrete evidence. The picture that emerges is of a powerful Saharan kingdom, employing a wide range of material culture and architectural styles to reinforce a pronounced social hierarchy. In short, the Garamantes were the first significant state in the central Sahara." The lecture series and publication of the new research is a major contribution to Libyan and global academic knowledge of Libya's ancient history, explained Dr. Agab.

"The research presented will allow people to look at Libya's rich history in a very different way and appreciate that our own history of civilization greatly pre-dates the more popularly known Greek and Roman periods."

"But with this greater understanding of the sophistication of our ancestors, it is incumbent on all of us that as we celebrate the great advances our country is making through the major national infrastructure programme underway, we as Libyans continue to recognise, cherish and protect our ancient history.”

Mr. Hugh McDowell, President and General Manager of BP Exploration Libya Limited, commented how proud BP is to be supporting these lectures and publication of the new research.

"Our support for this research is recognition of the great respect BP holds for the identity, traditions and cultural heritage of Libya's desert communities - including those communities within our Ghadames exploration area," commented Mr. McDowell.