The naval harbor of ancient Carthage, located in modern-day Tunisia, stands as one of the most remarkable engineering achievements of the ancient Mediterranean world. Dating to approximately 300 BCE, during the height of Carthaginian maritime expansion, the circular military harbor—known as the Cothon—formed the core of the city’s naval infrastructure. Although destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, its remains were first systematically studied in the late 19th century by French archaeologists led by Alfred Louis Delattre, who mapped the basin structures and ᴀssociated shipyards. Subsequent excavations throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, especially those conducted under UNESCO’s Carthage Archaeological Project, refined the chronology and revealed additional architectural layers, confirming the harbor’s meticulous planning and long-term usage until the Roman conquest in 146 BCE.

The Carthaginian harbor was constructed using a combination of locally quarried limestone, sandstone blocks, rammed earth, and maritime timber, reflecting an advanced understanding of coastal engineering. The inner circular harbor contained a central island, likely reserved for naval command, built with thick stone retaining walls supported by wooden beams. Archaeological core samples show evidence of hydraulic lime mortar, an innovation that provided waterproofing long before its widespread Roman adoption. The ship sheds surrounding the ring-shaped basin were roofed with timber and covered with terracotta tiles, designed to protect warships from the sun and salt air. Underwater surveys reveal stone slipways and docking ramps precisely angled for launching and retrieving vessels, demonstrating a sophisticated level of naval logistics.

The Cothon served as the military heart of Carthage, capable of housing more than 200 warships at its peak. Each docking bay contained storage rooms for sails, rigging, weapons, and supplies. The circular layout not only allowed rapid deployment of the Carthaginian fleet but also provided defensive oversight against potential espionage, as the inner harbor was accessible only through a narrow channel guarded by fortifications. Historically, the harbor underpinned Carthage’s power in the Punic Wars, making it a rival to Rome. Beyond its military function, the structure symbolized Carthage’s maritime idenтιтy, embodying the city’s control of western Mediterranean trade routes and its reputation as a civilization of skilled sailors, merchants, and shipbuilders.

Today, the site presents a transformed landscape. Aerial imagery from 2023 reveals the modern lagoon that still mirrors the ancient circular outline but lacks the monumental stone infrastructure visible in ancient reconstructions. Sedimentation, urban development, and centuries of environmental change have altered the harbor’s physical form. Archaeologists have applied GIS mapping, underwater excavation, and sediment analysis to reconstruct the original dimensions and layout. These methods confirm that the modern basin preserves the footprint of the ancient Cothon even though most architectural elements have been dismantled or submerged. The surrounding Carthaginian urban fabric—once densely packed with workshops, temples, and administrative buildings—has been replaced by residential neighborhoods, though key archaeological zones remain protected.

The rediscovery and study of the harbor span more than a century of archaeological work. Early excavations by Delattre provided the first topographic sketches, while mid-20th-century studies by Friedrich Rakob and the German Archaeological Insтιтute produced detailed architectural reconstructions. Since 1979, UNESCO’s Carthage Safeguarding Campaign has coordinated multinational teams to document, preserve, and digitally model the site. Current research is led by Tunisian archaeological agencies in partnership with European universities, focusing on underwater geophysics and environmental reconstruction. Preservation efforts aim to stabilize remaining structures, regulate urban encroachment, and integrate the harbor into Carthage’s broader cultural heritage landscape. As scholarship progresses, the Cothon continues to offer insights into ancient naval engineering and the strategic ingenuity of one of history’s greatest maritime powers.