Pollution and its Impact on Urban Heritage

The Ottoman Casbah of Constantine as a model

Abstract

Constantine is considered one of the most important Algerian cities, and one of the rarest in the world due to its rocky location. Its urbanism was characterized by harmony and consistency, especially during the Ottoman period. This is clearly evident through the Casbah, or as it is known locally as "Al-Souika," which was unique and distinguished by its organized urbanism that aligns with the provisions of Islamic law. Despite the heritage importance that the Casbah possesses, its remains are almost fading away due to neglect. Perhaps what increased its devastation is the pollution that spread in many areas, where residents began throwing all the waste related to their crafts and activities into these archaeological facilities, in addition to turning the ancient dwellings into places for containing waste and the remnants of materials used in construction.