A New Archaeological Discovery in Libya’s Material Heritage: Inscriptions of the Names of Certain Companions of the Prophet at the Susa Site

Abstract

    This research records the outcome of excavation efforts related to the discovery of some Arabic inscriptions written in ancient Arabic script corresponding to middle of the first century AH, which after examination appeared to belong to the names and titles of some of the Prophet Muhammad’s companions on some of the marble columns found in the central church in the Libyan city of Sousse.                                            

            The research is a record of the discovery of these inscriptions and a documentation of the early Arab-Islamic presence in the city and its suburbs on the one hand, and a record of some of the material heritage found in more than one site on the other, and This is a call for more digging and excavation  work on other inscriptions found in more than one archaeological site.                                                                           

            This research comes in addition to the search for cultural evidence and the Libyan material heritage in an important aspect of the Arabic-Islamic inscriptions associated with the early periods of Libya’s Islamic history, What is new in the research is that the inscriptions relate to the names and titles of some honorable companions, which were inscribed in an early period of the Arab-Islamic presence that followed the Islamic conquest and guarding of the sea coasts.