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Forsatta, Wighu, Sharwas, Umm al-Tubul, Qasr al-Haj, Kabao, Nalut, Tombs of Holy Men, Mosques of JAbal Nafusa, Mosque of Ujlah

Interest in the Ibadi regions of Maghreb arises from the desire to study a system of settlements and landscape transformations which are unique to this Mediterranean area. Although similar situations can be found in different parts of North Africa, in this particular region, the needs for protection and defense such as the rational use of natural resources play an emblematic role. Ibadi communities, in fact, from the 10th century onwards, chose the hard conditions of these terrains, because they were concerned for their safety and were fiercely dedicated to the reservation of their identity, even at the cost of their own isolation. The object of this research is to propose a reading method of the settlement structure and architectural forms, by the analysis of three case-study examples: the Island of Djerba, the Libyan Jabal Nafusah and the region of the M'zab. These three significant territories will be analyzed by means of graphic, cartographic and historical sources with the purpose of understanding and verifying the configuration and territorial continuity. The aim is to create an analytic sequence which starts from the territory and extends to architectural objects, so as to understand the relationships among the landscape, the history and the city formation

The medieval town of Sharwas – sometimes written Sharūs or Sarūs – figures in the writings of Ibn al-Warrāq (10th century A.D.), Ibn Hauqāl (10th century), al-Bakri (11th century), al-Idrīsi (12th century) and the anonymous author of the Kitāb al-Istibṣār (12th century). All are agreed that it was an important place, the chief settlement (umm qura) of the Jebel Nefusa. It had no congregational mosque (jāmic), but was one of the two towns in the Jebel provided with a minbār or pulpit. The name Abū Macrūf, as applied to the mosque and the surrounding ruins, does not appear in the medieval sources but certainly goes back many centuries in oral tradition. It refers to Abū Macrūf Wiyār ibn Jawād, a famous religious figure of the later 9th century who lived a short distance to the south-east of Sharwas and who was present at the battle of Mānū in A.H. 283/A.D. 896 - 7.A preliminary note on Sharwas and its mosque has already appeared in the Second Annual Report of this Society (pp. 10 - 11). There are no less than sixteen monumental inscriptions carved on separate blocks of stone outside and inside the Mosque. Most important for the dating of the structure is the two line inscription (no. 1, pl. VIa) in the tympanum of the west doorway. This is in the ornamented variety of Kufic usually referred to as ‘floriated’ The style is decidedly ‘provincial’ and does little credit to the engraver. Nevertheless it is possible to discern, in such features as the trifoliate ending to the dāl of waḥdahu in the first line, points of resemblance to the later of the two monumental inscriptions from Ajdābiyah published in the Society's Third Annual Report (p. 5, Pl. VIIIb). This is dated A.H. 351/A.D. 962. If it is true, as there suggested, that the floriated style was introduced into Libya between c. 922 and 962 A.D., then the inscription over the doorway at Sharwas is unlikely to be earlier than the second half of the the 10th century, allowing for the town's somewhat isolated position in the Tripolitanian hinterland. It may, indeed, be as late as the 12th century, if the present Mosque postdates the destruction of Sharwas, c. 1100.

This research offers a systematic analysis of the physical features of residential Vernacular Architecture (VA) of Nafusa Mountain Region (NMR) in Libya, linking them to the governance system of heritage conservation in Libya and to the Responsible Institutions (RIs). Libya has experienced different historic stages, such as the Amazigh, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims, and Italian colonization. It is distinguished by a historic continuity, which has enriched its historic and architectural features. This study investigates and documents the main physical unique features of residential VA in NMR and related factors that influence Conservation Processes (CPs) within the current governance system delivered by the RIs. By clarifying the elements that make residential VA unique and by understanding current issues undermining its effective conservation, this study offers valuable and original insights for informing future conservation policies and for putting in place measures aimed at restoring, preserving, and maintaining this unique architectural and historical heritage. This research also produces new knowledge about VA of the NMR in Libya, a topic on which no studies have been available so far. By filling the gap in current knowledge, this study raises awareness about the value of the VA in the NMR and contributes to support the conservation of such a unique heritage. The research methodology for this study uses both qualitative and quantitative approaches (Mixed Methods). The researcher has selected and justified three examples of Vernacular Dwellings (VDs) in NMR and collected the data through observation, analysis of dwellings maps, photos, interviews and a questionnaire. Visual survey has been conducted by visiting relevant sites and systematically collecting visual evidence, such as photographic and technical survey including structures and technological spatial details. Spatial analysis methods have been adopted to uncover the rationale of the VA development and construction. Semi-structured interviews with relevant parties have been administered at senior, middle, and junior management level of the RIs and complemented with the review of archival documents and relevant government reports. Findings from the research outline the main challenges to VA in NMR that include a lack of appreciation and understanding of heritage among owners, scarcity of local materials and traditional building skills, lack of government support as well as insufficient documentation. All the findings were triangulated prior to the development of the initial recommendations and further decision-makers and expert validation was obtained to establish the final recommendations. Conclusions and recommendations on how to preserve residential VA in NMR context will assist policy makers in Libya, when setting strategic national plans for VA conservation, and will provide a useful point of reference for academics and researchers.

It is a well-known fact that Libya is a country which has received very little serious study in the field of Islamic art and aroheaology. In Libya most research and study in art and archeaology has been centred on the Greek and Roman heritag+e$ and even the prehistoric era has received considerably more attention than the Islamic period. In the past ten years, howeverg excavations have been carried out in some Islamic sites both in the east and south of the country, yet so many other sites remain unexcavated and unsurveyed. The area of the Jabal Nafüsa is considered to be one of these important but neglected regions. The impetus behind this thesis, therefore, is to contribute to the present knowledge and it aims at paving the way for those who intend to go further by studying the remains of this area in greater detail. The other purpose of this thesis is to throw some light on some Islamic sites which should receive priority when carrying out excavations in the Jabal NaMsa. One obstacle that meets the scholar is to establish the historical background relative to the area of study. In the Jabal Nafüsa the historical information that we possess is scarce and sometimes obscure. This thesis contains an attempt to study the history of this area, especially concerning the first centuries of the Islamic era. Analogy and comparison were applied in order to form the historical background needed for studying some old Islamic monuments in the Jabal NafUsa. In chapters two, three and four, the emphasis is apparent on studying architecture and decorations. In the field of architecture a detailed study was applied to some Islamic remains in the area. These selected monuments reveal the variety of architectural features in the Jabal. Again comparative examples show the outaide influence on the Jabal and in addition architectural oharacteristics of local origin could be pointed out. The same method was followed when discussing the decorations which were found in some of the mosques mentioned. Comparison between these decorations and other similar dated examples made it possible to see the influence of other decorations found in different parts of the Islamic world. In chapter five the study of some mosques in Tmizda area has revealed new elements represented in the Christian and Roman influence on the Jabal. Chapter six is devoted to inscriptions which were found in various mosques in the Jabal Nafffsa. Comparative material helped in studying their style as well as suggesting an approximate date concerning the inscriptions of the Jabal. Finally this thesis could be considered as a humble attempt to illustrate some aspects of the Jabal Nafnsa, not only in respect to its importance in Islamic studies, but also in connection to other areas of study upon which some questions have been raised throughout the thesis.

The Nafūsa Mountains, known as a stronghold of Berber Ibadism, have developed an extremely rich vernacular architecture. Little rural mosques abound in the jabal, which may occasionally go back to the eight or ninth centuries AD. Some mosques are associated with scholars or chiefs quoted in mediaeval Ibadi texts, or with the Christian past of the region. Many are semi-subterranean and present in the prayer hall noteworthy decorations carved out of the plastering. The three remaining communal fortified granaries also are of particular interest. All those Ibadi buildings will be studied in a forthcoming publication.

Nel presente lavoro sono state descritte e analizzate per la prima volta diverse abitazioni rupestri nel Gebel Nefusa libico. Sono stati studiati anche alcuni villaggi rupestri e gasr edificati con pietra e malta di gesso, prodotti nella regione. Per

Nel corso delle ultime campagne di ricerca nell’areale del Gebel Nefusa occidentale, rese possibili grazie al supporto logistico della Fondazione Wadi Adrar, sono state indagate e censite numerose opere architettoniche, sia costruite in elevato che

Si presenta un quadro degli aspetti ambientali del Gebel Nafusa libico ove sono presenti numerosi episodi di cavità artificiali scavate sia singolarmente sia in agglomerati come villaggi e città. Importanti sono i villaggi rupestri abbandonati perché