Rusguniae (ruins)

Rusguniae is an ancient archaeological site located in the commune of El Marsa, in the wilaya of Algiers, Algeria.

TRANSLATION IN PROGRESS

General setting

Rusguniae lies to the north-east of the Bay of Algiers, opposite the city of Algiers, the ancient Icosium. The site lies between modern Tamentfoust (formerly Laperouse) and Bordj-El-Bahri (Cap Matifou, as opposed to the cape of the same name that closes off the Bay of Algiers to the east). Rusguniae lay along the coast. Today, almost no remains are visible due to the looting of most of the ancient buildings and the urban development that has covered the site and the surrounding area.

Given the rampant urbanisation of recent decades, which has completely disfigured the natural landscape, it is best to refer to Berbrugger's description of the area at the beginning of French colonisation in order to understand the geography of the region in its historical context. The Gulf of Algiers and the Gulf of Bengüt, where Rusguniae is located, can be roughly described as two semicircles that meet at the Cap du Matifou and delimit a very specific territory. At the beginning of the 19th century, nature, still largely untouched, seemed to isolate this region from the surrounding areas. Only the Haraouas tribe (who gave their name to the town of the same name) lived here, farming the land between the hills and the Mediterranean.