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'{{copy edit|date=January 2017}} [[File:Younga.jpg|thumb|right|Younga]] '''Ounga''', also known as '''Younga''' and '''Jounga''', is a locality and [[archaeology|archaeological site]] on the [[Mediterranean]] coast in modern [[Tunisia]]. Located 45 km south of [[Sfax]] and 10 km south-east of [[Mahrès|Maharès]] in the region of [[Sahel, Tunisia|Sahel]],<ref>Barrington Atlas: BAtlas 33 F4</ref> it is known for its [[petroleum|oil]] fields.<ref>Don Hallett, ''Petroleum Geology of Libya'' (Elsevier, 26 Feb 2002) [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=g-QXQ_UH884C&pg=PA498&lpg=PA498&dq=Ounga+tunisia&source=bl&ots=LhE5NxLxLb&sig=tRASgSXJ1-ke_6eOf5MnXQDbhLA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjt4_TyupnRAhUDzLwKHfeDDbgQ6AEIJTAC#v=onepage&q=Ounga%20tunisia&f=false p115]</ref><ref>Edward Tawadros, ''Geology of North Africa'' (CRC Press, 2 Nov 2011) [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=lyLOBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA670&lpg=PA670&dq=Ounga+tunisia&source=bl&ots=ps3PUnRl1K&sig=5htxuir_6zs7ViakhKc7VgwoOGE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjt4_TyupnRAhUDzLwKHfeDDbgQ6AEIKDAD#v=onepage&q=Ounga&f=false p322]</ref> ==Name== The town is currently known as Ounga, Younga or Jounga, but during antiquity was known as Iunca or Macomades. Poinssot identifies Younga as the new name of the city of Macomades Minores also called Macomades Iunci or Iunca. The discovery in 1936 of a fragment of a [[milestone]] from the mid-3rd century close to Younga definitively confirmed the relationship. The name of the city then changed in the 4th century. Thus, the city bore the name of Macomades Minores under the Early Empire and that of Iunci or Iunca under the Lower Empire. ==History== It was located on the [[Carthage]]-[[Tacape]] highway, at the intersection with the inland route from [[Sufetula]]<ref>[http://imperium.ahlfeldt.se/places/23656.html Imperium.ahlfeldt.se: Macomades Minores/Iunci, Bordj Younga]</ref> and the town has a history stretching back to [[Punic]] times. During the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] and [[Byzantine]] eras Ounga was known as ''Iunca in Byzacena''. <ref name="gcath">[http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/former/t0883.htm Iunca in Byzacena], at GCatholic.org</ref> and also ''Macomades Minores''<ref>R. Talbert, Jeffrey Becker, R. Warner, Sean Gillies, Tom Elliott [https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/324772 Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places -Macomades Minores/Iunci Pleiades], 2014</ref> In ancient times Younga experienced ardent Christian activity resulting in the construction of various religious buildings. Accordingly, it maintained relations with other cities such as [[Carthage]]. Historians, like the Tunisian archaeologist Zainab Benzina, state that a representative of the city of Younga, the bishop Valentinianus, attended the [[Council of Carthage]] in 412. In addition, the Christian city hosted a provincial council in 524. Remains of the Roman town include three [[Byzantine]] [[basilica]]s <ref>G. L. Feuille, “Le baptistère de Iunca”, CahArch 3 (1948) pp75-81; P. Garrigue, “Une Basilique byzantine à Iunca en Byzacène”, MélRome 65 (1953) pp173-96</ref> and city [[rampart]]s, [[citadel]] and a vaulted [[cistern]] and [[crypt]]s. Some of the remains show [[Coptic]] influence. <ref>A Ennabli, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0006%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DM%3Aentry+group%3D1%3Aentry%3Dmacomades-minores MACOMADES MINORES] (Princeton, N.J. [[Princeton University]] Press. 1976)</ref> <ref>Hachmi Bibi, ''Mahares. Strategic site, civilization and arts'' ([[Tunis]], 2002)</ref><ref>Pol Trousset, "Iunci": ''Berber Encyclopedia'', Vol 25, ed. (Eduud, Aix-en-Provence, 2003), pp.3806-3812</ref> The [[citadel]], identified in 1944 by the [[France|French]] [[archaeologist]] [[Louis Poinssot]] as the place described by [[Arab geographer]]s [[Al Bakri]] and [[Al-Idrissi]], under the name of Kasr er-Roum (Castle of the Romans) was transformed in the 9th century by the [[Aghlabids]], modifying the upper part of the walls. ==Bishopric== Ounga was the [[cathedra|seat]] of an ancient [[Christian]] [[bishopric]], of the history of which very little is known. There was a [[synod]] here after the [[Muslim conquest of the Maghreb]].<ref>Jonathan Conant, ''Staying Roman: Conquest and Identity in Africa and the Mediterranean 439-700'' (Cambridge University Press, 2012) p100</ref> and another about 523. A [[Christian]] [[monastery]] was founded in the town about 500. Two bishops are known: *[[Verecundus of Iunca]] *Valentinianus, who attended the Council of Carthage in 412, as above The bishopric survives today as a [[titular bishop]]ric, which has been vacant since the departure of the last bishop, [[Marcel Roger Buyse]], in 2008. <ref name="gcath" /> ==Fortress== [[file:Bordj Younga.jpg|thumb|right|Bordj Younga]] The remains of the [[Byzantine]] [[castella|fort]] known as Bordj Younga are in excellent condition. ==References== {{reflist|2}} [[Category:Sahel]] [[Category:Populated places in Tunisia]] [[Category:Archaeology of Tunisia]] [[Category:Catholic titular sees in Africa]]'