The site represents the ruins of a civitas of the Syrtica region in the Roman Province of Byzacena (Roman North Africa).[1][2] The ancient town was founded under the Roman Emperor Claudius in the 1st century. An older town or village may have stood on the site however.[3] The ancient town was centered on a colonnaded Forum with three Roman Temples at one end. It was intended to be an emporium and is shown on the Peutinger Map as lying on the east-west trade road, and undoubtedly had commercial connections to the nearby port of Githis (modern Bou Ghara).