Expert: Ralph Salier - 8/11/2007

Question
30°43'44.15"N    7°54'16.85"E   -  This location on google earth shows a formation in the desert that has all appearances of being man made but no indication of archaeoligal activity, can you or anybody identify if this is a known site?

Answer
Hi Robert,

What you are seeing in this location is an old salt works.  The Twareg and other Algerian and north African tribes would cross the desert to specific areas to mine salt which was then caravaned out to markets.  If you look due north of this location you can see a more modern version of one of these sites just off of a more modern road.  The linear structures were built as well as "diggings" were dug in such places to protect both animal and people during sand storms.  

The rock and over burden was used to build these structures.  These would be abandoned over time as the deposits of easy to reach salt and salt pan was dug out.

Hope this helps.