Altava was located in western Mauretania Caesariensis on the Roman road from strategic Theveste to Numerus Syrorum (current Maghnia).

The garrison—according to historian M. Ruiu—was the Cohors II Sardorum and protected the new lines of the Roman empire moved south from the Mediterranean shores to a military road called Nova Praetentura.

Berber rulers created a small independent kingdom there, centered on the capital Altava and the fully Romanised city of Volubilis.

The last time the kingdom of Altava was cited historically was in connection with a campaign of Gennadius, a magister militum sent by the Eastern Roman Empire.

He defeated the Berbers and the ruler of Altava in 578 AD and his small kingdom was probably incorporated to the Byzantine Empire.