Henchir Mettich

Henchir Mettich is a town of the Bagradas Valley region in Tunisia, c.50 km west of the ancient city of Carthage.

The area around Henchir Mettich is currently a semi-arid district of mostly barren hills (approximately 400 mm-500mm rainfall per annum), some of which are currently cultivated with olive trees.

[1][2] During Roman times this part of the Maghreb of North Africa was much more fertile than today and supported a much larger population.

[4] We know from epigraphical remains[5] that the settlement then known as Villamagna in Proconsulari[6] (Villa Magna Variana,[7] or Mappalia Siga[8]) had coloni[9] status.

Throughout its existence the town was ruled by Catholic Roman, Arian Vandal and Orthodox rulers from Byzantium.