Elles Megaliths

At Elles near Makthar the ground carries a field of several dozen dolmens, chambers built of upright stone slabs with capstones, some of them within circular enclosures. They were collective tombs used over long periods, attributed to the pre-Roman populations of the region and dated broadly to the first millennium BC. They are among the largest concentrations of megalithic monuments in North Africa and remain little studied and little visited.

What to look for

• The dolmen field - several dozen slab-built chambers across the site.
• The circular enclosures - stone rings surrounding some of the tombs.
• The collective burials - chambers used for multiple interments over long periods.
• The plateau setting - the high inland country the monuments stand on.

When to go

April to October is comfortable; the high plains are cold in winter. Morning and evening light shows the stones best. The site is open ground.

Before you go

There is no interpretation, no signage and often nobody at the site. The monuments are unfenced and some are damaged. It is remote and needs a car and directions.

Nearby

Makthar is nearby, and Kairouan is east.