Where is this? Libya
 

Hi, one of the guys took this as he flew past about a month back.

Does anyone know anything about it? It's approximately 100kms south of Tripoli.

Cheers, Sam.

That might be Ghirza,
but I'm not sure as I passed there 14 years ago.
I remember that there 2 or 3 other settlements with some similarity to Ghirza.

Added: probably not Ghirza, see:
Msletten (2)

Wow! I'd love to learn more abou this place, certainly looks like Leptis Magna or the like.

It looks like Leptis Magna or Ghirza but this is different... i wonder what place is this. :eek3:

Hi, not Ghirza - although looking at the Google images and location it is:

Also stunning
In approximately the same area

Keep the ideas coming, I'll post here once we have the location.

Cheers! Sam.



PS and Ghirza is at 30 57 N 14 33 E - I'll be going there on my next trip!

Aish Sam

It is one of the several obelisk shaped tombs located in Tarhuna’s Plateau .(two of them one close to the other and called Bab esahara are clearly visible from the asphalted road to Beni Walid. Locally called Esnam ( for idols) but also Msellatim , the one taken in photo is at the junction of 3 paths linking Wadi Merdun , wadi Tes, and Faraj aprox 123 from Tripoli Airport . Others important esnam are near Gheriat es Sherghia on the main path to Ghirza but still in Mizda district .
Described since 1904 by De Mathuisieulx, later by Cooper they have all been investigated and studied by Italians and fully reported in Libya Antiqua the specialized collection very expensive and now available only in Rome (Brehsneider ed.). In the last Uk initiative for smuggled artefacts, held by the British Ambassador most of the returned pieces were from that archaeological area.
Once neglected by common tourists its importance is now so relevant that it is possible to travel it out of the macadam roads only with a special permit released from Antiquities Dept which will appoint a guide from one the police station of the quabilat interested, usually Mizda or Dawon. Very easy to get in trouble if found investigating ruins without it as all the area that include almost all Hammada is also well know for the massive presence of hidden military detachments .

Budrinna

Dear Budrinna,

That's great information, thank you. I have tried (and failed) to find it on Google Earth - do you have any idea for a lat-long for it?

Thanks again, very informative.

Safe travels, Sam.

I am sorry but in our Co normally we all use to travel without a GPS ( and binoculars) , maybe that’s why I am still able to recognize the places. Last time that were in the hammada, end of 2009 to give assistance to a team of italian tourists looking for rock carving studied by Italians archaeologist during the fascisti period , the Kussabat’s Municipality appointed us Gibrin el Kreim, son of Mohamed an old guide, ( and hunter) rather 70’s years that knows all the ruins of the Hammada best of all . Try to have it

Budrinna.

Great reply Budrinna!

Yes, I agree too!!!

RR.