On Sunday, February 8, 2026, the University of Tlemcen officially launched the proceedings of the international conference entitled “The First Four Centuries of the Islamic Conquest in the Central Maghreb (1st–4th Century AH / 7th–10th Century AD) – Cross-Interpreting.”

The opening ceremony was presided over by the Rector of the University, Prof. Mourad MEGHACHOU, and the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Nasreddine BENDAOUD, under the scientific supervision of Prof. REZGUI Chergui. The event brought together a distinguished group of experts, teacher-researchers, and doctoral students from national and international universities.

The organization of this conference falls within the framework of the celebration of the 25th anniversary (Silver Jubilee) of the establishment of the Department of Archaeology (2001–2026), in collaboration with the Laboratory for the Valorization of Archaeological Heritage. The conference aims to address the lack of specialized research on the first four centuries of the Islamic conquest in the Central Maghreb—often referred to as the “Dark Centuries”—and to highlight the region’s rich civilization and advanced standard of living during this period.

The main objectives of the conference are to:

-Promote the study and valorization of the remains of a crucial period in medieval Algerian history.

-Reassess the approaches of the colonial school in the study of the Central Maghreb’s heritage.

-Encourage the application of modern archaeological methodologies to periods with limited historical documentation.

-Open new research perspectives for doctoral students and early-career researchers.

The conference sessions and discussions are structured around five main thematic axes:

1-Urbanism and architecture in the Central Maghreb during the first four centuries of the Islamic conquest.

2-Agricultural activities and rural practices during this period

3-The emergence and development of Islamic coinage and official systems of weights and measures.

4-Civilizational and cultural relations with neighboring regions;

5-Archaeological mapping and the exploitation of natural resources.

 

This initiative reflects the University of Tlemcen’s continued commitment to promoting scientific research, enhancing cultural heritage, and training future generations of researchers.