Conserving Sidi Affane mosque: heritage, building archaeology, and historical challenges

Choubeila Koreichi; Samira Debache-Benzagouta

doi:10.14568/cp34824

Authors

Choubeila Koreichi Department of Architecture, University of Salah Boubnider- Constantine 3 Ali Mendjeli El Khroub Constantine, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8407-0115
Samira Debache-Benzagouta Department of Architecture, University of Salah Boubnider- Constantine 3 Ali Mendjeli El Khroub Constantine, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8626-612X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14568/cp34824

Keywords:

Dating, Building archaeology, Mosque, History, Conservation

Abstract

Heritage preservation requires a personalized approach, with a specific date for each element. For historic buildings, especially religious sites, knowing their history, is crucial to maintain authenticity and guide conservation decisions: complex materials and construction techniques, as well as changes over time, make this task essential. Most of the renovation projects in Constantine since 2014, following its designation as the Arab capital of culture, were carried out after the preparatory works, leaving many mosques closed, including the mosque Sidi Affane. A methodology, derived from building archaeology integrates archaeology and architecture and aims to unveil the mosque's mysteries, offering a holistic understanding of its history through interdisciplinary collaboration. Our analysis of Sidi Affane mosque seeks to establish an archaeological-architectural analysis method based on meticulous elevation readings. This approach not only holds scientific significance but also serves a practical purpose by contributing to the preliminary study for the mosque's restoration and enhancement.

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