Repeated historical earthquakes in Sousse, Monastir and El-Jem (Tunisia)—an archaeoseismological study

Abstract Tunisia is known of sparse and moderate earthquakes. However, there are seismically damaged historical buildings in the eastern Sahel region. The Roman amphitheatre Thysdrus (modern El-Jem), various Islamic religious secular Sousse Monastir testify to seismic events with intensity up IX (EMS98 scale). We raise hypothesis that their destruction was caused by nearby east-west Cherichira-Abaieh Fault north-south Fault. Simultaneity 859 AD Kairouan earthquake extensive restoration works 50 km east allow assessing magnitude 7.2 based on segment length. city hit both a post-1575 earthquake. Being two active faults, hazard higher than either or Monastir.