Moknine is a very ancient city, inhabited for a long time. It takes its origins from the Phoenicians, then from the Punics, then from the Romans, finally from the Muslim Arabs.
Its inhabitants are of Berber origin according to certain vestiges and according to its denomination itself. Some "utensils" and "Trinkets" discovered in this area can be found in the local museum in Moknine.
We can also consider that Moknine takes its origins from the Romans, taking into account the Roman remains discovered in the neighborhood of the city, among which are a mosaic table, some pottery utensils, oil lamps and currency.
Moknine has known several other civilizations. Of the Phoenicians, she inherited the traditional pottery which developed very well in this region.
This pottery uses a local raw material, located in the eastern part of the city. Pottery is today the symbol of historical and artistic identity. It remains the emblem of this city.
ElKallalet, the area where today one finds a great concentration of potters with ovens that remain until this traditional moment, is considered the home where the pottery was born.
Given the presence of Punic remains in the region (between Monastir and Bekalta), it is possible to assume the existence of the city of Moknine under another name at that time in the same location. The discovery of two Punic areas: one in the eastern districts of the city (Elkoubine and ElKallalet) and the other in the Northwestern districts (Slaheddine Elayoubi Street discovered on 11 November 1995) may suggest the existence Of an important agglomeration between the two necropolises especially as the latter extend over a long area.
Pottery during the Punic Period
After the discovery of the Punic necropolis in the city, the examination of the burial chambers revealed the life of the potters in the Punic period.
It is interesting to note that nowadays we still call certain kinds of pottery "Bouni", that is to say "Punic" in Arabic.
In Moknine there are more than sixty (60) Roman archaeological sites of which we can quote :
-Henchir Echkaf : Pottery ovens from the end of the Roman period and the beginning of the vandal period.
- Ksar Jaâfar : Byzantine cathedral.
- Smiret et Amiret Touazra (The delegation of Moknine)
- Henchir Elfoul
- Henchir Chkir
- Sakiet Elhammam
- Oued Hawari
- Dar Haroun
These sites dotted here and there would be dwellings of Roman settlers especially since this region was an agricultural region that produced cereals.
Pottery in Roman times
The discovery of more than twenty (20) Roman pottery ovens in the Henchir Echkaf area, west of the city (Ibrahim ibn Yazid Elmokni street) near brickyards and other places such as Ksar Jaafar and Marnba attests that The pottery was prosperous in this region. Some of these remains are in the local museum and others at the museum of Sousse.
The first mosque built in the town of Moknine was that of "Sidi Bouabana" in 1252 AH.
We also found sculptures on white marble that confirm the Arab-Muslim origins of the city.
And through these different historical stages, we can not forget the positive and decisive role that the city of Moknine played in the history of the national movement. His national prize is full of trophies and glory. And it was cited that several of its citizens died for the national cause on January 23, 1952.
