David Mattingly's extensive archaeological research into the ancient Garamantes civilization of the Sahara Desert took center stage on BBC Radio 4's In Our Time. Host Misha Glenny introduced Mattingly, the Emeritus Professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of Leicester, to discuss how this ancient community managed to thrive in one of the most inhospitable environments on Earth.
During the broadcast, Misha Glenny highlighted the collaborative fieldwork that defined this academic breakthrough, noting to guest Faris Musa that "you and David Mattingly have... You've both done a lot of archaeological work on the Garamantes." The discussion quickly moved to the scale of the settlements they uncovered, with Misha Glenny asking Mattingly directly, "Can you tell us a bit more about what kind of settlements have been found there and, and indeed how many? How extensive was this community?"
While classical Roman and Greek authors historically painted a limited picture of the region, Misha Glenny argued that Mattingly's findings reveal "a really very sophisticated society" that successfully subverted the harsh realities of desert life. Looking ahead, as archaeological surveys in the Sahara continue to utilize advanced imaging and excavation methods, Mattingly's pioneering research is set to remain the cornerstone for all future studies of Saharan pre-Islamic civilizations.