The iron mines of Tele-Nugar are located approximately 155 km south of the regional center of

Melfi Melfi (Neapolitan language, Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Vulture area of the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. Geographically, it is midway between Naples and Bari. In 2015 it had a population of 17,7 ...

, in Barhr Signaka Department, Guera Region,

Chad Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...

.Les curieuses mines de fer de Télé-Nugar - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Retrieved 2009-02-25.

Site description

Discovered in 1911, the iron mines comprise an area roughly 1000 m in diameter. The Fanian people who utilized the site extracted iron and reduced it into a final product. Several holes can be found dispersed throughout the site, allowing sufficient ventilation and illumination for the miners working below. Pillars help support a main arch in the mine, which were sculpted directly into the walls.

Archaeology

Archaeological specimens found at the site include stove walls used for iron reduction, blast pipe fragments, pottery shards, and slag heaps.

Other site uses

In addition to being used as a source of iron and processing location, the mine was also used as defensive shelter for the Fanians during raids from the

Ouaddai Kingdom The Wadai Sultanate ( ar, سلطنة وداي ''Saltanat Waday'', french: royaume du Ouaddaï, Fur: ''Burgu'' or ''Birgu''; 1501–1912) was an African sultanate located to the east of Lake Chad in present-day Chad and the Central African Repub ...

World Heritage status

This site was added to the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

World Heritage A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

Tentative List on July 21, 2005 in the Cultural category.

References

{{coord missing, Chad 1911 establishments in Chad Mines in Chad Iron mines World Heritage Tentative List