Abalessa

History

The former capital of the Ahaggar, Abalessa is famous for the Tin Hinan Tomb. This 1,500 year old monumental grave is dedicated to the Tuareg matriarch Tin Hinan, and vestiges of a Tifinagh inscription have been found on one of its walls. According to Henri Lhote, the edifice may have built on top of an earlier Roman castrum since its architecture is different from the surrounding tombs and similar to that used by the Roman legionaries to construct their desert fortifications.

On 18 October 1927, Byron Khun de Prorok discovered a vault near Abalessa containing a skeleton, belonging to a woman, and her furniture. In his book Mysterious Sahara: The Land of Gold, of Sand, and of Ruin Khun de Prorok attributed the skeleton to Tin Hinan. Today, the skeleton is on display at the Bardo Museum in Algiers, while the monument where it was discovered continues to be a popular tourist attraction in Abalessa among visitors to the Tamanrasset.

Geography

The municipality reaches an average elevation of approximately 909 m above sea level. The main town lies at an elevation of 893 m, at the confluence of the two intermittent wadis Oued Rellachene and Oued Iheri. A rocky mountain range, part of the Ahaggar Mountains rises to the west of the town reaching about 1200 m. There is significant vegetation in the river valleys; the area belongs to the West Saharan montane xeric woodlands ecoregion.

Transportation

The N55A national highway, which branches off from the Trans-Sahara Highway (route N1) at Tit, is the main road through the area, passing just south of Abalessa.

Education

4.6% of the population has a tertiary education, and another 12.4% has completed secondary education. The overall literacy rate is 78.7%, and is 85.4% among males and 70.8% among females.

Localities

The commune is composed of eight localities:

• Abalessa
• Silet
• Iglène
• Tefert El Fougania
• Tefert El Tahtania
• Tin Amansagh
• Daghmouli
• Issalissekine
• Tahart
• In Azarou

References

Neighbouring towns and cities Tarhenanet Tamanrasset Tin Zaouatine Reggane (Adrar)

References

1. "Population: Wilaya de Tamanrasset". Office National des Statistiques Algérie.
2. "Algeria Communes". Statoids.
3. (February 1957). "A Review of the Physical Anthropology of the Sahara and Its Prehistoric Implications". Man.
4. Henri Lhote. "Alla scoperta del Tassili" p. 180-183 ([https://books.google.com/books?id=hQLfCZiWBt8C&dq=Henri+Lhote+abalessa&pg=PA180])
5. "Africa AMS Topographic Maps - Sahara". University of Texal Libraries.
6. "Structure relative de la population résidente des ménages ordinaires et collectifs âgée de 6 ans et plus selon le niveau d'instruction et la commune de résidence.". Office National des Statistiques Algérie.
7. "Taux d'analphabétisme et taux d'alphabétisation de la population âgée de 15 ans et plus, selon le sexe et la commune de résidence .". Office National des Statistiques Algérie.
8. (19 December 1984). "Décret n° 84-365, fixant la composition, la consistance et les limites territoriale des communes. Wilaya de Tamanghasset". Journal officiel de la République Algérienne.