More than 5000 known archeological sites, large and small, bear witness to Tunisia's great past. Seven of these are among the most impressive in the world and have been designated World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. These include the ancient sites of Carthage, Kerkouane, Dougga, and the amphitheater of El Jem. Early Islamic sites include the medinas of Tunis, Sousse and Kairouan.
Many of the other sites lie known but unexcavated, not solely for lack of funding but also in the desire to achieve their everlasting preserveation . Excavation invariably means exposing ruins to the elements and further damaging them.
