Tophets

Tophet is a term used by archaeologists to describe Phoenician and Punic sacred precincts or cemeteries in which cremated remains, particularly of infants, were deposited as offerings to the gods. The name itself comes from Topheth, a biblical term referring to a valley outside Jerusalem associated with child sacrifice. In archaeological usage, tophet designates a type of cemetery or cultic site rather than a single temple.

Tophets typically consist of walled enclosures containing cinerary urns arranged in rows or clusters. The assemblages often include the cremated remains of infants, sometimes accompanied by small ceramic offerings, lamps, and figurines. The age of the victims is usually young, with many estimated as newborns to about two years old, though determinations vary by site. Some urns contain only fragments, and in some cases animal offerings accompany human remains.

Tophets are known from across the western Mediterranean, associated with Phoenician and Punic settlements. Well-documented examples occur at Carthage and other sites in Tunisia, Motya in Sicily, Sardinia, Malta, and the Iberian coast, among others. The geographical distribution supports a regional ritual practice within the Phoenician-Punic sphere.

Scholarly interpretation remains debated. Many researchers view tophets as ritual cemeteries where infants were offered to deities such as Baal Hammon or Tanit, a practice inferred from the quantities and age profiles of remains. Others emphasize the possibility that some remains reflect natural infant mortality or non-sacrificial cremations. Some sites show long-term use or syncretism with Roman religious practice.

Today, tophets contribute to discussions of Phoenician religion, colonial networks, and Mediterranean ritual practice, highlighting complexities in ancient sacral landscapes and approaches to death.