QAFSAH

also spelled Gafsa, Latin Capsa, town, west-central Tunisia. The ancient name of the locality is applied to the Mesolithic Capsian industry (here dated about 6250 BC) of the earliest inhabitants. The original Numidian town was destroyed (106 BC) by the Romans; it was rebuilt later by Trajan and was then successively a centre of Byzantine, Arab, Berber, and Ottoman rulers. Qafsah is a noted irrigated fruit-growing oasis and a major shipping centre for phosphates obtained from the salt flats of Shatt (lake) al-Jarid. It is connected to the port of Safaqis (Sfax) by road and rail. The surrounding area includes many rich phosphate-mining concessions. It is primarily peopled by nomads and cultivators of esparto grass, cereals, dates, and olives. Pop. (1984) town, 60,970.