The ancient Berber village of Matmata in South Tunisia, located between the Eastern coast and the desert, is characterised by settlements of dwellings dug into the clay-gypsum layers of the ground. The dating of the first inhabitations is uncertain.

In these dwellings, vaulted rooms surround a central pit or courtyard that is usually circular or square, 5 to 10 meters in diameter, and no deeper than 9 meters. The interior spaces are carved longitudinally on two floors; on the lower one are the sleeping rooms (camour), the kitchen (matbakh), and the stables, while the upper floor is dedicated to storage (makhzen). The sunken courtyard is the source of light and fresh air and hosts collective activities.

By descending a narrow staircase located on the wall or by using a ladder, one can reach the courtyard from the exterior ground level. A graded tunnel can also be used to reach the courtyard. 

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