Annaba

Annaba has provided evidence of remarkable workmanship in tool-making as early as 30,000 BC. Early remnants of hominid occupation have been found in Ain el Hanech, near Saïda (ca. 200,000 B.C.). Later, Neandertal tool makers produced hand axes in the Levalloisian and Mousterian styles (ca. 43,000 B.C.) similar to those in the Levant. According to some sources, prehistoric Algeria was the site of the highest state of development of Middle Paleolithic flake-tool techniques. Tools of this era, starting about 30,000 B.C., are called Aterian (after the site Bir el Ater), south of Annaba in the north-eastern corner of Algeria. These tools are marked by a high standard of workmanship, great variety, and specialization. See Prehistory of Central North Africa.

Annaba, which was called Hippo Regius during Roman times, was probably established by the Phoenicians in the 12th century BC. It was a centre of early Christianity. Augustine of Hippo was bishop here from 396 until 430. The city has Christian, Muslim, and Roman buildings.

During French rule the city was known as Bône, and was one of the main European settlements with a sizeable pied-noir minority. One famous pied-noir from Bône was the Maréchal Juin, a former NATO Central Europe Commander.