Overview

Matmata is a caving system considered a small Berber speaking town in southern Tunisia. The local residents live in traditional underground "troglodyte" structures. In 2004 it had a population of 2,116.

The structures typical for the village are created by digging a large pit in the ground. Around the perimeter of this pit artificial caves are then dug to be used as rooms, with some homes comprising multiple pits, connected by trench-like passageways.