The historic Mesarfelta is believed to be what are now the ruins of El-Outaïa or those of Tolga, Henchir-El-Ksar,[1] or may be Qastilya in Algeria[2] (according to "Three North-African Topographical Notes (Islamic-Roman)").
The city is believed to have been constructed as a fortification by the Romans (with annexed "vicus"), in the second half of the first century near the Aures Mountains. It had an amphitheatre during Hadrians reign.[3]
A barrier called Fossatum Africae, which marked the frontier between the territory of the Roman Empire and other lands, ran through Mesarfelta.[4]
The city disappeared after the Muslim conquest in the second half of the 7th century.
Bishopric
The city of Mesarfelta was the seat of an ancient bishopric[5] There are two Mesarfelta bishops historically remembered both in the Council of Carthage (411).