Monuments and funeral sites occupy a substantial part of the archaeological map of North Africa. They are comprised of tombs, necropolises and buildings erected in memory of a king. Medracen bears witness to this Berber tradition. It is a remarkable example of an original civilization, drawing its design imprints from indigenous and Western architecture, as well as in the materials and techniques developed for its construction. This paper aims to determine the factors of alteration caused by the physicochemical properties of the Medracen, which play a very significant role in its degradation. In this study, field visits and in-situ observations were carried out, and porosity, hardness and permeability were tested on a sample of the stone from the exterior facing of the tomb. Results demonstrate that the physicochemical properties react strongly to the stresses of the environment and the climatic conditions of the region, causing various alterations by cracking, erosion, sub florescence, alveolisation and crumbling. The findings of this research study contribute to the restoration and conservation of the Medracen.

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