Digging into Archaeology in Morocco

Archaeological research in Morocco is very diverse. It covers prehistory, antiquity, and Islamic periods. For centuries the country, located in the north-western tip of Africa, a stone's throw from Europe, and a cradle of ancient civilisations, has yielded startling discoveries unveiling the lifestyle and history of our ancestors.

Hassan Limane, professor and researcher at the National Institute of Archaeological Sciences and Heritage (INSAP) said three major discoveries were made in 2009 alone.

In Tafoughalt, eastern Morocco, archaeologists dug out jewellery dating back to 80,000 B.C. They were made of small snails and seemingly used as beads for necklaces. A second unearthing concerns the oldest manufactured ceramic containers in Morocco, dating back to nine thousand years B.C. while the last undertaking is the discovery and restoration of a hydrotherapic establishment in Aghmat, near Marrakech, by a Moroccan-American team.

The latter was led by Moroccan professor, Abdellah Filli and U.S. archaeologist Ronald Messier, a prominent researcher who conducted before archaeological projects in Morocco.

“We know that these discoveries were always made in Europe, finally, the new findings come from Africa, which will change a little bit the chronology of history and a number of preconceived ideas that have been conveyed so far,” Limane said.

Despite this archaeological potential, Morocco only has three museums, in Rabat, Tetuan and Larache that preserve archaeological finds. “This is inadequate for a country like Morocco with all this rich heritage,” Limane said, adding: “a huge project, called the National Museum, will see the light of day in four years.”

Established in 1985, the INSAP is a teaching, training and research institution that functions under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture. It has currently over 25 partnership agreements with international institutions from the USA, Spain, Germany, England, Belgium, Italy, Poland, France, and with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO).

“The international cooperation is very crucial at several levels," Limane says. "It enables us to exchange ideas, share our teaching methods and systems, and disseminate our discoveries.”

Besides the virtue of providing international experience and know-how, partnership can also prove instrumental as a source of funds. “Partnerships are also useful in funding, as cooperation programs are co-financed by the INSAP and another foreign party,” he went on.

Cooperation, which offers students the opportunity to benefit from training abroad, also contributes to the bringing-in of the know-how especially in the new technology applied in the field of archaeology. “We know that foreign institutions are more advanced than us in this area,” Limane admits.

From Roman ruins and Mauretania Tingitana remnants up to Byzantine Green and old dynasties’ buildings and relics,Morocco counts a total of 26 archaeological sites dating back to the prehistoric, ancient or Islamic periods.

The roman village of Volubilis, the most renowned of all, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1997. It is situated near the central city of Meknes, at the foot of the Atlas mountains, and features the best-preserved ruins in the North African country. It summarizes much of Morocco’s history since the Mauretanien era until the Middle Period.

“This site is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a large Roman colonial town on the fringes of the Empire,” according to the UNESCO.

However, according to observers and specialists in heritage in Morocco, historical monuments are not developed and lack protection. “Archaeological sites are only afforded legislative protection. Some are well protected, others are not!” Limane regrets.

“Recently, the North African country has launched several awareness-raising campaigns aiming at safeguarding and protecting the heritage. We hope these campaigns will continue for a little while longer and contribute a little bit to the protection of these sites,” he added.

“The Ministry of Culture cannot do the job alone. Local and regional authorities also should contribute to the protection of heritage.”

Most people choose to study archaeology out of excitement about the past. Archaeological researches continue on different sites across Morocco to confirm the acquired results and reveal other secrets of history, with the aim of better understanding the nature of relationships between the ancient populations of the region.