The ruins of Sijilmassa have yielded the oldest mosque discovered in Morocco. The mosque covered an area of 2,620 square meters, with the capacity to host approximately 2,600 worshippers. Founded between the late 8th and early 9th centuries, the archaeological find rewrites the historical narrative of the Maghreb region. Discoveries were part of continuous explorations coordinated by the Moroccan Ministry of Culture since 2024.
Beneath the Sahara dunes, the remnants of a city re-emerged in the area now called Rissani. Among the uncovered structures is a mint once used for producing coins.
Fragments of Islamic art among the findings represent the oldest evidence of Islamic artistry in Morocco, and the central role of Sijilmassa in the trans-Saharan trade.
Beyond religious structures, hundreds of painted wooden fragments dating back to the 18th century were unearthed. Crafted from polychrome cedar and featuring gold leaf gilding, these pieces are the first material evidence of Alawite architectural decoration found in Sijilmassa.
Adding to the historical cache is a unique ceramic mold found beyond the mosque's boundaries. Crucial for crafting blanks for Sigilmassian dinars, the mold was notably impregnated with gold residues. It’s a singular discovery in Morocco and the second of its kind in Africa, following a similar find in Tadmekka, Mali.
A complete residential area from the Alawite period, consisting of 12 houses arranged around courtyards, offered a peek into the domestic life of the era. Excavations unveiled living rooms, storage spaces, dishes, and even remnants of dates, painting a vivid picture of daily life. These findings are part of the effort to reveal what literature describes as a caravan city, serving as a hub for exchanges between the Maghreb, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Mediterranean world, according to La Stampa.
Written with the help of a news-analysis system.