Rabat – Morocco’s Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports Othman El Ferdaous announced on Tuesday a national call for expression of interest in Sijilmassa, Morocco’s 1300-year-old cultural heritage site.
The site, located 100 kilometers southeast of Errachidia and a mere 120 kilometers from the Morocco-Algeria border, has served as a marvelous attraction for archaeologists and researchers for decades.
“This exceptional 75 hectares open air heritage site is divided in 6 different areas subject to this call for international partnership with the National Institute of Archaeological and Heritage Sciences (INSAP),” said Ferdaous in the post.
The minister added an infographic from the ministry, outlining the kingdom’s projections and objectives for further research at the heritage site.
Since 1971, researchers have conducted formal excavations and scientific studies at the site. A team of Italian archaeologists conducted excavations between 1988 to 1998, and 2011 to present. INSAP has partnered with the US’ Middle Tennessee State University and France’s Universite Toulouse-Le Mirail to continue exploring the ancient secrets of the site, ultimately uncovering Morocco’s rich history in the region as a hub for trade and interculturalism.
INSAP described Sijilmasa as one of Morocco’s first Islamic cities, a city once home to 100,000 residents. The city is nicknamed “The Golden Gate” as it was once the first port of commerce for many nomadic travelers crossing the Sahara.
The forthcoming project aims to “identify the proto-urban character of the city as well as its integration into its environment through a multidisciplinary approach mobilizing advanced scientific analysis techniques such as GIS, 3D modelling, archaeobotany, archaeozoology, etc.”
New technologies provide researchers with exciting new opportunities to better understand the ancient civilizations that once inhabited the Sijilmassa grounds.
INSAP will accept applications from established researchers from July 12 to September 30. After September 30, INSAP will announce the signing of a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Culture, INSAP, and the selected research team for the next wave of Sijilmassa excavation and exploration.
