Archaeologists Discover Jewish Antiques in Morocco’s Tata

A team of Moroccan and foreign archaeologists have discovered antiques belonging to Jewish people and documents written in Hebrew in the city of Tata, in southern Morocco.

Rabat – A team of Moroccan and foreign archaeologists have discovered antiques belonging to Jewish people and documents written in Hebrew in the city of Tata, in southern Morocco.

The discovery came as part of an excavation operation that started on February 27 and is expected to continue until March 7, Morocco’s National Institute of Archeology and Heritage (INSAP) said in a press release.

“These excavations have resulted in the discovery of antiques and very important Hebrew-language documents, that don’t only document the Jewish element of Morocco’s south and the region’s local history, but also Morocco’s history as seen by its material archaeological discoveries,” the press release said.

The excavation efforts are being led by INSAP research professor Mabrouk Saghir.

Morocco’s Jewish population and culture have been the subject of increased focus lately, especially after the country’s re-established ties with Israel.

In 2021, Israeli sources reported that Morocco was starting a program to restore hundreds of historical Jewish sites throughout the country, making it the only one in the Muslim-Arab world where state funds are used for that purpose.

The following year also saw Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) inaugurate the first university synagogue in the Arab world, next to its new mosque.