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Year
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2015
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Summary
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en
From june 2005 an international scientific program has concentrated around the medieval capital of Morocco, Aghmat – archaeological exploration, conservation and preservation of the monuments revealed by the excavation, and a concentrated program to raise awareness of the site with the local public and with tourists. Under the scientific responsibility of Abdallah Fili (University of El Jadida) and Ronal Messier (MTSU) the objective is to study, protect, transmit and publicize this important Moroccan heritage site, whose historic value is incalculable.
The position of the town
The medieval site of Aghmat is found near the modern village of Ghmat, 30 km to the southeast of Marrakech. The site lies on the southern edge of the plain of Haouz in contact with the northern foothills of the High Atlas. It occupies a place of choice in the middle of the rich valley of the Oued Ourika which constitutes one of the principle passes through the Atlas.
Medieval Aghmat
Known from sources to have pre-existed the arrival of Islam in Moroco inn the seventh century, it flourished under the Idrissid dynasty in the eighth and ninth centuries and was raised to the rank of capital at the end of the tenth century and then under the Almoravids, in the eleventh and twelfth centurys. From Aghmat, this dynasty founded Marrakech in 1070. From then on, the competition between the two cities ended with the victory of the latter, and the end of the prosperity of the former. The site was abandoned towards the end of the fourteenth century.
As a major circulation point for Transaharan commerce, Aghmat drew merchants and scholars from Ifriqiya (Tunisia) and al-Andalus (Spain). Still today, the cemeteries of the town hold the tombs of kings and poets from Andalucia – the poet al-Mu’tamid ibn Abbâd of Seville and Abdallah Ibn Bûlûkhin of Grenada – and of Sufis from all parts of the Muslim world to find science, faith and pease. The famous Zaynab Nafzawiyya, daughter of a great merchant of Ifriquiya, found refuge there with her family. She subsequently married four of the emirs of the town, first under the Maghrawa and then under the Almoravids. There is a tradition that she was the person who chose the site for the foundation of the town of Marrakech.
Archaeological discoveries
The various archaeological campaigns have revealed the center of the town and its public monuments. It is composed of a hammam of the tenth-fourteenth centuries, a palace (eleventh-fourteenth centuries) and a great mosque (ninth-fourteenth centuries). This unique ensemble demonstrates the importance of the city and its organization, so far unknown except for the descriptions of the great geographers and Arab historians of the Maghreb.
Conservation
If excavation is primary, consolidation and preservation is of equal importance, in order to be able to transmit to future generations this exceptional heritage. The monuments are sometimes extremely well-preserved: this is the case with the hammam, which still has its vaults.
Excavation puts these sites at risk, and exposes them to weather and human vandalism. Thus conservation was begun almost as soon as excavation, respecting the matrials and techniques of the original construction: the aim is thus to consolidate and protect the ruins and to render the site accessible to the public.
Finds
A large number of finds was revealed by the excavation: pottery, jewelry, coins, sculpture, carved plasterwork and painted plaster. This collection remains to be studied, and needs to be displayed in a museum on the site.
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fr
Depuis juin 2005, un programme scientifique international se fédère autour de la capitale médiévale marocaine d’Aghmat : opérations de fouilles archéologiques, travaux de restauration et de préservation des vestiges mis au jour, campagnes de protection et de mise en valeur du patrimoine, vulgarisation scientifique auprès des publics locaux et touristiques.
Placé sous la responsabilité scientifique d’Abdallah Fili (Faculté des Lettres d’El-Jadida) et de Ronald Messier (MTSU, USA), l’objectif est d’étudier, protéger, transmettre et faire connaî-tre ce patrimoine marocain d’une valeur historique inestimable.
Localisation de la ville d’Aghmat, une position privilégiée
Le site médiéval d’Aghmat est localisé à l’emplacement du village moderne de Ghmat, à 30 km au sud-sud est de Marrakech. Le site est im-planté en lisière sud de la plaine du Haouz et au contact du piémont septentrional du Haut-Atlas. Il occupe une place de choix au milieu de la riche vallée de l’Ourika qui constitue l’un des principaux axes de passage entre la montagne et la plaine.
La ville médiévale d’Aghmat, Un centre majeur de l’histoire du Maroc
Aghmat est connue dans les textes anciens pour avoir préexisté à l’avènement de l’Islam au Maroc (VIIe siècle). Place idrisside florissante (VIIIe- IXe siècles), elle se hisse au rang de capitale à la fin du Xe siècle puis sous les Almoravides (XIe-XIIe siècles), qui, à partir d’Aghmat, fondent en 1070 la nouvelle ville de Marrakech. Depuis lors, la concurrence entre les deux cités finit par épuiser Aghmat et avoir raison de sa prospérité : la vil-le est abandonnée vers la fin du XIVe siècle.
Passage obligé du commerce transsaharien, Aghmat attire commerçants et érudits de l’Ifriqiya (Tunisie) comme d’al-Andalus (Espagne). Encore au-jourd’hui, les cimetières de la ville abritent les tombeaux de rois andalous – le poète al-Mu’tamid ibn Abbâd de Séville et Abdallah Ibn Bûlûkhin de Grenade – et de soufis venus de toutes les contrées pour y retrouver la science, la foi et la paix.
La fameuse Zaynab Nafzawiyya, fille d’un grand commerçant ifriqiyen, y trouva aussi refuge avec sa famille. Elle marqua l’Histoire en épousant successivement quatre des émirs qui présidèrent à la destinée d’Aghmat, sous l’émirat des Maghrawa puis sous celui des Almoravides. La tradition voudrait que ce soit elle qui ait choisi le site de fondation de la ville de Marrakech.
Des découvertes archéologiques majeures
Les différentes campagnes archéologiques financées exclusivement par des fonds privés, ont permis de mettre au jour le centre monumental de la ville d’Aghmat. Il est composé d’un hammam (10e-14e siècles), d’un palais (11e- 14e siècles), et d’une grande mosquée (9e-14e siècles). Cet ensemble unique sur la période médiévale au Maroc permet de visualiser concrètement l’importance et l’organisation urbaine de la cité d’Aghmat, qui jusque là n’était connue qu’à travers les descriptions des grands géographes et chroniqueurs arabes du Moyen Âge.
Découvrir oui...mais aussi conserver
Mais si fouiller est scientifiquement primordial, consolider et entretenir le site l’est tout autant, afin d’être en mesure de transmettre aux générations futures ce patrimoine exceptionnel.
Les fouilles archéologiques ont permis le dégagement de nombreux vestiges architecturaux, parfois en très bon état de conservation comme dans le cas du hammam, où le bâtiment est préservé par endroit sur toute sa hauteur.
Mais l’archéologie, si elle permet d’exhumer l’histoire des hommes et de la restituer, participe aussi à la fragilisation des ruines en les mettant au jour et en les exposant de nouveau aux intempéries et au vandalisme humain. C’est pour-quoi le projet archéologique d’Aghmat s’est doublé dès les premiers mois d’un volet conservation/restauration respectant les matériaux et les techniques de construction originelles : le but est ainsi de consolider, préserver et protéger les ruines découvertes mais également de les mettre en valeur afin de rendre le site accessible au public.
Une collection à présenter La fouille d’Aghmat a livré une quantité importante et inédite de mobilier archéologique : céramique, bijoux, monnaies, plâtres sculptés, enduits peints… Cette collection devrait, à terme, trouver sa place dans un musée de site.
AIAC_3669 - Aghmat - 2015From june 2005 an international scientific program has concentrated around the medieval capital of Morocco, Aghmat – archaeological exploration, conservation and preservation of the monuments revealed by the excavation, and a concentrated program to raise awareness of the site with the local public and with tourists. Under the scientific responsibility of Abdallah Fili (University of El Jadida) and Ronal Messier (MTSU) the objective is to study, protect, transmit and publicize this important Moroccan heritage site, whose historic value is incalculable. The position of the town The medieval site of Aghmat is found near the modern village of Ghmat, 30 km to the southeast of Marrakech. The site lies on the southern edge of the plain of Haouz in contact with the northern foothills of the High Atlas. It occupies a place of choice in the middle of the rich valley of the Oued Ourika which constitutes one of the principle passes through the Atlas. Medieval Aghmat Known from sources to have pre-existed the arrival of Islam in Moroco inn the seventh century, it flourished under the Idrissid dynasty in the eighth and ninth centuries and was raised to the rank of capital at the end of the tenth century and then under the Almoravids, in the eleventh and twelfth centurys. From Aghmat, this dynasty founded Marrakech in 1070. From then on, the competition between the two cities ended with the victory of the latter, and the end of the prosperity of the former. The site was abandoned towards the end of the fourteenth century. As a major circulation point for Transaharan commerce, Aghmat drew merchants and scholars from Ifriqiya (Tunisia) and al-Andalus (Spain). Still today, the cemeteries of the town hold the tombs of kings and poets from Andalucia – the poet al-Mu’tamid ibn Abbâd of Seville and Abdallah Ibn Bûlûkhin of Grenada – and of Sufis from all parts of the Muslim world to find science, faith and pease. The famous Zaynab Nafzawiyya, daughter of a great merchant of Ifriquiya, found refuge there with her family. She subsequently married four of the emirs of the town, first under the Maghrawa and then under the Almoravids. There is a tradition that she was the person who chose the site for the foundation of the town of Marrakech. Archaeological discoveries The various archaeological campaigns have revealed the center of the town and its public monuments. It is composed of a hammam of the tenth-fourteenth centuries, a palace (eleventh-fourteenth centuries) and a great mosque (ninth-fourteenth centuries). This unique ensemble demonstrates the importance of the city and its organization, so far unknown except for the descriptions of the great geographers and Arab historians of the Maghreb. Conservation If excavation is primary, consolidation and preservation is of equal importance, in order to be able to transmit to future generations this exceptional heritage. The monuments are sometimes extremely well-preserved: this is the case with the hammam, which still has its vaults. Excavation puts these sites at risk, and exposes them to weather and human vandalism. Thus conservation was begun almost as soon as excavation, respecting the matrials and techniques of the original construction: the aim is thus to consolidate and protect the ruins and to render the site accessible to the public. Finds A large number of finds was revealed by the excavation: pottery, jewelry, coins, sculpture, carved plasterwork and painted plaster. This collection remains to be studied, and needs to be displayed in a museum on the site.
