Morocco exhibition shows treasures of ancient port city of Chellah

An exhibition in Morocco is highlighting the millennia-lengthy historical past of Chellah, an archaeological self-discipline come Rabat that reflects Morocco’s filthy rich cultural heritage.

Chellah is a 1.2-sq.-mile (3.15-sq.-kilometer) UNESCO World Heritage Save with a footprint nearly 5 times the size of Pompeii.

Archaeologists imagine it became as soon as as soon as a bustling port city come the capital of unusual-day Morocco.

The exhibition, held at Morocco’s central bank museum, is giving viewers a chance to arise-shut with Chellah’s “hidden treasures,” based completely on a impress on the doorway.

“What we are trying to do in all humility and modesty during this exhibition is to show the importance of this historical site,” the director of the museum Rochdi Bernoussi mentioned.

Bernoussi mentioned Chellah is a extremely important link to working out Morocco’s ancient historical past, which became as soon as influenced by extra than one civilizations including the Phoenicians, the Amazigh, the Romans and the Arabs.

Students imagine the gap became as soon as first settled by the Phoenicians and emerged as a key Roman Empire outpost from the 2nd to fifth century.

The fortified necropolis and surrounding settlements were built come the Atlantic Ocean alongside the banks of the Bou Regreg river.

Moroccan and foreign guests of the exhibition are rediscovering the historical past of this overpassed town.

Entrance is free on the ongoing exhibition, that can escape unless the discontinuance of April.

The items on prove present insights into the region’s economic, social and political dispositions, with a particular emphasis on the characteristic of forex in working out Morocco’s economic historical past.

“Chellah has a series of bronze coins clearly depicting the local agriculture products of the city and containing references to its religious identity,” mentioned Smahane Bouktab, the head of the numismatic research department on the museum.

Final 300 and sixty five days, archaeologists unearthed extra ancient ruins in Chellah, digging out thermal baths and working-class neighborhoods.

Both Bernoussi and the head of the National Institute for Archaeological Sciences and Heritage, Abdeljalil Bouzouggar imagine the self-discipline amassed carries hidden secrets which private no longer but been unearthed.