Tasghimout
The history of Marrakech cannot be dissociated from the territory that surrounds it, which, moreover, must be considered on several levels and scales. So geography, geology, hydrology, agriculture, sociology, history... provide fundamental elements to fully understand its heritage. Labina and Marsad Drâa offered a study day dedicated to heritage on Saturday November 9 with a visit to Tasghimout in the al-Haouz province (Marrakech-Safi region, Morocco), a fortification built by the Almoravids in the 12th century to control the passage of caravans from the south through Tichka. With an area of 67 hectares it is probably the largest Almoravid fortification in Morocco. During the visit, we analysed the history of the site, the geology and the construction system of the remaining elements (walls, gates, towers, reservoirs, etc).
The workshop was for architects and historians (students and proffesionals) and the participation was free. Some researchers explained several aspects of the fortification; Mohamed el Mokrif, Samir Aït Oumghar and Loubna Zoubeir talked about the history;Carlos Perez Marin about the territory planning through caravans and fortifications; Mounsif Inoussina explained the geology of the region and natural construction materials; Oussama Moukmir showed us the construction systems used in the fortification and finally Aba Sadik talked about heritage management.
. the site
We visited the site for the first time in October 2019, as a research on Almoravid fortifications in Morocco and some days later we decided with Oussama Moukmir to organise the workshop. You will find on these pictures and videos not only what it remains from the fortification, but also the territory it controlled.
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As mentioned, this is an ongoing research on Almoravid heritage in Morocco. We have visited all the fortifications (except one, Jebel Moudawar near Rissani) that are supposed to be built between the 11th and 12th century.
. history
Despite the lack of information and the contradictory chronicles, it seems the fortification was built between 1124 and 1126 to protect the city of Aghmat from Almohad attacks coming from the High Atlas mountains. You can see the explanations given by historians Loubna Zoubeir and Samir Aït Oumhgar. I remarked at the end the importance of territory to understand the fortification, because the Almoravid dynasty built a whole network in order to control the caravan trade between the Sahara desert and the Strait of Gibraltar.
. geology
Mounsif Ibnoussina talked about the geology of the region and as a complement of the construction systems, he showed the natural formation process of lime and gypsum as construction materials.
. construction systems
A fortification is always a complex building where different occupants used several materials and techniques according to their know-how. With Oussama Moukmir we toured the fortification, stopping at each singular item; the reservoirs, the main gate, the walls of the kasbah, the towers…
. heritage management
As a conclusion of the journey, Aba Sadik talked about the administrative criteria for site protection and the documents we should provide authorities for its classification as national heritage.
all photos and videos: Carlos Perez Marin