Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau
Ghana terminal to Almoravid capital (11th c. CE Almoravid capital 1050–1147)·Sanhaja Berber Almoravid (Ibn Yasin)·🇲🇷 Adrar Region, near Atar, Azougui plain, stone village depression, Mauritania
About
About Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau
Azougui excavated by de Moraes Farias 1970s, Almoravid birthplace 1053, stone city 10 ha. Recorded context — Period: Ghana terminal to Almoravid capital (11th c. CE Almoravid capital 1050–1147); Culture: Sanhaja Berber Almoravid (Ibn Yasin); Field status: excavated; Materials: sandstone dry-stone, tumulus; Condition: ruins.
Why it mattersKey Sanhaja Berber Almoravid (Ibn Yasin) ancient-city with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
- 02Construction labor organization
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Defensive stronghold
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1050 CE capital
- Period
- Ghana terminal to Almoravid capital (11th c. CE Almoravid capital 1050–1147)
- Culture
- Sanhaja Berber Almoravid (Ibn Yasin)
- Purpose
- Almoravid first capital (10 ha stone city) on Adrar plateau — birthplace of Almoravid movement, Abu Bakr ibn Umar's base 1053
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1988
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 1050 CE capital
Initial construction / first occupation at Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau
1990 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau
c. 800 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau
On the ground
Structures & features
20.4080° N · 13.1080° W · 270 m · 4 mapped features
- Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau — primary structure20.4068° N · 13.1064° W
- Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau — Northern Complexcomplexcomplex at Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau — outlier feature20.4060° N · 13.1087° W
- Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau — Rock_Art Annex 3rock artrock art at Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau — outlier feature20.4071° N · 13.1090° W
- Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau — Structure Annex 4structurestructure at Azougui — Almoravid Capital on Adrar Plateau — primary structure20.4097° N · 13.1086° W
Gallery