Banasa — Thamusida Upstream Twin Port Colony
Mauretanian capital briefly → Roman colony Julia Valentia Banasa 33 BCE·Mauretanian Bocchus → Roman colony·🇲🇦 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Sidi Kacem Province, Banasa on Sebou, near Machra Bel Ksiri, Morocco
About
About Banasa — Thamusida Upstream Twin Port Colony
Banasa excavated by Thouvenot 1930s, Tabula Banasitana 177 CE citizenship tablet for Zegrenses. Recorded context — Period: Mauretanian capital briefly → Roman colony Julia Valentia Banasa 33 BCE; Culture: Mauretanian Bocchus → Roman colony; Field status: excavated; Materials: limestone, marble capitol, opus tessellatum; Condition: ruins — unrebuilt after Diocletian retreat.
Why it mattersKey Mauretanian Bocchus → Roman colony ancient-city with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Collapse cause
- 02Trade network extent
Theories
- 01Seasonal gathering
- 02Ceremonial centre
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 33 BCE Julia Valentia Banasa colony; earlier Mauretanian 250 BCE
- Period
- Mauretanian capital briefly → Roman colony Julia Valentia Banasa 33 BCE
- Culture
- Mauretanian Bocchus → Roman colony
- Purpose
- Twin upstream Sebou colony to Thamusida — Roman Colonia with forum 40 ha, capital and Tabula Banasitana citizen grant
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1879
- Excavation
- Excavated
1950 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Banasa — Thamusida Upstream Twin Port Colony
33 BCE Julia Valentia Banasa colony; earlier Mauretanian 250 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Banasa — Thamusida Upstream Twin Port Colony
c. 1500 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Banasa — Thamusida Upstream Twin Port Colony
On the ground
Structures & features
34.6060° N · 6.1240° W · 25 m · 3 mapped features
- Banasa — Thamusida Upstream Twin Port Colony — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Banasa — Thamusida Upstream Twin Port Colony — subsidiary complex34.6069° N · 6.1255° W
- Banasa — Thamusida Upstream Twin Port Colony — Complex Annex 2complexcomplex at Banasa — Thamusida Upstream Twin Port Colony — hydraulic feature34.6056° N · 6.1247° W
- Banasa — Thamusida Upstream Twin Port Colony — Rock_Art Annex 3rock artrock art at Banasa — Thamusida Upstream Twin Port Colony — hydraulic feature34.6064° N · 6.1231° W