Khettara of Hagoun High Atlas (High Atlas Hagoun Qanat)
Hagoun High Atlas Khettara · Atlas Hagoun Gallery
Almoravid to Almohad 1080–1170 CE High Atlas mountain·High Atlas Berber Hagoun (Almoravid mountain oasis)·🇲🇦 Marrakech–Safi Region, High Atlas, Hagoun plateaufoothills 2200 m east of Marrakech (Hagoun High Atlas), Morocco
About
About Khettara of Hagoun High Atlas (High Atlas Hagoun Qanat)
High mountain khettara (2,200 m) on Hagoun plateau foothills 42 km east of Marrakech, High Atlas western slope. 0 m schist-hewn with stone lintel roof, delivering 6 L/s to Hagoun walnut–almond terraces 8 ha via stone seguia 600 m with 8-distribution kasbah. Mountain khettara is highest in Morocco (2,200 m) — snowmelt fed vs Atlas footplain typical 880 m. Dated Almoravid 1080 CE with Almohad 1170 repair (schist lintel inscription). Still flows May–Sept snowmelt peak 6 L/s, winter dry.
2023 High Atlas quake (Sept 2023) offset shaft 14 by 12 cm but gallery survived due to flexible lintel. Threatened by Marrakech road water tanker extraction and post-quake shaft instability.
Why it mattersHighest mountain khettara in Morocco (2,200 m) snowmelt schist mountain type — seismic flexible lintel survived 2023 quake.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Schist lintel roof vs slab — why lintel at 2200 m schist
Theories
- 01Almoravid mountain expansion after Marrakech foundation 1070 pushes mountain hydraulic
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.1080 CE Almoravid, Almohad repair 1170 CE lintel
- Period
- Almoravid to Almohad 1080–1170 CE High Atlas mountain
- Culture
- High Atlas Berber Hagoun (Almoravid mountain oasis)
- Builders
- Hagoun High Atlas mountain khettara community
- Purpose
- High Atlas snowmelt fractured schist khettara 1.8 km 38 shafts 6 L/s to 8 ha walnut terraces Hagoun 2200 m
- Abandoned
- still seasonal May–Sep snowmelt
- Rediscovered
- 2020 High Atlas mountain khettara survey Hagoun 1.8 km; 2023 quake offset recorded
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1080 CE
Almoravid schist khettara 1.8 km lintel roof
1170 CE
Almohad repair lintel inscription
2023
High Atlas quake offset shaft 14 12 cm
On the ground
Structures & features
31.2800° N · 7.7500° E · 2200 m · 2 mapped features
Deep Shaft 14 Offset Quake (22 m)
structure22-m deepest shaft offset 12 cm by Sept 2023 High Atlas quake — flexible lintel
31.2810° N · 7.7510° ESnowmelt Gallery Lintel Section
aqueductSchist-hewn 0.5×1.0 m with stone lintel roof 1.8 km — Almoravid technique
31.2820° N · 7.7520° E