Khettara of Tafilalt North (Sijilmassa Tafilalt North Khettara Channel)
Tafilalt North Khettara · Sijilmassa Northern Khettara
Almoravid to Marinid 1050–1350 CE Tafilalt·Tafilalt Sijilmassa oasis Berber Almoravid–Marinid·🇲🇦 Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Errachidia Province, Tafilalt plain north of Sijilmassa ruins (North Tafilalt), Morocco
About
About Khettara of Tafilalt North (Sijilmassa Tafilalt North Khettara Channel)
Northern Tafilalt plain khettara gallery (880 m) 4 km north of Sijilmassa medieval ruins, Errachidia Province, Morocco, feeding restored Sijilmassa northern palms 22 ha. Khettara 2.6 km with 52 shafts (mother well 12 m) tapping Ziz feeder aquifer under Tafilalt alluvium, gallery 0.6 m × 1.2 m dry-stack corbelled slab roof. Outlet shares with Sijilmassa seguia network 1.4 km with traditional 7-day water turn (nouba) sharing — listed intangible. Dated Marinid 1350 CE restoration of earlier Almoravid 1050 CE, with Sijilmassa 8th c foundation. Still flows seasonally 4 L/s after 2019 restoration removing cemented shaft lining. Threatened by Erfoud date export deep wells 18 m drop.
Why it mattersNorthern Sijilmassa khettara with nouba intangible 7-day turn — UNESCO-adjacent Sijilmassa medieval capital water.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Corbelled slab vs vault — why dry-stack slab in Tafilalt vs Saruj
Theories
- 01Tafilalt Ziz feeder vs Figuig High Atlas source — aquifer type difference
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 Almoravid, Marinid restoration 1350 CE
- Period
- Almoravid to Marinid 1050–1350 CE Tafilalt
- Culture
- Tafilalt Sijilmassa oasis Berber Almoravid–Marinid
- Builders
- Tafilalt Sijilmassa khettara community
- Purpose
- Ziz feeder aquifer khettara 2.6 km 52 shafts 4 L/s to Sijilmassa north palms 22 ha with nouba sharing
- Abandoned
- still seasonal operating after 2019 restoration
- Rediscovered
- 2019 Tafilalt khettara restoration North (FAO)
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
1050 CE
Almoravid gallery 2.6 km
1350 CE
Marinid restoration corbelled slab
2019
UNESCO-linked restoration removes cement
On the ground
Structures & features
31.4200° N · 4.2800° E · 880 m · 2 mapped features
Corbelled Gallery Slab Section
aqueduct0.6×1.2 m dry-stack corbelled slab roof 2.6 km — Marinid restoration
31.4210° N · 4.2810° ENouba Sharing Seguia (1.4 km)
canal1.4-km seguia with 7-day nouba water turn Sijilmassa north palms
31.4220° N · 4.2820° E