Sijilmassa
Sijilmasa
Early Islamic to Medieval (757–1393 CE; peak 10th–14th c CE)·Berber Miknasa / Islamic / Maliki·🇲🇦 Drâa-Tafilalet, Errachidia Province, Morocco
About
About Sijilmassa
Sijilmassa (Rissani) — great Saharan emporium founded 757 CE by Miknasa Berbers as Kharijite Sufri refuge, controlling Trans-Saharan gold road from Ghana Empire to Morocco, famed for minting gold dinars from Sudanese gold dust and exporting Saharan salt. 150-ha walled oasis entrepôt with 12-m high rammed-earth ksour, congregational mosque with expanded prayer hall (105 m long), palace of Midrarid emirs, pottery and copper workshops, and Islamic water khettara foggaras still operational. Al-Bakri described caravan staging four months to Audaghost. Destructed by Aït Atta 1393, rebuilt Marinid.
Why it mattersType-site for Trans-Saharan gold trade; mint debris shows Sudanese gold rather than melted coin recycling.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Location of mint furnaces vs mosque proximity
- 02Gold weight standard vs Fatimid dinar
Theories
- 01Sijilmassa as early Ibadi political experiment before Maliki orthodoxy (Love)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 757 CE Midrarid foundation; Almoravid annex 1055; destructions 1051, 1393; Marinid rebuild
- Period
- Early Islamic to Medieval (757–1393 CE; peak 10th–14th c CE)
- Culture
- Berber Miknasa / Islamic / Maliki
- Builders
- Miknasa Sufrites / Almoravids / Marinids
- Purpose
- Gold-dust mint and Saharan slave-salt caravan gateway linking Sudan to Maghreb and Iberian mint
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
757 CE Midrarid foundation; Almoravid annex 1055; destructions 1051, 1393; Marinid rebuild
Initial construction
c. 1490 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
31.2833° N · 4.2700° W · 760 m · 3 mapped features
Congregational Mosque
temple105 m hypostyle mosque with courtyard
31.2840° N · 4.2690° WMidrarid Palace
buildingCitadel palace compound with enclosure wall
31.2825° N · 4.2710° WKhettara Canals
hydraulicQanat water system feeding oasis gardens
31.2830° N · 4.2700° W
Gallery