Sijilmasa

Sijilmasa is an ancient oasis settlement located in the high plateau of the Rif mountains, near the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The site, situated between the cities of Tangier and Marrakech, is renowned for its historical importance as a trading post and caravan gate on the trans-Saharan salt and gold trade routes. Archaeological evidence dates the earliest inhabitants to the 8th or 9th century, but the town's prominence rose during the 10th to 12th centuries under the Almoravid dynasty.

During the medieval period, Sijilmasa became a pivotal hub where goods from sub-Saharan Africa—such as ivory, gold, and slaves—were exchanged for Mediterranean products. The trade network connected the Saharan interior with the Maghreb and the Iberian Peninsula, facilitating the movement of wealth and cultural influences. The city was strategically positioned near the trade roads that branched north to the Atlantic coast and south to the Sahel’s Savannah. Sijilmasa also served as an administrative center for the Almoravid and later Almohad empires, with palatial and religious structures erected to reflect its political significance.

The decline of Sijilmasa began in the 13th century due to shifting trade routes and the rise of alternative ports along the Atlantic coast, coupled with environmental challenges such as desertification that strained the oasis water resources. By the 15th century, the town had lost its economic vitality and became largely abandoned. In modern times, the archaeological remains—including cisterns, merchant houses, and the ruins of a large mosque—offer insights into the urban and economic organization of a once-thriving trans-Saharan metropolis. Preservation efforts in the 20th and 21st centuries aim to protect and study the site, underscoring its significance in the history of North African trade networks.