{"id":5107,"date":"2026-02-24T11:51:03","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T10:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eveha-international.com\/?page_id=5107"},"modified":"2026-02-24T14:17:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T13:17:40","slug":"aghmat","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/eveha-international.com\/?page_id=5107&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Aghmat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u00c9veha International is now associated with the development of project and site survey Aghmat, Morocco.
The latter is under the responsibility of Abdallah Fili, Ronald Messier and Chloe Capel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Direction
Abdallah Fili<\/strong> (Universit\u00e9 d\u2019El Jadida)
Ronald Messier<\/strong> (Middle State University\/Vanderbilt University)
Chlo\u00e9 Capel<\/strong> (CNRS, UMR 7041, Arscan)<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How Eveha International Participates<\/strong>
<\/strong>Topography<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Localisation<\/strong>
Marocco<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Location and Historical Summary
<\/strong>The medieval site of Aghmat<\/strong> is located in the modern-day village of Ghmat, 30 km southeast of Marrakech in Morocco’s Haouz Province. Situated at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains, this lowland site occupies a strategic position<\/strong> at the mouth of the Ourika Valley, a key hub for trade and the trans-Saharan commercial route.

Historical sources mention Aghmat\u2019s existence prior to the arrival of Islam in Morocco. The city was already flourishing during the Idrisid period<\/strong> (8th\u20139th centuries). At that time, it served as the capital of a local emirate before rising to the status of an imperial capital<\/strong> when it was seized by the Almoravids<\/strong> (11th\u201312th centuries) in the mid-11th century.

In 1070, Marrakech was founded nearby as the new Almoravid capital, entering into direct competition with Aghmat. From that point on, the city began a slow decline before being abandoned<\/strong> toward the end of the 14th century. The site was gradually reoccupied starting in the 16th century, eventually giving rise to the present-day village of Ghmat.

Research History<\/strong>
Despite the site\u2019s significance, the study of the medieval city of Aghmat only began in 1964. At that time, a topographic survey<\/strong> of the visible remains was undertaken. In 1995, the site was included in a study on the origins of Islamic cities in Morocco. It was within this framework that the first archaeological soundings<\/strong> (test pits) were carried out, though they did not lead to further research campaigns at the time.

In 2005, a US diplomatic request aimed to ensure the protection of the ancient hammam<\/strong> of Aghmat, which was still visible. This gave rise to the current project, which includes several components: archaeological excavations, restoration of the remains, and site development.

Following an archaeological assessment and a pedestrian survey<\/strong>, excavation campaigns were conducted on the hammam, coupled with conservation work. In 2008, following geomagnetic surveys<\/strong>, a new excavation sector was opened in a palatial area, followed by an adjacent residential area. Finally, in 2010, the Great Mosque of Aghmat<\/strong> was located and progressively uncovered.

Currently, archaeological excavations are primarily focused on the area between the mosque and the hammam, which includes the ablution basin<\/strong>, a traffic axis, and hydraulic networks.

As part of the conservation and enhancement project, the excavated and studied remains are stabilized and restored with a focus on reversibility and readability<\/strong>. Furthermore, a larger-scale project has been initiated: the construction of a Research and Interpretation Center<\/strong> dedicated to the historic city of Aghmat, combined with the urban upgrading of the modern-day village of Ghmat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Partners<\/strong>
Fondation Aghmat
Facult\u00e9 des Lettres El Jadida
Universit\u00e9 Panth\u00e9on-Sorbonne
Middle Tennessee State University
American Institute for Maghreb Studies
Fondation Jardin Majorelle
Barakat Trust Foundation
Ambassador\u2019s Fund for Cultural Preservation
Moroccan-American Commission for Educational & Cultural Exchange (Macece)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Liens<\/strong> :
Fondation Aghmat<\/a>
R\u00e9seau academia.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The excavation campaigns (by year)<\/h2>\n\n\n