In its second year, a multidisciplinary scientific project currently being conducted by Moroccan and French researchers in Tinmel is uncovering exceptional artifacts related to the construction of the Almohad civilization (1121 – 1269). This project is already allowing archaeologists to assert that their discoveries speak volumes about the extent of the social organization of the time, with a significant influence on subsequent dynasties. Capital of the Almoravids (1040 – 1147), the city of Marrakech was captured by the Almohads (1121 – 1269), who had previously made Tinmel their stronghold. Indeed, it was from there that the allied tribes of Mahdi Ibn Toumert (1078-1130) launched decisive raids into the ochre city, which later became the capital of the new dynasty, stretching across vast areas of North Africa and Al-Andalus. Ahmed Saleh Ettahiri, a professor of archaeology and historian of Islamic architecture, is among the scientists overseeing an excavation project at the site, where work is resuming this May. As the project lead for the National Institute of Archaeological Sciences and Heritage (INSAP), the professor describes an immersion into the origins and early stages of this pivotal historical period, to learn more about the local organization and its influence on other cities, territories, and even the monarchies that followed. "This historical site is known for its eponymous Medersa, but Tinmel extends far beyond this cultural landmark, considering it is the capital of the Almohad dynasty," he told Yabiladi. Affected by the 2023 earthquake, the city now reveals new artifacts, unearthed by a team of Moroccan and French researchers. Ahmed Saleh Ettahiri notes that this work is conducted within a program coordinated by the joint team, under an international cooperation agreement involving INSAP in Rabat, Chouaïb Doukkali University in El Jadida, and Paris-Sorbonne University I, with the participation of the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research. History: Princess Fannou, the warrior who defended the last Almoravid stronghold The Tinmel Mosque before the 2023 earthquake / DR The Tinmel mosque is well-known, but the eponymous city much less so Until now, available documents show that the Tinmel site "was first visited in 1901 by Edmond Doutté," who highlighted the imperial mosque. "Around 1922, initial publications were dedicated to this site, given its monumentality and symbolism linked to the spiritual founder of the Almohad empire," says Ahmed Saleh Ettahiri. But since then, "studies have focused particularly on this landmark, without looking into the many other remains of the archaeological site." Besides the commemorative mosque built in memory of Mahdi Ibn Toumert, there is also "madinat Tinmel," also known as "the white city." "Generally, people know the mosque, without knowing more about the city's entire space," the archaeologist explains to our editorial team. In this sense, the ongoing excavations are not incidental, as they are based on previous work that traces the movements of the Almohad supporters. "As part of an international scientific research program, we first began working on the cradle of the dynasty, which is the site of Igiliz, 68 km southeast of Taroudant. Archaeological excavations have allowed us to highlight tangible evidence of the origins of this dynamic that transformed the region and the Muslim West with its two shores, while giving rise to the creation of an empire stretching from Morocco to Al-Andalus, up to western Libya," Pr Ettahiri tells us. Nomad #26: Igîlîz, the archaeological gem of Taroudant Following this program launched in 2009, archaeological excavations have revealed "the oldest evidence of the beginning of the Almohad movement." Following this, the program focused on Tinmel completes the scientific elements of the historical narrative, "as we know that Ibn Toumert settled in Igiliz, before moving to Tinmel, from the Anti-Atlas to the High Atlas in the Haouz, supported by the adherence of several tribes in the region." "It was there that he prepared the first incursions and attacks against Marrakech and the Almoravids, starting from 1122-1123 AD," the researcher recalls. Aerial view of Igiliz / DR Upon arriving in Tinmel, Ibn Toumert also founded a small mosque, where he was buried upon his death. His successor, Sultan Abd al-Mumin (1130 – 1163), engaged in a relentless war against the Almoravids. Around 1147, he decided to build, from the initial structure, "this great and monumental mosque that we know today." In this context, Ahmed Saleh Ettahiri tells us that "the current archaeological excavations are unprecedented in more ways than one, as they will be the first, after some surveys inside in the early 1980s by our researchers Joudia Hassar-Benslimane and Abdelaziz Touri, accompanied by a team of German archaeologists, ahead of the restoration carried out with the support of ONA (Al Mada holding, ed.), between 1991 and 1994." Indeed, the rest of the site had not been explored by archaeological work until now. "The current project will therefore shed light on the early years of the dynasty, about which we know practically nothing today," affirms Pr Ettahiri. "We are interested in the material culture of the city of Tinmel, its domestic architecture (housing), military (defensive works), knowing that this dynasty extended its imprint to our major cities, as evidenced by Bab Rouah in Rabat, the Oudayas fortress, Bab Agnaou in Marrakech, the Kasbah, the great mosque of Taza, a large part of the fortifications of Salé and Fez… Viewed from this perspective, Tinmel proves to be a city whose contribution is considerable at the level of our civilization, both in Morocco and in Andalusia, where La Giralda and the Palace of Seville are recognized." Pr Ahmed Saleh Ettahiri – INSAP Studying the entire material culture of the Almohads The aim of the work is thus to study, through the excavations, "the entire material culture left by the Almohads, during their settlement on the site of Tinmel, focusing on spatial and social organization," in a context where restoration projects are still ongoing, following the 2023 earthquake. Nomad #8: The Tinmel Mosque, fruit of the Almohad rebellion and jewel of the High Atlas La Giralda of Seville / DR From the exhumed elements, researchers will also reconstruct the puzzle of industries, local economic activities, urban organization with its different institutions, or even the defensive system, part of which is still visible, among others. "We will also study the ancestors of this Almohad defensive architecture found in Marrakech, Seville, Rabat, Taza, and other fortresses," says Ahmed Saleh Ettahiri, in his interview with Yabiladi. At the end of the project, researchers will be able to provide unprecedented information on "the connections between this society and the rest of the region, at the level of the micro-territory and the vast territory, to verify the potential openness of this population and its decision-makers to the Haouz, Souss, and Anti-Atlas, as well as the assets that allowed this movement to overthrow the Almoravid power…" For the researcher, it is about establishing "material evidence on the beginnings of the Almohad movement and the settlement of this society at the heart of Tinmel, as well as its relations with other populations before the capture of the capital, Marrakech." Beyond the excavations themselves, the accumulation of these scientific data can support historical and heritage work on various scales. Morocco: Discoveries on the Mauretano-Roman period unearthed for the first time [Interview] Restored in the 1990s, the great mosque of Tinmel was impacted by the 2023 earthquake. Following new reconstruction work, the site remains on UNESCO's tentative list since 1995. As an archaeologist, Ahmed Saleh Ettahiri believes that in the current state of affairs and in light of new discoveries, "there will always be room to support the case for World Heritage listing." "Let's not forget that this historical and spiritual landmark is the archetype of Almohad religious architecture. The Tinmel Mosque played a decisive role, shaping the future of this architecture, even after the Almohads. It thus has a unique particularity and authenticity. We hope, through this multidisciplinary research program, to discover other artifacts and structures that would contribute to the site being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site." Pr Ahmed Saleh Ettahiri The Tinmel Mosque under restoration, in September 2024 / Ph. Mosa'ab Elshamy - AP Photo In the meantime, the researcher can only affirm that the ongoing discoveries "indeed allow us to admit that the exceptional findings will lead to a better understanding of the evolution, not only of the Almohad civilization but also of the entire civilization of Morocco, during the 12th century and beyond." This is, moreover, one of the main objectives initially defined by the research team. At this stage, Professor Ahmed Saleh Ettahiri shares his optimism "about the contribution of this program, from a material point of view, regarding the evolution of our culture during the medieval period." In this regard, he emphasizes the city of Tinmel as a "key historical site in our country's history that deserves significant exposure."
