Morocco, often called a geologist's paradise, holds some of the world's most remarkable dinosaur fossils, from the Spinosaurus and Atlasaurus to the Anza footprints. Yet, despite this wealth, only a few museums strive to make this prehistoric heritage accessible to the public. Morocco is one of Africa's richest dinosaur fossil sites, home to discoveries dating back over 160 million years. From the Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus of the Kem Kem Basin to the Atlasaurus imelakei unearthed in Azilal, these findings have made the country a key reference point in global paleontology. Yet, despite the Kingdom's geological treasures, few museums exist to bring this story to life. «We have incredible fossils and sites, but very few spaces for the public to discover them», says paleontologist Moussa Masrour. In Agadir, the retired professor from the University of Ibn Zohr and fellow geologists from the Moroccan Association for Orientation and Scientific Research (AMORS) are spearheading a small-scale museum project. Located in the Anza neighborhood, where dinosaur footprints were discovered in 2014, AMORS founded the Anza Natural History Exhibition Space, a community museum where visitors can explore the prehistoric past of the region, its dinosaurs, and geology. A favorite destination for children The facility, which opened in November 2022, began as an effort to preserve and promote the Anza dinosaur footprint site. Over time, it became a favorite destination for Agadir's schoolchildren. «Since the site cannot be visited year-round, as it lies on the beach and is often covered by sand or water, visible only during ebb tide, we decided to create a museum nearby to complement the visit experience in Anza», Masrour told Yabiladi on Monday. The exhibition space, often referred to as the Anza Museum, exhibits collections spanning fossils, dinosaur teeth and bones, and other geological specimens from Morocco and abroad. «The museum occupies a former district office made available by the previous municipal council of Agadir. We renovated the building and installed a collection of fossils I have gathered over 36 years of fieldwork», he explained. Open only on weekends and free of charge, the museum has become a go-to destination for school visits. In 2024 alone, the Anza Museum welcomed over 1,500 students, in addition to university groups and tourists. However, the museum's management faces challenges. «We cannot open all week long because most members of our association have full-time jobs», Masrour noted. «To solve this, we submitted a proposal to the Municipality of Agadir to help us open the museum at least five days a week». Ideally, AMORS hopes the municipality will assign a permanent, trained staff member to receive visitors. To overcome this, AMORS manages school visits during the week by appointment. «Last week, for instance, we hosted a school group that submitted a request, set a date, and came for a guided visit», said Masrour, who personally guides students and answers their questions during tours. A typical visit begins with the Anza dinosaur footprints, if visible, followed by a tour of the museum, which sometimes includes hands-on activities for children. There, young visitors fascinated by the dinosaur world can explore a modest yet rich collection of fossils, including herbivorous sauropods and Spinosaurus teeth from the Kem Kem Basin, dating back 100 to 94 million years. «We also display casts of rare dinosaurs such as pterosaurs (flying reptiles). These six specimens are replicas from Germany, but we included them because pterosaur footprints have been discovered in Drarga, near Agadir, creating a meaningful connection», Masrour shared enthusiastically. «Children and young visitors are particularly fascinated by dinosaurs, often surprising us by knowing their names by heart», he added. Their favorite is, unsurprisingly, the T. rex. «In our museum, we have recreated the head of the Moroccan T. rex, the Carcharodontosaurus, unearthed in Kem Kem. When children see it, they shout 'T. rex! T. rex!'» «We also organize activities where children make fossil molds and take them home. This interactive approach makes learning memorable», Masrour insisted. The Azilal Museum: Home to the Atlas Giant The Anza exhibition space, however, is not a real museum. According to Masrour, «the only real dinosaur museum in Morocco» is the Azilal Museum in the Middle Atlas Mountains. Although not exclusively dedicated to dinosaurs, it spans geology, paleontology, archaeology, and natural heritage, showcasing the wealth of the M'Goun Geopark, the only UNESCO-recognized geopark in the country. It houses the famous Atlasaurus imelakei, or the Atlas Giant, «a complete dinosaur skeleton» discovered in 1979 by Swiss geologist Michel Monbaron near Tilougguit. The skeleton measures over 18 meters in length and 6 meters in height, with front and rear limbs reaching 3.5 meters each. But these are not the real dinosaur bones. «The real bones are protected. Generally, the skeletons displayed in museums are molds, while the original bones are preserved in secure storage», Masrour revealed. The professor, who previously served on the scientific committee of the Azilal Museum, emphasized the importance of protecting fossils from risks such as earthquakes, fires, or theft. The Azilal museum, which opened in 2023, offers an interactive and educational journey through Morocco's geological history, combining scientific storytelling with fossil exhibits and cultural artifacts. Covering 1,720 m², it features thematic sections from the Big Bang to the Cretaceous extinction, with its centerpiece, a life-size Atlasaurus imelakei skeleton. Open daily except Tuesdays, it charges symbolic entry fees and provides free access on select days. Expanding the network of museums Created through a partnership between the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Béni Mellal–Khénifra Regional Council, and geological heritage associations, the museum serves as a model that, according to Masrour, «should be replicated in other regions». According to the paleontologist, other projects are also underway, such as the conversion of the former U.S. embassy in Rabat into a museum. «But overall, Morocco still lacks geological and paleontological museums, despite being considered a 'geologist's paradise'», he said. «We need at least one geology museum in every region», he stressed. One of the projects Masrour oversees is the Tazouda Museum, which has been stalled for years. He heads its scientific committee, alongside several prominent academics, including paleontologist Najat Aquesbi. «The building is already constructed, and work on the scenography began, but we initially lacked a scenographer. Later, the Tazouda Association, with support from the Ouarzazate Prefecture, found one who submitted a vision approved by all. Unfortunately, it required structural changes to the building», he explained. These modifications added costs and complexity, and the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed progress. Still, Masrour remains hopeful. «There is still hope that the project will soon be revived. The museum's location is exceptional, as it stands on the very site where the Tazoudasaurus was discovered. Visitors will be able to see the exact place where the bones were first unearthed, making it both a museum and a living heritage site», he said.
