Aghmat — Medieval City and Mausolea
Aghmat Wurika
Almoravid to Almohad (1050–1147 CE)·Berber Almoravid (Sanhaja) → Almohad·🇲🇦 Marrakech-Safi / Al Haouz, Morocco
About
About Aghmat — Medieval City and Mausolea
Aghmat is the buried Almoravid capital (11th c) 32 km S of Marrakech under modern village: 8 ha walled medina (11th c Almoravid to 12th c Almohad) with hammam, qasr, and 11th c mausolea of Almoravid founders Abdallah ibn Yasin and Watik; excavated 2005 Moroccan–US project 3 m stratigraphy. Hammam 10×8 m with hypocaust. Mosque of Aghmat el-Kebir 12×15 m with 17 m minaret footing. Almoravid then Almohad capital before Marrakech 1070.
Why it mattersOnly Almoravid capital preserved before Marrakech founding; mausolea of movement founders.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Exact extent of 11th c medina vs necropolis
Theories
- 01Aghmat burial legitimized Almoravid dynasty (Messier)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1050–1070 Almoravid capital
- Period
- Almoravid to Almohad (1050–1147 CE)
- Culture
- Berber Almoravid (Sanhaja) → Almohad
- Builders
- Abdallah ibn Yasin & Abu Bakr
- Purpose
- Pre-Marrakech Almoravid capital and Sufi pilgrimage necropolis
- Abandoned
- 1070 capital to Marrakech; ruined 14th c Merinid sack
- Rediscovered
- 2005 INSAP-Mesa Verde excavations
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
1050
Aghmat capital of Almoravids
1070
Yusuf ibn Tashfin moves to Marrakech
2005
Modern excavation starts
On the ground
Structures & features
31.4200° N · 7.8000° W · 850 m · 3 mapped features
Aghmat Hammam (Hypocaust 10×8 m)
hammam10×8 m bath with tepidarium hypocaust pillars 1 m and furnace, best Almoravid hammam
31.4210° N · 7.7990° WMausolea of Abdallah ibn Yasin & Watik
mausoleumTwin domed mausolea 4×4 m each with Kufic stelae, pilgrimage site
31.4190° N · 7.8010° WGreat Mosque of Aghmat (12×15 m)
mosque12×15 m mosque footing with 17 m minaret base and qibla wall
31.4200° N · 7.8000° W