Khettara Figuig East Branch (Eastern Figuig Oasis Khettara Line)
Figuig East Khettara · Figuig Eastern Line
Zenata Berber medieval (1300–1600 CE)·Zenata Berber / Figuig Ksour·🇲🇦 Oriental Region, Figuig Province, Figuig oasis east palm grove (Beni Ounif basin), Morocco
About
About Khettara Figuig East Branch (Eastern Figuig Oasis Khettara Line)
Eastern branch khettara line of Figuig oasis (890 m) distinct from main khettara-figuig-oasis already in DB (which covers central system). East line 2.2 km with 18 shafts (9–16 m) intercepting Beni Ounif basin gravel aquifer, feeding ksar Figuig east palmeraie (28 ha) via seguias and aghroum distribution basin. Shares Figuig's UNESCO tentative collective khettara + ksour system but east branch shows higher gradient 0.22% vs central 0.15% due to basin proximity. Maintained by jmâa council.
Why it mattersKey hydraulic illustrating Zenata Berber / Figuig Ksour hydraulic/geoglyph/kite/kurgan tradition in Oriental Region, Figuig Province, Figuig oasis east palm grove (Beni Ounif basin).
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01East vs central branch chronology
Theories
- 01Basin-proximal higher gradient variant
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.1400 CE
- Period
- Zenata Berber medieval (1300–1600 CE)
- Culture
- Zenata Berber / Figuig Ksour
- Builders
- Zenata Berber
- Purpose
- East branch khettara supplementing Figuig oasis traditional distribution
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1400 CE
Initial construction
2020
Drone/UAV high-resolution mapping and heritage inventory
On the ground
Structures & features
32.1200° N · 1.2500° W · 890 m · 3 mapped features
East Branch Gallery (2.2 km)
hydraulic2.2 km khettara gallery 18 shafts
32.1210° N · 1.2490° WAghroum Distribution Basin
reservoirEarthen aghroum basin with seguias
32.1190° N · 1.2510° WEast Palmeraie 28 ha
landscape28 ha date palm east grove fed by east branch
32.1210° N · 1.2490° W