Mogador Island Purple Dye Workshop
Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE)·Bronze Age·🇲🇦 Marrakech-Safi, Essaouira, Morocco
About
About Mogador Island Purple Dye Workshop
Mogador Island Purple Dye Workshop in Marrakech-Safi, Essaouira, Morocco is a Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE) ancient city attributed to Bronze Age. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal walled area 12 ha and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 31.4930N -9.7730E controls access to Marrakech-Safi resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey ancient city for Marrakech-Safi, Essaouira, illustrating Bronze Age construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
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. 2800 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE)
- Culture
- Bronze Age
- Purpose
- Regional urban centre controlling trade and administration
- Rediscovered
- 1991 survey
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 2800 BCE
Initial construction of Mogador Island Purple Dye Workshop main structure
c. 1931
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
1991–2006
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Mogador Island Purple Dye Workshop) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
31.4930° N · 9.7730° W · 297 m · 3 mapped features
Mogador Island Purple Dye Workshop — Main Structure
structurePrincipal ancient city — Walled area 12 ha with diagnostic masonry/panel
31.4938° N · 9.7721° WMogador Island Purple Dye Workshop — Ancillary Complex
complexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature
31.4920° N · 9.7737° WMogador Island Purple Dye Workshop — Peripheral Feature
outlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial
31.4945° N · 9.7718° W