Gilda / Rirha
Rirha · Gilda · Sidi Slimane
Mauretanian to Islamic (5th c. BCE–8th c. CE; Roman peak 1st–4th c. CE)·Mauretanian / Roman·🇲🇦 Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Morocco
About
About Gilda / Rirha
Rirha (ancient Gilda) on the Sebou River is a Mauretanian city turned Roman colonia, 5th c. BCE–8th c. CE, excavated by Callegarin 2005–. Punic–Mauretanian town with tophet, then Roman domus with Italian sigillata and Baetican amphorae, bathhouse and necropolis. Documents Mauretanian grain trade with Rome via Sebou navigability. Pre-Roman rampart and ditch. Stratified sequence anchors Mauretanian chronology.
Why it mattersBest stratified Mauretanian–Roman sequence in Gharb; Sebou navigability proof.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Tophet extent
- 02Sebou river port location
Theories
- 01Mauretanian grain supply to Rome (Callegarin)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Mauretanian hill town 5th c. BCE; Augustan reorganization
- Period
- Mauretanian to Islamic (5th c. BCE–8th c. CE; Roman peak 1st–4th c. CE)
- Culture
- Mauretanian / Roman
- Builders
- Mauri / Roman colonia
- Purpose
- Sebou river grain and olive market controlling Gharb plain
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
5th c. BCE
Mauretanian hill town with rampart
1st c. CE
Roman colonia reorganization
3rd c.
Domus mosaics laid
2005
Callegarin modern excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
34.2700° N · 5.9200° W · 85 m · 2 mapped features
Pre-Roman Rampart
rampart8-m wide ditch-and-bank 5th c. BCE
34.2710° N · 5.9210° WRoman Domus
house30×20 m domus with mosaic
34.2690° N · 5.9190° W