Archaeologists discover Jewish artifacts in Tata, Morocco
The National Institute of Archeology and Heritage announced an archaeological discovery in the Tata region, specifically at the "Tkadert" site of interest to the Jewish presence in the region.
This discovery is a testament to Jewish history in southern Morocco, according to INSAP.
Rabat - A team of Moroccan and foreign archaeologists has discovered artifacts belonging to Jews and documents written in Hebrew in the city of Tata, in southern Morocco.
The discovery came as part of an excavation that began on February 27 and is expected to continue until March 7, Morocco's National Institute of Archeology and Heritage (INSAP) said in a press release.
“These excavations have led to the discovery of very important artifacts and documents in the Hebrew language, which document not only the Jewish element in southern Morocco and the local history of the region, but also the history of Morocco as evidenced by material archaeological finds,” the press release stated.
The excavation effort is being led by INSAP research professor Mabrouk Sagheer.
Morocco's Jewish population and culture have been the subject of increased interest recently, especially following the restoration of relations between the country and Israel.
In 2021, Israeli sources reported that Morocco began a program to restore hundreds of historic Jewish sites across the country, making it the only site in the Arab-Muslim world where state funds are being used for this purpose.
The following year also saw the opening of Morocco's Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), the first university synagogue in the Middle East and North Africa, next to its new mosque.
According to the same source, this archaeological discovery came through the work of a team of Moroccan and foreign researchers within the framework of the archaeological and anthropological research program on Moroccan Jewish heritage, and that the archaeological excavations included the Jewish synagogue in Tata Province, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Sagheer Mabrouk, a research professor at the National Institute. of Archeology and Heritage in Rabat.
Source: websites