Investigations underway on discovery of 10 centuries-old currency North of Morocco
Morocco, Local, 2/24/2005

Local authorities in the Northern Moroccan town of Asilah are investigating the mysterious discovery, a month ago, of a batch of coins dating back to almost 10 centuries near a small village called Sidi-Yamani.

The 468 coins that were handed over to the museum Al-Kasbah of Tangier, are of a great archaeological and historical value, according to experts who, based on the date struck in Hindu figures (480 of the hegira), the old coins date back to the reign of the Almoravides dynasty.

Made of a yellowish metal alloy, probably of copper or bronze, the coins are in an excellent state of conservation. With a circumference of 2,1 cm and an average weight of 10,10 gr., the two sides of the coins are struck by the religious invocation "there is no God but Allah" (on the face) and "Mohammed is the prophet of Allah" (on the back).

Although these inscriptions do not leave any doubt about the Moslem origin of the old currency, there is, on the other hand, no indication about the country whose reign put this currency in circulation.

While underlining the priceless archaeological value of the discovered coins, an expert explained that only deep analyses by specialists in the numismatics are able to shed light on the exact origin of the currency. However the mystery remains complete on the circumstances of this important archaeological discovery.

According to the investigation team, the local authorities were informed, few weeks ago, on the circulation of old coins among young people of a "douar" (small village) known as "Labrana." One of them explained how he found the coins on a construction site.

A representative from the local Culture department explained that the douar in question is located near a very old trade route, baptized "road of the sultans," and which figures on the first sketches of the area map in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Under the reign of several Moroccan dynasties, the road was used by trade caravans and by the European delegations arriving at the ports of Tangier or Asilah before heading south to the imperial city of F�s to meet the sultan there.

Under the provisions of the law on archaeology, any object of antiquity discovered under the ground is regarded as state-owned property.

Archaeologists deplore the fact that the original site of the coins discovery is not identified yet. "That would have enabled us to carry out meticulous excavations on this site, and the chances to make new lucky finds would be stronger," said an expert who fear that the discovered coins represent only one part of a more important batch of object of great archaeological importance, that may fall in the hands of mysterious treasure hunters.

Dr. Ahmed Siraj is one of the very few university researchers who have studied the phenomenon of the treasure hunters in Morocco. In a study entitled "clandestine Archaeology in Morocco," this teacher of history at the Human Faculty of Science of Mohammedia, affirms that the phenomenon is very old in Morocco. He showed in this regard documents attesting of its existence since the 11-eme century.

The treasure hunters did not limit themselves to the territory of Morocco. They toured various places in the area of North Africa. An area rich in history and where several prosperous civilizations followed one another.

Siraj reports in his study that in the 16-eme century in F�s, the treasure hunters were organized under the banner of trade associations made up of ironworkers or carpenters. Beyond the beliefs and legends surrounding this practice, the treasure hunters had effective techniques to unearth goods of value hidden under the ground for centuries.

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