In a significant archaeological breakthrough, Moroccan experts have unearthed a sprawling Roman-era site in Rabat, revealing a port district, a bath, and a cemetery that hark back to the second century.
The discovery, announced on Friday, provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Roman settlers and Romanized Moroccans, or Mauro-Romans, during that period.
Abdelaziz El Khayari, the lead archaeologist and a professor of pre-Islamic archaeology from Morocco’s National Institute of Archaeological Sciences and Heritage, shared details of the finding at a news conference held at the site.
He highlighted that the newly discovered site, now the third largest of its kind in Morocco, features a Roman-era bath that spans over 2000 square meters, bearing a striking resemblance to its imperial counterparts in Rome.
Among the artifacts uncovered is a headless statue of a Roman deity dating back to the second century. El Khayari explained that the beheading of statues representing Roman gods was a common practice when ancient Moroccans adopted Christianity around the fifth century.
The archaeological team, which began excavations in March, continues to search for the port and other parts of what is believed to be one of the largest Roman towns in the country. The site's strategic location, not far from the Bouregreg River and the Atlantic coast, adds to its historical significance.
The newly uncovered monuments extend the nearby Roman-era site and popular tourist attraction, Chellah. This site is home to a fortified necropolis built by the Muslim Marinide dynasty in the 13th century. The latest discovery promises to further enrich our understanding of Morocco’s rich and diverse history.