Ancient Ksour of Ouadane
Archaeology » Heritage sites» Ancient Ksour of Ouadane
Location
region du Tagant

Country
Mauritania

Year of Research
1996

Culture
  • The Ancient ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata are trading and religious centres along the ancient trade routes in the Sahara desert.

  • These four towns date from the 13th and 14th century.

  • Chinguetti was a principal gathering place for pilgrims of the Maghrib to gather on the way to Mecca. It became known as a holy city in its own right, especially for pilgrims unable to make the long journey to the Arab Peninsula.

  • Although largely abandoned to the desert, the city features a series of medieval manuscript libraries without peer in West Africa.