Medieval Boom in the North-west Sahara

Modern scholarship on the medieval Sahara has focused a handful of famous entrepôt sites that have their origins in 8th century or later, and as result we still understand very poorly nature extent Saharan oasis settlement agriculture golden age trade. This article presents first securely dated chronology for development north-west based three seasons archaeological survey comprehensive radiocarbon dating programme Wadi Draa, Morocco. The Draa Valley contains some largest, most populous productive oases Sahara, well serving an important travel corridor trading caravans coming from West Africa to access Atlas passes reach Marrakech. Focusing evidence large zone abandoned Kasr Bounou Plain, this demonstrates while was taking place between 4th–8th centuries—well before Muslim conquest Morocco—there significant increase agricultural exploitation 9th century. phenomenon is marked by appearance substantial mudbrick settlements, along with irrigation field systems, coterminous Sijilmasa. A boom investment irrigated occurred 11th 13th centuries, contemporary Almoravid Almohad rule followed retraction abandonment much 16th new challenges long-held belief sedentarization were unique period Sahara. OPEN ACCESS CC BY-NC-ND