Discover Morocco's ancient granaries, "the first indication of the emergence of banks"

Record ID: 1621751

  • Title: Discover Morocco's ancient granaries, "the first indication of the emergence of banks"
  • Date: 17th June 2021
  • Summary: SOUSS MASSA REGION, MOROCCO (JUNE 10, 2021) (REUTERS) (MUTE) AERIAL SHOT SHOWING IGOUDAR GRANARIES BUILT ON HIGHLANDS IGOUDAR GRANARIES ON HILL SOUSS MASSA REGION, MOROCCO (JUNE 9, 2021) (REUTERS) (MUTE) IGOUDAR GRANARIES SOUSS MASSA REGION, MOROCCO (JUNE 10, 2021) (REUTERS) (PART MUTE) AERIAL SHOT SHOWING IGOUDAR GRANARIES (MUTE) VARIOUS OF IGOUDAR'S INTERIOR, PASSAGE AND
  • Embargoed: 1st July 2021 15:27
  • Keywords: Berber granaries Morocco banking system heritage
  • Location: SOUSS MASSA REGION, MOROCCO
  • City: SOUSS MASSA REGION, MOROCCO
  • Country: Morocco
  • Topics: Africa
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EHSICLX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Berber granaries, considered as one of the oldest banking systems, were used by Amazigh communities inhabiting the mountainous south of Morocco.
    Igoudar is an Amazigh term used to refer to the centuries-old granaries used by the local population to store valuables like documents, grains, legumes, oils, dates, jewelry amongst others.
    "These collective granaries may be the first indication of the emergence of banks," research professor and civil society activist Khalid Alaroud said.
    Igoudar were usually built in safe locations, insulated from the fluctuations of nature and protected in the event of war or plunder attempts.
    These fortified castle-like buildings could be found across Souss plain and the mountains of the Anti-Atlas.
    Morocco's ministry of culture recently launched a project to classify these granaries as national heritage and include them in UNESCO's world heritage sites list.
    (Production: Abdelahak Balhaki, Imad Creidi)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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