Archaeologists Uncover More Ruins at Chellah, Boosting Tourism Hopes for Morocco

Unearthed ruins include thermal baths, working class neighborhoods, and a statue unseen since the 1960s; Moroccan officials anticipate it surpassing sites like Volubilis with visitor numbers reaching 1 million per year.

The new archaeological discoveries at Chellah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Rabat, Morocco, include thermal baths, working class neighborhoods, and a Roman-era statue not seen since the 1960s.
The 1.2-square-mile (3.15-square-kilometer) site, about five times the size of Pompeii, is believed to have been a bustling port city settled by the Phoenicians and later becoming a key Roman empire outpost from the second to fifth century.
The significant findings underline the city's wealth and have revealed bricks inscribed in neo-Punic, a language that predates the Romans' arrival in Morocco, suggesting a rich cultural and historical exchange.
The Moroccan government has invested $487,000 (455,000 euros) in the project since March, with plans to double the amount each year until the excavation is complete, demonstrating a strong commitment to uncovering the country's ancient past.
With its prime location near Morocco's capital Rabat, the site is expected to draw tourists from both Morocco and abroad, with officials aiming for Chellah to surpass other Moroccan tourist sites like Volubilis in visitor numbers, anticipating around 1 million visitors per year.