This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Ahmed Wazruti – Heba Press
A group of associations and centers interested in rock heritage and rock arts in Morocco have published a statement of denunciation expressing their dissatisfaction with the trends set out in Bill 33.22 recently approved by the Government Council. The associations explained that the proposed text completely ignores the sites of inscriptions and rock drawings, which exceed 800 sites nationally, despite their great importance as an integral part of Moroccan cultural heritage.
Unjustified marginalization of a unique heritage
The statement touches on the absence of any explicit mention in the bill of the “National Catalog of Petroglyphs”, mentioned in law 80-22.
The signatories of the declaration consider that this neglect constitutes a step backwards compared to previous legal achievements and raises legitimate questions about the intentions to eliminate this type of heritage, a unique witness to the ancient history of Morocco.
The associations stressed that rock arts are not simple stone engravings, but rather a heritage that documents the lives of ancestors, their culture and their perceptions, and embodies the nobility of Moroccan heritage and its deep connection with nature.
Fears of destruction and vandalism
The associations are concerned about the fact that the exclusion of rock heritage from the new legal texts opens the way to the destruction of numerous archaeological sites, particularly in the absence of texts obliging companies which win project contracts or operate quarries to carry out an impact study).
She cited examples of destroyed and neglected archaeological sites, such as the site of Al-Shaf Ould Attia, Oued Eshbika, Tasmeet and Asif en Inet, calling for urgent measures to be taken to protect them.
Low institutional interest
The press release criticizes the inability of the National Institute of Archeology and Heritage to allocate research programs to study rock heritage in marginalized regions, such as the Moroccan Sahara, the Anti-Atlas and the East.
He stressed that the lack of institutional interest leaves room for misleading research which is exploited by external actors to distort national heritage, which threatens Morocco’s cultural identity.
Despite this, the associations have noted individual initiatives by specialists and researchers, sometimes supported by certain territorial councils.
The associations called on the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication to include rock art sites in the legal definitions of Bill 33.22, while ensuring their protection in addition to preserving previous achievements, such as national index of inventory of rock art sites, and its updating, as well as the obligation for companies to present archaeological studies to ensure the protection of archaeological sites, with the strengthening of scientific and field research dedicated to the study of rock art sites. The associations also called for providing the logistical and human resources necessary to inventory and protect. this heritage.
Commitment to the defense of national heritage
At the conclusion of the declaration, the signatory associations, including the National Observatory of Cultural Heritage, the Moroccan Heritage Association and the Saguia El Hamra Center for the Protection of Antiquities, affirmed their commitment to defending the national heritage against any negligence or marginalization.
She called on the ministry to assume its responsibilities to protect this cultural heritage which reflects the identity and ancient culture of Morocco.
This statement remains an open invitation to the government and its institutions to work to increase interest in rock heritage, not only as part of the national identity, but also as a global human heritage worthy of protection and appreciated.
