Mauritania’s hub of ancient history facing looming threats of extinction
Chinguetti, a hub of rich ancient history and culture all encapsulated in documents called manuscripts is today facing great threat.
Located in the on the Adrar Plateau, in the Ardar Region of northern Mauretania, the place houses some 13 private libraries owned by various families.
Together, these libraries on the Sahara desert have over 6,000 manuscripts from ancient history, dated to about the 11th century stored. Some of these are written on paper or parchment, while others were written on sheep skin.
According to local news outlet Kassataya in Mauritania, the famous city is facing looming danger of climate change and desertification.
The desert vegetation, date palm trees which covered the green strip of sand are being covered by the sand.
Flash floods, caused by heavy rains which are unable to be absorbed by the ground are washing away the old structures that house the documents.
Fears are that these elements if persist, will lead to an eventual collapse of the structures that keep the monuments, and the destruction of these manuscripts.
Described as the “gateway to the desert” and located in the east of the country Chinguetti has always bordered the Sahara and served as a tourist site in Mauritania.
Chinguetti is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was inscribed in 1996.
