Excavations

They involved part of the western necropolis and uncovered the ruins of the Roman forum and other structures.
The multiplication of works on the necropolis of Chellah in the ancient period during the period of the Protectorate is carried out initially through a reading of written Latin sources. The first archaeological excavations made it possible to uncover the center of the ancient city identified with the Chellah thanks to the work carried out on these same written sources. Although these excavations have not been the subject of specific publications, the elements revealed by them were studied by historians in the following decades.

The archaeological excavations carried out by Lévi-Provençal and Basset essentially focused on the Marinid necropolis, making an inventory that was mainly artistic and architectural.

The two scientists are working to reconstruct the history of the necropolis from an artistic perspective while including a touch of social history and representations, mentioning in particular the legends and beliefs inherent to the site. The book that compiles their research is characterized by a rigor and a certain attention to detail that makes it the reference for the Marinid part of the site.
Although scientific techniques have evolved since then, for example with the use of carbon-14 for precise dating, it seems that there is no publication to contradict the hypotheses put forward by Lévi-Provençal and Basset. The scientific discourse currently held by the site’s curators is based on this work. However, it should be pointed out that some hypotheses would certainly require further confirmation or even research.

The archaeological excavations carried out by Jean Boube at Chellah in the years 1958-1986 were of great importance for the understanding of the history and architecture of the site.
Excavations of the Western Necropolis have uncovered numerous tombs and burials, thus offering essential information about Roman-era funerary practices in Chellah. The typology and chronology of the tombs have been refined thanks to these discoveries.

Several important Roman monuments were discovered by Jean Boube. Among them are the base of a three-bay triumphal arch, the Capitol, which was a building dedicated to administrative and religious activities, as well as the Curia Ulpia, a building in honor of Emperor Trajan. These discoveries have helped to reconstruct the urban planning of the ancient city.

The Decumanus maximus, one of the main streets of the Roman city, was partially excavated during the excavations of Jean Boube. This provided a better understanding of the layout of the streets and buildings of the ancient Sala Colonia.
In addition to the Roman remains, Jean Boube’s excavations have also unearthed the medieval hammam of Chellah. This Marinid bathhouse is an important example of Islamic architecture from the medieval period.

The results of Jean Boube’s excavations have been published in various reports and specialized books. These publications provide specific details on archaeological discoveries and the resulting historical interpretations.

Each of these excavation campaigns has helped to reveal new aspects of Chellah’s history, from its Roman occupation to its Marinid period and the medieval periods. This archaeological research has unearthed valuable remains and deepened our understanding of the evolution of this site over the centuries.

Recently in 2023, excavations conducted by a team from the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Sciences (INSAP) outside the Marinid enclosure of Chellah revealed the “first” ancient port district in Morocco and other remains.