Tetouan Archaeological Museum

The Tetouan Archaeological Museum stands on Avenue Mohammed V in the Spanish-built Ensanche district of Tetouan in northern Morocco. It was created during the Spanish protectorate, around 1940, to house finds from excavations by Spanish archaeologists in the northern zone, notably at Tamuda, Lixus and other sites of the region. The museum is among the most important archaeological collections in Morocco outside Rabat. Its galleries are arranged largely by period and site, taking visitors from prehistoric tools through the Phoenician, Punic and Mauretanian eras to Roman Mauretania Tingitana and the early Islamic period. Highlights include Roman mosaics, sculpture and bronzes, inscriptions, pottery and coins from Lixus and Tamuda, and a central courtyard with larger stone pieces. The building is a modest Hispano-Moorish structure of the protectorate period, with a courtyard layout and tiled decoration. The curatorial approach is chronological and site-based, giving context to the ancient urban settlements of the Loukkos and Martil valleys. The museum has been refurbished in phases, and parts have been closed for restoration at times, so the extent of the displays can vary. The building is in fair to good condition. Visiting the museum before travelling to Lixus or Tamuda is a useful way to see the objects excavated there and to understand the ancient history of the region, which is otherwise only partly visible on site.