US Grants $170,000 to Restore Ancient Mosaics at Morocco’s Volubilis Site

The aid is part of the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. A program of the State Department managed by the US Embassy in Rabat, with the aim of restoring the mosaics and presenting them to the public, indicates a press release from the embassy.

The note specifies that the association will also organize educational and awareness-raising programs, emphasizing the importance of the restored pieces for Moroccan cultural heritage.

The project is based on the existing partnership between Ifker and the Getty Conservation Institute in the United States, which will provide its expertise and technical training. The work to be restored "is a jewel in the crown of Moroccan heritage sites. That’s why the United States is pleased to join forces with the Ifker Association, the Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Culture to help restore these historic mosaics."

"Proud also to participate in this initiative and to support professional training, as well as education and awareness programs for the local community," added Lawrence Randolph, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy.

According to Zoubir Chattou, president of the Ifker Association, "this project will contribute to the economic and social development of the Zerhoun Massif region." "Our association, which works closely with local populations, aims, as part of this project, to revive post-Covid-19 tourism opportunities, create jobs and participate in strengthening the economic and cultural attractiveness of the region," he said.

The work will be an opportunity for the Ifker Association to involve local youth and workers in the restoration process by providing them with professional training aimed at creating livelihoods in the fields of historical preservation and tourism.

The Volubilis site is the largest and most famous archaeological site in Morocco, designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.