Museum of History and Civilizations

## Morocco's archaeological story in one museum The **Museum of History and Civilizations** in Rabat is one of Morocco's key institutions for archaeology and ancient history. Its collections grew from archaeological excavations launched from **1915**, while the museum building was created in the 1920s to house the country's antiquities service. Transferred to the **National Foundation of Museums** in 2014, the former archaeology museum was renovated and reopened in **2017** under its current name. ## From prehistory to the Islamic dynasties The galleries follow a broad chronological journey through prehistoric Morocco, Phoenician and Mauretanian cultures, the Roman period, religious and cultural transitions of late antiquity, and the successive Islamic dynasties. Ceramics, coins, tools, architectural fragments, sculptures, bronzes and inscriptions make it possible to read Morocco's history through material evidence and to understand its long connections with Mediterranean and African worlds. ## Major archaeological works Highlights include Roman marble sculpture and bronzes discovered at sites such as **Volubilis**, including works associated with **Juba II** and Cato. The open-air patio also presents inscriptions, stelae and carved stones. Together these collections make the museum an essential place for understanding how archaeology has reshaped knowledge of Morocco's deep history. ## A cultural route through central Rabat The museum is in the Hassan district, within reach of the [Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art](/en/institutions/musee-mohammed-vi), the [National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco](/en/institutions/bibliotheque-nationale-maroc) and other major cultural institutions. Culturama links exhibitions and events to this page only when their location at the museum is explicitly confirmed.