Erfoud: The Heart of Morocco’s Fossil Heritage

Known as the “Gateway to the Desert”, Erfoud is a charming town in the south of Morocco that every traveler should definitely visit once for its beauty. It is also a paradise for fossil hunters. The most unique fossilized species were found here, especially the trilobites. From here it’s not that difficult to get to beautiful spots, in fact, you can easily take an off-road track directly to the dunes of Merzouga. You might be surprised to learn that this place has been used for some of the most popular movies of all time, such as The Mummy and The Prince of Persia. Because of its amazing structure, many become interested in traveling to this place to explore and discover what it has to offer.

In Erfoud, you can spend a lot of time exploring the local tourist destinations. This small town is home to a number of businesses, kashas, restaurants, etc. that provide plenty of entertainment, fun, and excitement.

Why Erfoud is Famous for Fossils

The best place to find fossils in Morocco is in the town of Erfoud in the middle of the Ziz Oasis, near the famous Erg Chebbi Desert. Tourists can visit the Museum of Fossils and Minerals or a number of fossil factories in the area to experience first hand the process of finding and extracting fossils.

 

 

How We Source Our Fossils from Erfoud

Many Berber families from Erfoud and Midelt have been involved in the mining and restoration of fossils for many generations. Hand-dug trenches are mined with shovels, picks and chisels, the marble rocks are extracted and hand micro-blasted to remove rock fragments from the fossils. Some fossils are polished for display purposes, other large pieces of marble may be carved and polished to make tables, fountains, soap dishes, bowls, pendants and a variety of decorative items. These items can be purchased in Erfoud and in the souks of Marrakech and Fes. Large items such as fountains can be ordered online and shipped worldwide.

In October, Erfoud becomes “Capital of date.” For three days Guetna animates the city. It is the feast of dates, to end the harvest. Folk dances and competitions of the most beautiful dates attract thousands of visitors. This festival has become the international exhibition dates from 2010. In addition to this city is rich geologically, with the plurality of fossils in the region.

Erfoud is one of the last towns before the desert