Museum Tahiri

Full-scale maquette of a Triceratops erected in front of the Tahiri Fossil Museum. Brahim Tahiri runs the top fossil business in the Tafilalt. His new museum has a pedagogical purpose and is perfect for school outings. (ph. Anjuli Pandavar)

Ismail El Kerouani is studying the fossil industry, largely located in and around Erfoud. He first went to interview Brahim Tahiri, who runs the top fossil business from the new Tahiri Fossil Museum near Rissani. The vast majority of high-quality Moroccan fossils sold in Europe and North America are his products. Smaller fossil factories (yes, fossils have to be manufactured from quarried stone) are located in the center of Erfoud, between the central market and the banks of the Ziz River. These operate with far less capital and equipment than Tahiri’s establishment. Yet other businesses specialize in producing polished stone slabs for architectural decoration and (heavy) items of furniture such as tables, counter tops and lamps.