Morocco Expedition, Spring Break 1998
by Michael Fuller (Anthropology Dept. at SLCC)


SLCC students and faculty accompanied Michael Fuller to Morocco during Spring Break of 1998. The purpose of the anthropological fieldtrip was to learn about the ancient and modern heritage of Morocco. The group visited Roman frontier cities, the ruins of great Berber cities that lay on the trade route which originated in Timbuktu, fossil beds, the Sahara desert, and the four principal cities of Medieval Morocco (Rebat, Fez, Meknes, and Marrakech). The learning opportunities included a visit to Al Akhawayn University where Fuller presented a guest lecture to the Moroccan anthropology students while a Moroccan anthropologist lectured to the SLCC tour group on his research into the Berber art, dance, and language.

The group traveled across Morocco in a bus and trips from one city to the next would often last for hours. Time was not wasted during the long busrides. Everyone was busy reading A Street in Marrakech (by anthropologist Elizabeth Fernea) or Moroccan Dialogues (by anthropologist Kevin Dwyer) . Each book provided interesting insights into modern Morocco and sparked hours discussion between the tour leader, participants, and the Moroccan guide named Ahm Hatim.

Many American tour groups in Morocco have a slightly different itinerary from the SLCC tour. For example, Hatim and Fuller were able to gain permission for the SLCC tour group to visit the Sephardic Jewish synagogues in Fez and Marrakech. The group also visited the mosque of Hasan II in Casablanca; the largest mosque in the world which was just completed.