Musée de l’Histoire et des Civilisations – Rabat

The Musée Archéologique de Rabat, officially the National Museum of Archaeology, is one of the oldest and most comprehensive archaeological museums in Morocco. Located in the heart of Rabat near the Kasbah des Oudayas, the museum was founded during the French Protectorate period and has since evolved into a major repository for artifacts excavated from key archaeological sites across the country. The museum’s permanent collection spans approximately 3,000 years of Moroccan history, beginning with Neolithic and Chalcolithic tools found in the Atlantic coastal regions and moving through the Phoenician and Punic periods, the Roman era, and into the medieval Islamic dynasties. Among its most celebrated pieces is the renowned Bronze Head of Juba II, a striking Roman-era portrait bust discovered at Volubilis, as well as the Ephebe of Volubilis and a collection of Roman bronzes considered among the finest in North Africa. Other highlights include pre-Islamic Punic stelae and burial objects from Lixus and Sala Colonia, Roman coins and mosaics, and medieval Islamic ceramics, woodwork, and metalwork. The museum has undergone significant renovations as part of Morocco’s nationwide museum modernization programme, with new interpretive displays and educational installations that help contextualize the artifacts for general audiences. The museum is situated within walking distance of the Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum, and Rabat’s historic medina, making it a natural starting point for cultural exploration of the capital.