Algeria: Béchar Explorer Ridwan Taheri Unearths Abandoned Village with Traces of Human Civilization Amidst the Sands of Time

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | November 13th, 2024 — In a remarkable discovery deep within the Sahara, a young explorer from Béchar has uncovered the remnants of an abandoned village, lost to time but still bearing the marks of human habitation. The village, which once thrived with life, now stands as a silent witness to its past through the ruins of its buildings, including a market, a mosque, and several residential structures. The discovery sheds light on a forgotten chapter of history, with construction believed to have begun in the early years following the French occupation of Algeria.

The young explorer, Ridwan Taheri, a passionate adventurer and desert camping enthusiast, stumbled upon the village by pure chance during a two-day exploration of the wilderness. While tracking a desert lizard in the vast expanse of the Sahara, Ridwan unknowingly found himself on a path that led him to this lost settlement. Driven by curiosity, he drove closer and unearthed the mystery of the village, prompting him to pause and explore further.

During his exploration, Ridwan ventured into the remnants of homes, many of which had been buried by shifting sandstorms over the years. Yet, despite nature’s harshest forces, some structures, including the mosque, still stood resilient. The mosque’s prayer niche (mihrab) remained intact, a symbol of the endurance of the village’s spiritual life even after its physical decline.

The village, which once housed several families, could still be identified by the design of its homes and the remnants of its central marketplace. Remarkably, the market’s stone columns remained standing, untouched by time, serving as a testament to the village’s once vibrant economy and social life. The mosque, equipped with a minaret used for calling the faithful to prayer, further emphasized the communal aspect of the village.

Ridwan Taheri, inspired by the significance of the discovery, decided to document his findings and share them with the public through an exclusive documentary. His exploration revealed that the village, once a thriving community, had become a refuge for wildlife and insects, with the ruins providing shelter from the unforgiving desert climate. The eerie silence of the place, juxtaposed with the resilience of the remaining structures, raises poignant questions: How did such a seemingly self-sustaining village vanish so suddenly? What caused the end of its story, and why was it abandoned?

Taheri plans to produce a detailed documentary on the village, hoping to uncover the mysteries surrounding its abandonment. However, in a bid to preserve the integrity of the site, he has refrained from disclosing its exact location for fear that it might attract unwelcome visitors who could damage the delicate ruins. He promised to reveal the site’s coordinates once the documentary is completed, and he has already notified the relevant authorities about his discovery.

This rediscovery has sparked intrigue and speculation about the village’s forgotten history. What was its role in the broader context of Algeria’s colonial past, and why was it left behind? Ridwan Taheri’s upcoming documentary promises to answer these questions and bring this lost chapter of history to light in a way that has never been done before.

Translated from: https://www.echoroukonline.com/%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%a8-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d9%8a%d8%b9%d8%ab%d8%b1-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d9%82%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%85%d9%87%d8%ac%d9%88%d8%b1%d8%a9-%d8%a8%d8%b9%d9%85%d9%82-%d8%a7%d9%84

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