The continent of Africa and its deserts are famous all over the world. The various ancient and historical cities of the continent have been the center of trade and commerce for centuries, and the markets here have been frequented by people from near and far.
In the middle of a desert on the same continent, “Shanqit” has been inhabited for centuries and this Mauritanian city has been visited by traders for thousands of years.
Today, the city and many such settlements are filled with modern facilities and roads or buildings, but Shanqit is a city that was the center of science, art and cultural activities thousands of years ago. Proof of this is the ancient libraries that are today considered to be the beautiful cultural heritage of Mauritania.
Thousands of years old manuscripts and other ancient documents are still preserved in these libraries. However, these ancient manuscripts, sacred papers and various books have been destroyed by the sands of the desert over the years.
If you search the pages of history, you will find that this area has been an important passage and caravans used to leave from Shanqit for Hajj in the distant past. During the Hajj, people would bring some of the religious books, scriptures and other items with them to the libraries here for the benefit of students and locals.
Until a few years ago, Shankit’s few such libraries contained about 700 books and manuscripts from the Middle Ages to the present.
According to experts, the city’s libraries also contain writings dating back to the ninth century AD.
The buildings of these libraries of Shanqit are built of stone and are an example of the skill of the craftsmen of this period. However, with their complete care and repair, they need to be protected from the sand of the desert that is slowly swallowing up these rare and ancient manuscripts.
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