No Roman or Old Maps of My Area — What Should I Do?

[elmehdi]

Hi all,
I’m based near Imouzzer du Kandar in the Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco. I’ve been searching for Roman maps, French colonial maps, or any old documentation that shows routes, ruins, or land usage — but so far I’ve found nothing.
Locals speak of hidden sites, ancient digging near trees and rocks, and even a few strange ruins. But with no maps to cross-check, I’m stuck.

Any advice on how to track down old military or missionary maps?
Would archives in France (like BnF or colonial army records) be useful? Has anyone else had success using natural features as guides when maps are missing?

Thanks for any guidance!

 

[Red-Coat]

Welcome to Tnet.

Don't know if this will help you, but it's a reconstruction of Roman roads in Morocco, derived from the Antonine itinerary by Walter. B. Harris, published in 1897:

 

[elmehdi]

Welcome to Tnet.

Don't know if this will help you, but it's a reconstruction of Roman roads in Morocco, derived from the Antonine itinerary by Walter. B. Harris, published in 1897:

View attachment 2209763

Thanks a lot for sharing this map It's actually very helpful Even though my area (Imouzzer du Kandar / Massif du Kandar) doesn't show up directly ican see that Volubilis, Tocolosida and Fez are all relatively close so it's possible there were secondary Roman routes or outposts nearby that didn't appear on this simplified reconstruction

 

[achanceforgold]

Hi all,
I’m based near Imouzzer du Kandar in the Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco. I’ve been searching for Roman maps, French colonial maps, or any old documentation that shows routes, ruins, or land usage — but so far I’ve found nothing.
Locals speak of hidden sites, ancient digging near trees and rocks, and even a few strange ruins. But with no maps to cross-check, I’m stuck.

Any advice on how to track down old military or missionary maps?
Would archives in France (like BnF or colonial army records) be useful? Has anyone else had success using natural features as guides when maps are missing?

Thanks for any guidance!

Are you familiar with the Tabula Peuntigerina?
That portion of the ancient roman road map is damaged, but they have been able to reconstruct a section.
here is a great site that takes the old roman road map and puts it onto modern maps
https://www.omnesviae.org/

If that does help.
There is Roger II map by by Al-Idrisi in 1154
Tabula Rogeriana
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3200.ct001903/
it is in Arabic

But the complete book is available online also.
With complete descriptions of the areas and individual map sections
The original Arabic and a French translated version are online
Probably at BNF... search for Al-Idrisi


If that doesn't help.
Let me know in this post.
I have some other old sources from the 1400's

 

[Mackaydon]

The red lines are the Roman roads in No. Africa.

https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/16818.png?v=1738437124-1737099804

Don in SoCal

 

[achanceforgold]

The red lines are the Roman roads in No. Africa.

https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/16818.png?v=1738437124-1737099804

Don in SoCal

I'll use that.
Thanks

 

[elmehdi]

Are you familiar with the Tabula Peuntigerina?
That portion of the ancient roman road map is damaged, but they have been able to reconstruct a section.
here is a great site that takes the old roman road map and puts it onto modern maps
https://www.omnesviae.org/
View attachment 2209773

If that does help.
There is Roger II map by by Al-Idrisi in 1154
Tabula Rogeriana
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3200.ct001903/
it is in Arabic
View attachment 2209774

But the complete book is available online also.
With complete descriptions of the areas and individual map sections
The original Arabic and a French translated version are online
Probably at BNF... search for Al-Idrisi


If that doesn't help.
Let me know in this post.
I have some other old sources from the 1400's

Thank you so much!
I’m especially looking for anything related to Imouzzer du Kandar — old maps, roads, or even descriptions from Roman times, medieval sources like Al-Idrisi, or later (French Protectorate, 19th–20th century).


If any of the sources you have from the 1400s mention Imouzzer Kandar or nearby places like Sefrou, Azrou, or Fez, I would love to see them.


Again, your help means a lot!

 

[elmehdi]

The red lines are the Roman roads in No. Africa.

https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/16818.png?v=1738437124-1737099804

Don in SoCal

Thank you Don — this map is really helpful!
Even though Imouzzer du Kandar doesn’t appear directly, I can see how the main Roman roads passed through Volubilis, Tocolosida, and Fez.


That helps me narrow my search for any secondary routes or outposts in the Massif du Kandar area.


If you come across any sources that mention Imouzzer (or even under an older name), I’d love to hear. Thanks again for your time and support!

 

[achanceforgold]

Thank you so much!
I’m especially looking for anything related to Imouzzer du Kandar — old maps, roads, or even descriptions from Roman times, medieval sources like Al-Idrisi, or later (French Protectorate, 19th–20th century).


If any of the sources you have from the 1400s mention Imouzzer Kandar or nearby places like Sefrou, Azrou, or Fez, I would love to see them.


Again, your help means a lot!

Are you Familiar with Leo Africanus?
He wrote a book called: "Cosmographia et geographia de Affrica" in 1556
I haven't read the book myself, but it will cover the Moroccan area as well.

there is an English translation you can read online
I know it definitely has information about Fez and the Atlas Mountains.

https://openlibrary.org/works/OL3190220W/Cosmographia_et_geographia_de_Affrica?edition=historyanddescr00leogoog

May I ask your native language?
Can you read Arabic?
If so, I'll hunt up my copy of Al-Idrisi. I downloaded it years ago.

 

[achanceforgold]

also look at google books for this Author.
He gives a lot of details about north-west Africa

 

[Mackaydon]

The Middle Atlas region was under Roman control during the Roman Empire, but specific Roman settlements or ruins are not associated with Imouzzer Kandar.
Don in SoCal

 

[elmehdi]

Are you Familiar with Leo Africanus?
He wrote a book called: "Cosmographia et geographia de Affrica" in 1556
I haven't read the book myself, but it will cover the Moroccan area as well.

there is an English translation you can read online
I know it definitely has information about Fez and the Atlas Mountains.
View attachment 2209873

https://openlibrary.org/works/OL3190220W/Cosmographia_et_geographia_de_Affrica?edition=historyanddescr00leogoog

May I ask your native language?
Can you read Arabic?
If so, I'll hunt up my copy of Al-Idrisi. I downloaded it years ago.

Thank you so much — I really appreciate your help and suggestions.

Yes, I’ve heard of Leo Africanus but haven’t read the full book yet. I’ll definitely check that link, especially the parts about Fez and the Atlas Mountains.

To answer your question, Arabic is my native language, and I’d be very interested in the Al-Idrisi copy you mentioned if you can share it.

Also, just to be honest — I’m doing this research as a treasure hunter.
I’m not just interested in history, but also in finding old places, ruins, or signs that might be connected to Roman presence in the Imouzzer du Kandar / Massif du Kandar region.

If you know of any historical books, maps, or even stories that could help me locate or guess possible Roman routes, camps, or ruins, I’d be very grateful.

Thanks again for your time!

 

[elmehdi]

also look at google books for this Author.
He gives a lot of details about north-west Africa
View attachment 2209878

Thanks a lot! I’ll check Google Books for more from this author.
I’m looking for anything that can guide me to old places in Imouzzer Kandar — not just Roman, but any ancient people who lived there: Amazigh, Arabs, French, or others. I really appreciate your help!

 

[elmehdi]

The Middle Atlas region was under Roman control during the Roman Empire, but specific Roman settlements or ruins are not associated with Imouzzer Kandar.
Don in SoCal

thanks don yes that’s what i’m starting to realize it seems the middle atlas was part of the roman frontier but not heavily settled
still i’m hoping there might be small outposts hidden paths or signs that didn’t make it into the official records
i’ll keep digging and any tips or clues are always welcom
e

 

[TORRERO]

Are you trying to find ruins to Metal Detect ? or is this some kind of science project ?
I see a lot of references to maps and Roman Roads, but not as to why your trying to locate them..

Back when I was in Spain, we simply would go out into farmers fields and look for pottery, bricks, anything in the dirt that said... "Someone lived here" you would not actually see ruins because most everything is gone after 2000 years, but bricks and pottery shards and glass shards remain. and if we found that.. we start walking around with our metal detectors and see what we find..

 

[Gare]

Would lidar be of any help tho them ?

 

[elmehdi]

Are you trying to find ruins to Metal Detect ? or is this some kind of science project ?
I see a lot of references to maps and Roman Roads, but not as to why your trying to locate them..

Back when I was in Spain, we simply would go out into farmers fields and look for pottery, bricks, anything in the dirt that said... "Someone lived here" you would not actually see ruins because most everything is gone after 2000 years, but bricks and pottery shards and glass shards remain. and if we found that.. we start walking around with our metal detectors and see what we find..

thanks for asking
yes i’m a treasure hunter not part of a science project
i’m searching for any old places around imouzzer kandar where people lived long ago
roman amazigh french or anyone
i look at old maps and names to help me guess where to search in the mountains
sometimes i talk to old people or follow local stories
i hope to find signs like pottery bricks or old structures then maybe use a metal detector if possible
your story from spain is inspiring thank you for
sharing it

 

[elmehdi]

Would lidar be of any help tho them ?

yes lidar could help a lot especially in mountain areas like massif du kandar
it can show hidden shapes under trees like old walls roads or terraces
even if ruins are gone the ground still keeps the shape
so yes if i had lidar maps i think they could guide me where to walk and search fir
st

 

[Gare]

there are a lot of places that are free and you can use there Lidar sites

 

[elmehdi]

there are a lot of places that are free and you can use there Lidar sites

yes i heard that some lidar maps are free online but i don’t know where to find the good ones for morocco or atlas mountains if you know any lidar site or source that covers my area i would be really thankful
that could help me a lot to choose where to search first