Igoudar: Morocco's Ancient Granaries

High in the arid mountains and along the old caravan routes of southern Morocco stand a series of fortress-like structures that once guarded a community’s most precious wealth. Known as agadir (plural igoudar), these ancient granaries are among the most distinctive architectural traditions of North Africa. They are part bank vault, part food store and part citadel.

Inoummar agadir. Credit: Nicolas Hoizey

The word agadir comes from the Amazigh (Berber) language and simply means “wall” or “fortified enclosure.” Built of stone, rammed earth, or mud brick, often perched on hilltops or rocky outcrops, these communal granaries were designed to withstand both drought and raiders.

Southern Morocco’s climate, particularly in regions like the Anti-Atlas and the Sous Valley, has long been defined by irregular rainfall. Good harvests could not be taken for granted. Grain, almonds, dried figs, honey, oil, and other harvest were stored inside the Agadir, protected behind thick defensive walls and heavy wooden doors. In addition, locals also stored their personal treasures such as jewellery, woven carpets and important documents. During times of famine or conflict, the agadir could mean the difference between survival and starvation.

Southern Morocco once sat astride important trans-Saharan trade routes linking sub-Saharan Africa to cities like Marrakech. While agadir were primarily local institutions, the wider commercial world shaped their importance. Trade brought both prosperity and risk. Surplus goods and passing caravans attracted looting. The fortified granary thus became a practical response to both economic opportunity and insecurity.

Agadir Ifri Imadiden, Morocco. Credit: Adam Cohn

An agadir resembled a compact fortress. Many are rectangular compounds with a single fortified entrance. Inside, rows of small, cell-like chambers are stacked in tiers along the interior walls. Each compartment belonged to a specific family and was secured with its own lock—often a beautifully carved wooden mechanism unique to the region.

One of the best-preserved examples is the Agadir Inoumar, dramatically positioned atop a rocky hill. Another striking site is Agadir Tasguent, whose multi-level structure rises almost like a cliffside apartment block of storage cells.

Construction techniques were adapted to the landscape. In mountain areas, stone was abundant and walls were thick and imposing. In lower valleys, builders relied more heavily on rammed earth. Despite the simplicity of materials, many agadir have endured for centuries.

Credit: Adam Cohn

Each granary operated under a strict code, often overseen by a guardian appointed by the village. Rules governed when storage rooms could be opened and how goods were withdrawn. Some agadir even included a small mosque or prayer space within the compound.

The granary also functioned as a kind of rural bank. Families deposited surplus in good years and withdrew in lean ones. Because access was regulated and collectively enforced, the system depended on mutual trust and shared responsibility.

Many of Morocco’s igoudar have fallen out of use, now preserved as historical sites. Whereas in other places, these buildings are still important. In Aït Kine, an oasis village at the edge of one of the Anti-Atlas’s southernmost valleys, the local Agadir is still functioning. Villagers use it to store crops, jewellery and family texts. Many social and religious events such as weddings and social gatherings are still held within the agadir’s rammed-earth walls.

Similar structures:

Credit: Adam Cohn