Mauritania: Chinguetti – Libraries at Chingueti Mosque

The libraries at the Chinguetti Mosque is one of the most renowned and significant libraries in the world, preserving some of the most important Quranic texts. It houses an extensive collection of ancient manuscripts, some dating back to the 9th century on the subjects of theology, astronomy, mathematics, law, and literature. The libraries in Chinguetti contain some 1,300 Quranic manuscripts, as well as civil records including contracts, bills of sale, and legal judgments. The dry desert air and dedication of custodians have help preserve the fragile parchments. We got treated to an amazing presentation by the librarian who was like a magician presenting treasures. The manuscripts looked fragile but in quite good contortion, hundreds and hundreds of years old!
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