🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Over 400 Moroccan gold coins found in 17th-century shipwreck off England
via Le Matin2 min read
More than 400 Moroccan gold coins were discovered in a 17th-century shipwreck off Salcombe, Devon, England, in 1995. British researchers, including experts from the British Museum, Bournemouth University, and the South West Maritime Archaeology Group, identified the wreck in June 2026 as the Dom van Keulen, a Dutch merchant ship that departed Morocco for the Netherlands in autumn 1633. The vessel encountered severe weather, took on water, and sank near the English coast, though its crew survived. The ship's cargo included 150 bags of gum arabic, 64 bags of saltpeter, 320 goat hides, and 9,000 Barbary ducats, which were Moroccan gold coins. While much of the cargo was likely salvaged after the sinking, over 400 gold coins remained underwater for centuries until their discovery. This find highlights Morocco's significant role in 17th-century trade under the Saadian dynasty, connecting African gold routes with European powers like the Netherlands. Dutch merchants sought gold, hides, and other goods in Morocco, with some gold being melted down for international currency. The approximately 30-meter-long wreck lies at a depth of nearly 18 meters and also yielded jewelry, ceramic objects, shipboard utensils, anchors, cannons, and navigation instruments. The recovered coins and artifacts are now housed at the British Museum, providing material evidence of Morocco's historical trade links between Africa and Europe.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Must ReadA recent Moroccan study published in Discover Public Health indicates that 27% of students surveyed at Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in Tétouan screened positive for suicidal risk within the 30 days prior to the survey. The study involved 1,191 students, with an average age of 21.69 years, facing academic pressures, future uncertainties, economic constraints, and personal difficulties. Of those identified with suicidal risk, 86.6% were categorized as low risk, 11.2% as moderate risk, and 2.2% as high risk. The seven students at high risk were referred for psychiatric follow-up. Key factors associated with increased risk included cannabis consumption, single relationship status, family psychiatric history, and exposure to physical and sexual violence. The study highlights concerns about the adequacy of current university health services in Morocco, noting that consolidated data on university health dates back to 2019. At that time, the system included 30 university medical centers and 27 infirmaries with 107 professionals for a student population exceeding one million. The Economic, Social and Environmental Council also pointed out that many university cities lack medical centers. While Youth Health Spaces offer psychosocial support, they cater to a broader age range and do not fully address the need for structured psychological support within universities. A joint action plan for university health exists between the Ministries of Health and Social Protection and Higher Educat
Must ReadA Moroccan study published in the scientific journal Discover Public Health indicates that 27% of surveyed students exhibit suicidal risk. The research involved 1,191 students from Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in Tétouan, encompassing six higher education institutions.
Driss El Yazami, in an interview, discussed the focus of the 13th edition of the Human Rights Forum on "world youth," highlighting its urgency due to the central role of youth in society and the numerous challenges they face. He noted that today's youth are growing up amidst multiplying crises, including a contested international order and a challenge to humanist values like equality, fraternity, pluralism, and democracy. The ecological crisis also adds to this complex global context. El Yazami identified war, authoritarianism, and obscurantism as major threats to freedom. He emphasized the fundamental link between peace and rights, drawing on his experience with the International Federation for Human Rights FIDH. Authoritarianism, he explained, stifles debate, peaceful dissent, and human creativity, while obscurantism, often fueled by certain ideologies, undermines fundamental rights like the right to life and restricts freedoms of expression and association. Regarding Moroccan youth abroad, El Yazami observed that they often express multiple identities, rejecting the pressure to choose a single belonging. He cited the 2011 Moroccan Constitution, particularly Article 16, which supports the rights and interests of Moroccans worldwide and encourages their contribution to Morocco's development while fostering ties with their countries of residence. This dual belonging, he noted, is a source of creativity, evident in the diverse languages used by Moroccan novelists today. On the