Resumen:

To be implemented by the ‘Fondation Miftah Essaad pour le capital immatériel du Maroc’, this preparatory assistance request aims to support the nomination of Khettara to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Khettara is the ancient process of collecting groundwater from an aquifer and channelling it to the surface via horizontal galleries. This system, which is vital for the survival of oasis dwellers, is threatened by the depletion of groundwater reserves, the lack of transmission of traditional skills, and structural deterioration caused by alternating periods of flooding and severe drought. The emigration of skilled labour further jeopardises the maintenance of irrigation structures. The assistance will support the production of a film about khettara techniques, in particular for digging and underground drainage. It will also facilitate documentation, updating of the inventory, and preparing the nomination file.