National Museum of Mauritania

The National Museum of Mauritania in Nouakchott preserves the archaeological and ethnographic heritage of the country, with displays on prehistory, the ancient caravan cities and the nomadic Moorish way of life. Its collection includes stone tools, pottery, jewellery, weaponry and objects from the Saharan trade. Exhibits document the desert oases and the traditions of the Bidhan and Haratin peoples. Set in the planned centre of the capital, the museum is a key institution for understanding Mauritania's deep Saharan past and its bedouin culture.