Radiocarbon tests of certain textiles of the 'taritat' group, which are, due to their perfect condition, likely to be among more recently made examples, have shown that they were made in the late 1950s and early 1960s, during the era of atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. These very specific results contradict Rabaté’s assumption of their even more recent production, from which she attempts to deduce proof of falsification.



In summary, we may say that this book introduces subjects well worth serious discussion, but fails to bring structure and clarity to the matter, thus leading to further confusion. The controversial chapters are driven, first and foremost, by Rabaté’s personal opinions, which are too often bold expressions of insufficiently or inaccurately researched facts, leading to errors.

 

My special thanks to Mustapha Hansali and Abdelaziz Ryahi for all their help, knowledge and friendly co-operation in the research and preparation of this article.
 
A correct transcription of the tribal confederation's name is Beni Ouarain ( neither Beni Ourain, nor Beni Quarain or Ait Ouarain are correctly or commonly used terms in the region. The term Ait Ouarain appears in the ethnologic literature of the French protectorate's period quite frequently but seems to have been hardly used by the Beni Ouarain people themselves). In a German transcription the term Beni Warain is also commonly used.
 

© all photos Gebhart Blazek except (2), screenshots from the film "Ait Haddidou (North Africa, High Atlas) - Dyeing a Cloth with the Plangi Technique" used with the personal permission of Norbert Mylius jun.

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COPYRIGHT 2009 Gebhart Blazek, All rights reserved.
No portion of this article nor the accompanying illustrations can or may be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.

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