Category Archives: trees

Just published, a study of shrines at Moroccan archaeological sites

Posted on April 24, 2017 by ericrossacademic

A long time in the pipeline, a co-authored study of shrines at archaeological sites has at last been published. Fifteen years ago, in the Spring of 2002, I teamed up with Said Ennahid, an archaeologist and colleague at Al Akhawayn … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, cities, field trips, map work, publication, shrines, trees | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Baobabs in the contemporary Senegalese landscape

Posted on February 20, 2012 by ericrossacademic

Baobabs do not only mark Senegal’s historic sites (see previous post). They are a living part of its contemporary urban spaces as well. As cities across the country have expanded into farmland, mature baobabs have often been spared destruction and … Continue reading →

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Historic baobab trees of Senegal

Posted on January 25, 2012 by ericrossacademic

Following on my post about çinar trees at Turkish mosques and shrines, one reader, none other than my brother-in-law Ryan, suggested I post about Senegal’s baobab trees, and I am delighted to oblige. Baobabs (Adansonia digitata, guy in Wolof, boki … Continue reading →

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Some architectural delights in Bursa, Turkey

Posted on December 8, 2011 by ericrossacademic

Bursa is an industrial center of about two million inhabitants, one of whom is a former student of mine who now works for a cookie and candy manufacturer. It is famed for its hot springs, glazed chestnuts, and karagöz shadow … Continue reading →

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Çinar trees at Turkish mosques

Posted on November 16, 2011 by ericrossacademic

While visiting mosque and shrine complexes in and around Istanbul I became aware of the importance of çinar trees to urban architecture in Turkey. The çinar (chinar in Farsi, Platanus orientalis) thrives from the Balkans to the Himalayas and has … Continue reading →

Posted in Cartography, map work, shrines, Sufism, trees | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Shrines of Ouezzane

Posted on October 10, 2011 by ericrossacademic

Sufism imbibes the Moroccan landscape. Few Moroccan cities however are as closely associated to a Sufi tarîqah as Ouezzane (Wazan), pop. 58 000 in 2004, home to the Wazzâniyyah order. While the settlement may be much older, it owes its … Continue reading →

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The shrine of Rabbi Amram ben Diwane in Azjèn, Morocco

Posted on September 20, 2011 by ericrossacademic

September 21 is Moroccan Jewish Day on campus. This annual event is organized by the Mimouna Club, a student club devoted to raising awareness of Morocco’s Jewish heritage. The main event this year, co-sponsored by KIVUNIM, is an international seminar … Continue reading →

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The zâwiya of Sheikh al-‘Alawi Bentounès in Mostaghanem

Posted on March 23, 2011 by ericrossacademic

The spiritual path of Algerian Sheikh Ahmad al-‘Alawi Bentounès (1869-1934), like that of his contemporary Sheikh Ahmadu Bamba in Senegal, ran through the territory of French colonial rule. Born into a family of magistrates in the port city of Mostaghanem, … Continue reading →

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Icelandic cemeteries

Posted on January 19, 2011 by ericrossacademic

In June 2006 I had the pleasure of visiting Iceland. I was attending a conference on “Geography and Saint’s Cults: Technological Aids to the Geographical Study of Saints’ Cults” which was held at the Agricultural College in Hólar. The conference … Continue reading →

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