Old Berber Bracelet – Ait Atta Tribe – Morocco

Early to mid 20th century. Metal alloy grams 512,0 (18.06 oz.). Diameter cm. 9,3 (3.66″); inner diameter cm. 6,5 (2.56″).

These heavy bracelets were originally worn by women of the Ait Atta tribe to defend themselves during raids.

The Ait Atta are a large Berber tribal confederation of South eastern Morocco. They are divided into “five fifths” (khams khmas), all said to descend from the forty sons of their common ancestor Dadda Atta: these “fifths” are the Ait Ouallal, Ait Ouahlim, Ait Isfoul, Ait Yazza and Ait Ounbgi. They speak Central Atlas Tamazight. The Ait Atta originated as a political entity in the Jbel Saghro region in the 16th century with the founding of their traditional capital Igherm Amazdar.

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