town appears to have been partly abandoned at the end of the 12th century and was completely abandoned by the 15th although there was some resettlement two centuries later. In fiction The science fiction writer Bruce Sterling has dedicated a story to the town in his collection Crystal Express. The story "Dinner in Audoghast" recalls a dinner at a rich merchant's house that takes place at the height of the thriving metropolis's influence, about the year 1000 AD. The dinner is described wherein the guests discuss business and local affairs. They hear that a notorious fortuneteller is in town and they invite him to join them. He tells them their future, and that the city will be destroyed very soon, leaving the once thriving metropolis as only a marginal note in history. World Heritage Status The archaeological site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on June 14, 2001 in the Cultural category. Notes References . . First published in 1981. . . Further reading . . Page 483 contains a plan of the town. . . . Reviewed in: . . External links . History of Mauritania Former populated places in Mauritania Populated places established in the 7th century Archaeological sites in Mauritania