Fires set by Islamic rebels had many worrying that the valuable manuscripts of Timbuktu had gone up in flames. It was recently revealed that they are safe in Bamako.

Fires set by Islamic rebels in Timbuktu earlier this year had many worrying that valuable ancient manuscripts had gone up in flames with the libraries that housed them.

It was recently announced that the attacks were anticipated, and moving the papers had become a priority and a plan set in motion before the destruction began.

From the 13th to 17th centuries, Timbuktu was a vital center for Islamic scholarship and culture.

Until recently, it has since remained the home of nearly 285 thousand important documents, some of which date back to the 12th century.

When the political situation in the area began to turn violent, the papers were quietly moved from the libraries into private homes.

As the destruction escalated beyond what was foreseen, a devoted group transported them to safer ground via canoes, cars, busses, and whatever means would allow their passage past security checkpoints.

The enormous effort was aided financially by organizations from Germany, the Netherlands, and others.

Timbuktu’s collection has been temporarily relocated to Bamako, where they will undergo conservation and restoration.

One of the libraries lost had recently been built in 2009 as part of the South Africa-Mali Timbuktu Manuscripts Project launched in 2003.