The archaeological ruins of Cherchell are a valuable heritage. The collections, currently housed in the national museum, also known as the "old museum", are among the most prestigious collections in the Maghreb.   The pieces were stored in a mosque.     With the arrival of the French in 1840 and the construction of the colonial city many objects were discovered and their management was anarchic. During the year 1844, the objects discovered during the numerous excavations at Cherchell were stored in a small mosque belonging to the Berkani family. After the destruction of this building during an earthquake in 1846, these objects were transferred to an open gallery in the courtyard of a Moorish-style house occupied by the administrative services.     After the earthquake of 1844   A wing of the museum In 1853, the municipality decided to shave the premises and the collections were transferred to another premises located on the street Abdelhak, ex Caesarea. Several invaluable pieces are transported to the Louvre Museum and the Algiers Museum of Antiquities. In 1855, objects were stored at the hotel.   Given the importance of the discoveries, the Governor General of Algeria decided to endow the town of Cherchell with a real museum. It was in 1908 that the present museum opened its doors to the public.